A street corner in Jackson Heights was co-named Peter Magnani Way to honor a “true public servant” of Queens who died one year ago.
Corona native and Jackson Heights resident Peter Magnani was a key figure in longtime Borough President Claire Schulman’s trailblazing administration, serving as deputy borough president from 1986 to 2001.
“An urban planner and architect, Peter Magnani left a lasting impact on this borough — from Queens libraries to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, to 34th Avenue. It’s upon his legacy that our public space work continues,” Councilman Shekar Krishnan said. “He lives on through his wife Dorothy, his children, and through the renamed 81st Street and 34th Avenue, where Peter lived as he dreamt of and designed the Queens that we all know and love today. It was my distinct honor to be a part of this street renaming.”
In addition to his 15-year tenure on Schulman’s team at Queens Borough Hall, Magnani served at Queens Public Library and the New York City Department of City Planning where he was involved in planning such projects as the 9.2-million-square-foot Queens West mixed-use waterfront development in Hunters Point that transformed gritty factories and warehouses to the luxury high-rise towers along Center Boulevard.
At Borough Hall, he helped coordinate projects including the construction of Queens Hospital Medical Center in Jamaica, the Langston Hughes Library in Corona and the Flushing Library.
“Former Deputy Borough President Peter Magnani was a true public servant who dedicated his life to uplifting our communities and our families,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Peter left a legacy of leadership and loyalty to our borough, and I’m proud that his name will live on not only in Jackson Heights following last weekend’s street co-naming ceremony but in every corner of Queens.”
When Magnani died last June, former Councilman Barry Grodenchik, who served with his on Schulman’s staff, called Magnani an “indispensable force for the public good.”
At Saturday’s co-naming ceremony, Grodenchik said, “His efforts built many of the public works we take for granted today. I was honored to be his colleague and friend.”
