Ulta Beauty Store will move into
a new College Point location
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS
www.qns.com | november 2017 | CRYDER POINT COURIER 15
Photo courtesy of Councilman Paul Vallone’s offi ce
The seawall area at MacNeil Park.
MacNeil Park in
College Point to
undergo seawall
repairs in 2018
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A waterfront park in College Point
will undergo long-awaited repairs early
next year, it was announced.
Th e seawall at MacNeil Park, located
along Poppenhusen Avenue between
115th Street and College Place, will be
repaired in the fi rst quarter of 2018.
Th e NYC Department of Parks and
Recreation awarded a $4.4 million capital
contract to AAH Contractor on
Oct. 20 to carry out the project.
Th e approximately 28-acre, north
Queens green space is located along
the East River and features kayak and
canoe launch sites, handball courts and
other amenities.
Councilman Paul Vallone said the
urgent need to address the seawall
was made clear during meetings with
the Coastal Preservation Network,
a local nonprofi t, and the city Parks
Department.
“I look forward to continuing to
work with the College Point community
so that the dream of a vibrant
MacNeil Park with waterfront accessibility
is fully realized,” Vallone said.
While state Senator Tony Avella welcomed
news of the repairs, he also
called on the city to increase funding
for the project.
“I am relieved to hear that aft er all
these years of delays the residents of
College Point will fi nally be able to
enjoy the full capabilities of MacNeil
Park,” Avella said. “Unfortunately,
since this is the third contract bidder
at a higher cost, some aspects of
the original project may not be done.
Obviously, we will need the city to
increase funding for this project, since
the community has waited so long.”
“Parks is now moving forward on
fi nalizing the contract and we look forward
to beginning construction this
winter,” Queens Parks Commissioner
Dorothy Lewandowski said. “Once
complete, this esplanade will be a great
waterfront amenity for the residents of
College Point.”
Kim: Ban prescription ads on city transit
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A Flushing-based legislator is leading
the call to eliminate prescription drug ads
from the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority’s (MTA) buses, trains and public
transit hubs.
Assemblyman Ron Kim has presented
legislation to eff ectuate the ban on
the ads, “which do not eff ectively convey
the risks and dangers of these drugs
to patients,” he said. Th e MTA recently
banned alcohol advertising and barred
tobacco ads more than 20 years ago.
A study released by the state comptroller
in 2016 revealed that New York state
has seen a spike in drug overdoses, largely
attributed to the rising misuse of opioids:
drugs that act on the nervous system
to relieve pain. Th e uptick mirrors a
nationwide trend.
Additionally, in New York City, overdose
deaths have increased for six consecutive
years, with drug overdose deaths
reaching a high of 1,374 in 2016.
Th e opioid epidemic was also declared
a “national public health emergency” by
President Trump on Oct. 26.
Th e U.S. and New Zealand are the only
developed countries in the world that
continue to allow the prescription drug
industry to advertise directly to potential
consumers, according to Kim. If this
practice is allowed to continue, it will
only serve to exacerbate the current drug
misuse and overdose crisis, the assemblyman
said.
“Many of those struggling with addiction
are trapped in a desperate cycle that
begins when they are prescribed excessive
amounts of pain killers, the very same
products being freely marketed and promoted
to them on our public trains and
buses,” Kim said. “Th ese ads do not eff ectively
convey the risks and dangers of
these drugs to patients, and bypass the
healthcare providers and professionals
who provide the crucial medical advice
needed to make informed decisions.”
Read the full bill by visiting the New
York State Assembly website. Th e legislation
is also sponsored by state Senator
Diane Savino.
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A beauty store chain has found a new
home in College Point.
Construction laborers are working on a
new building on the College Point shopping
center lot along 20th Avenue that
will be home to an Ulta Beauty Store. Th e
work is expected to be completed in June
2018, according to signage posted onsite.
According to fi lings with the NYC
Department of Buildings (DOB), the
store at 133-05 20th Ave. will be approximately
9,000 square feet. Th e site is located
near Petco and ShopRite.
Customers can fi nd a selection of makeup,
nail, hair and skin products at Ulta
Beauty Stores. Ulta locations are also
known for off ering a variety of beauty services,
including nail care and hair blowouts.
Th e chain also has online store.
Th e College Point location will be Ulta’s
third shop in Queens. One is already
operating in the Shops at Atlas Park in
Glendale and another at the Rego Center
on Junction Boulevard.
Th e shopping center is already home to
a number of retailers, including Target,
ShopRite and BJ’s Wholesale.
Staples, which operated in a building
adjacent to the future Ulta site, closed
on Oct. 7. Th e space is approximately
24,0000 square feet.
Th e offi ce supply chain still operates at
locations in Bayside and Jackson Heights.
Ulta is not the only beauty store chain
to expand its presence in the “World’s
Borough” lately. Sephora opened up a
brand-new location at the Bay Terrace
Shopping Center in September.
Photo via Shutterstock
The construction site for the new Ulta Beauty Store at 20th Avenue.
