Proposed Astoria development
reveals waterfront public space
22 MARCH 2 0 2 1
Rendering courtesy of STUDIO V Architects
A plan to connect one of the last remaining
stretches of the Halletts Point waterfront to
the rest of the peninsula in Astoria is moving
forward after a yearslong environmental
remediation has been completed.
Developed through extensive outreach with
community stakeholders and residents of the
neighboring Astoria Houses, the proposal will transform
the former industrial site into a neighborhood
destination with more than 40,000 square feet of
public open space and expanded waterfront access
via a new road at Third Street.
The design for Halletts North is a collaboration
between STUDIO V Architecture and Ken Smith
Workshop, and the public waterfront will include
trees, plantings and rain gardens with ample seating
throughout. An elevated site plan will meet key goals
to reduce flooding and increase coastal resiliency.
Astoria Owners LLC began a $16 million cleanup
effort upon acquisition in 2016 that included the excavation
of 8,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil;
the removal of PCBs, pesticides and other hazardous
material; and the demolition of deteriorated structures,
subgrade utilities and a concrete bunker.
“We are excited to advance from the environmental
cleanup of contaminants from the site’s industrial past
to transformation of the site into a beautiful waterfront
park that will be accessible for the entire Halletts Point
community,” said Jim Hedden, a representative of the
development team.
The location of the site is on the north side of 26th Avenue
between Third and Fourth streets just east of the
Whitey Ford baseball field. The proposal would include
up to 1,400 apartments, of which 300 would be permanently
affordable units for individuals with salaries starting
around $30,000 annually. The project is expected
to generate more than 500 jobs. The team is working
with the community nonprofit Urban Upbound to develop
and operate an on-site incubator focused on
supporting neighborhood small businesses and entrepreneurs
as well as job training and placement.
“In this unprecedented time when everyone in our
city is focusing on relief and recovery. This should not
be an argument about brick and mortar, but rebuilding
the heart and souls of communities, and how we get
there,” Urban Upbound Co-Founder and CEO Bishop
Mitchell Taylor said.
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
Legends of LIC
Vote for Gleason!
BY GREATER ASTORIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
On a number of levels, the 2020 election
season brings to mind stories about
Paddy Gleason, who was elected mayor
of Long Island City three times in the late
19th century. In his final term, he served
as LIC’s last mayor.
Gleason occupied a peculiar position
in the political world of Queens County.
He was always active and aggressive
and had the reputation of acting while
his political opponents slept. His campaigns
were marked by originality and
he drew big crowds where he appeared.
It seemed as if everyone seemed to know
him, and he would always reciprocate with a smile when recognized
by friends and strangers alike.
In his unfinished biography, Gleason wrote of his first experience
running for office:
“I ran for a member of the Assembly in 1872 on the Democratic
Party’s ticket — it was a bitter contest as I was running against a president
of the railroad, who had plenty of money to spend. There was no
bosses in those days and the campaigns were lively.
“One night while I was out with a pot of paste putting my own posters
I was invited into the Republican headquarters to hear my opponent
make a speech. There was a big crowd present. I did not think
he impressed the assemblage very much. After he was through I was
asked to make an address.
“I walked up to the speaker’s platform with my brush and pail and
talked to the people as I talked to the residents of Long Island City
years afterward. I told them the needs of the district. I especially
dwelt upon the necessity for many improvements. They asked me
all kinds of questions and I answered them as fast as they were put.
“When they asked where I would stand on party measures I said
that I would vote as a Democrat every time but that when it comes to
local issues, issues of the county and district, I represented the people
and would vote for their interests. The crowd cheered my speech
and many of them jumped up in their chairs and shouted for me.
“When the returns were counted election night I was 325 votes
ahead of my opponent but when the County Canvassers brought in
their official count I was defeated by 15 votes!”
Eventually Gleason served on the Board of Alderman for Long Island
City, was elected mayor, and once was elected simultaneously
to hold both offices as mayor and Alderman at Large. For nearly a
year and half, he sat on the Common Council and voted to sustain his
own vetoes as mayor!
In another election, when he lost his office as mayor of Long Island
City, Gleason refused to step down. An order of a Justice on the State
Supreme Court remanded the Long Island City Police to arrest and
jail Gleason until he accepted the election result.
BY BILL PARRY
Greater Astoria Historical Society
44-02 23RD ST. #219
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101
INFO@ASTORIALIC.ORG / WWW.ASTORIALIC.ORG
718-278-0700
link
/WWW.ASTORIALIC.ORG
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