A Shameful Situation Continues In Wdhvn.
A partially collapsed building in Woodhaven that has been allowed to remain a hazard for over 15 months is a perfect example of our city government failing its citizens.
In April 2013, the second floor and façade of the building located at 78-19 Jamaica Avenue collapsed, scattering bricks and debris along a sidewalk and destroying a car. It’s a miracle no passers-by were hurt. The collapse also severely damaged the neighboring headquarters of the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps (WRHVAC), forcing both the Ambulance Corps and its tenant, the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Senior Center, from the premises.
There are four reasons why this is an example of how the people of Woodhaven were failed by the agencies that serve them.
First, the city should have taken action to prevent the building from collapsing in the first place. The accident came as no surprise. The Department of Buildings (DOB) had previously issued a partial vacate order and had fined the owner thousands of dollars for numerous violations. Yet nothing was done that actually compelled the owner to eliminate the threat.
Second, the collapse has inflicted a severe blow on two important institutions in our neighborhood. The WRHVAC and the Woodhaven- Richmond Hill Senior Center were innocent bystanders in this mess. They did nothing wrong. And somehow, they are the ones left without recourse.
The relocation of the Senior Center severely inconvenienced many of its members and deprived the WRHVAC of rental income it needs to survive. The city has not stepped in to ensure that these two organizations are made whole and are able to stay afloat.
Third, this fiasco has dragged on for far too long. For more than 475 days, the partially collapsed building has remained in place, continuing to pose a threat. In February, over 10 months after the collapse, the melting of accumulated ice on the building caused flooding and further damage to the WRHVAC. The building owner, George Kochabe, and his lawyer Elio Forcina have managed to resist demolition of the building, overcoming public anger, additional fines, multiple missed court appearances, and an arrest warrant. They sued the city for “arbitrary and capricious” conduct for seeking the demolition-and somehow managed to extract a settlement that has given them months more time. According to one news report, this victory was partly the result of concerns by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) regarding how the demolition would affect the nearby J train. Why wasn’t the MTA’s input sought 15 months ago?
Fourth, we Woodhaven residents have been given bad information for well over a year. We have been told by numerous officials that the problem would be solved soon-and of course, it hasn’t. Forcina has been claiming for months that his client will renovate the building very soon-and of course, he hasn’t. And at the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) town hall last month, Ken Lazar, a DOB community affairs liaison to Queens, told us the City Department of Housing Preservation was ready to demolish the building if Kochabe didn’t begin renovations in July- and of course, neither of those things happened either.
Certainly, Kochabe is entitled to due process before his building is razed. But hasn’t he received more than enough already, especially when he disregarded building regulations, failed to pay fines, and missed court dates, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest? Hasn’t he been given more than enough time and opportunities to resolve the matter? We are tired of his excuses and are frustrated that the system seems to be working only for him, not anyone else affected by this situation.
To recap: A negligent property owner put us all at risk, creating a situation where someone could have been killed. Then, senior citizens and a volunteer ambulance corps are forced to pay the price. And hundreds of days later, the dangerous building remains a threat-all while the people of Woodhaven are misled repeatedly. It’s a situation of which our city government should be ashamed.
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Editor’s note: The next Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association meeting is on Saturday, August 16, 10 a.m. at Emanuel United Church of Christ (93-12 91st Avenue). Blenkinsopp is a member of Community Board 9 and director of communications for the WRBA. For additional information on the WRBA, visit www.woodhaven-nyc.org.
