City Council gives green light to Bartlett Dairy
Milk distribution center in Springfi eld Gardens will be the only one in the city
BY BILL PARRY
Economic development in
southeast Queens got a huge
boost on June 13 when Bartlett
Dairy Inc. received Uniform
Land Use Review Procedure
to build a permanent home
for its milk distribution in
New York City on a significant
portion of the JFK North Site
in Springfield Gardens.
Bartlett Dairy, which was
originally based in Queens,
will become the only milk
distribution facility in the
city since the Elmhurst Dairy
shuttered in Jamaica costing
nearly 300 jobs.
“The closing of the
Elmhurst Dairy plant in 2016
was a devastating loss for New
York City,” NYCEDC President
and CEO James Patchett said.
“Bartlett’s expansion is a winwin
for New Yorkers and the
city’s local economy. We are
proud to have helped bring a
dedicated milk distribution
company back to the five
boroughs and create new
economic opportunities for
more of our residents.”
Bartlett, a minorityowned,
family-run business
will develop a 54,000 square
foot distribution center which
is expected to create nearly
100 construction jobs and 165
permanent jobs with average
salaries of $70,000.
“The return of Bartlett
Dairy to Queens is bringing
jobs back to the borough
where so many workers call
home,” City Councilman
Donovan Richards said. “With
additional opportunities for
more jobs and apprenticeships
along with the resurfacing
of Rockaway Boulevard,
stormwater mitigation and
an expedited construction
timeline for improvements
to Baisley Pond Park, this
development is an all-around
win for Southeast Queens.”
Construction on the
new facility is expected to
be completed by fall 2020.
Currently, Bartlett Dairy’s
milk distribution occurs in
New Jersey and the products
are then delivered to New York
Bartlett Dairy will build its new milk distribution center in
Springfield Gardens near JFK Airport. Courtesy of NYCEDC
City by truck.
“We are excited to be
returning home to the
birthplace of Bartlett
Dairy. We look forward to
our continued growth in
conjunction with the local
community,” Bartlett Dairy
President Thomas Malave said.
“To celebrate this moment, we
are establishing a scholarship
fund for local graduating high
school students.”
The new facility will
serve as Bartlett’s New York
headquarters. The company’s
largest contracts are with
the city’s Department of
Education, the Archdiocese of
New York, and Starbucks.
“Queens Community 13
is in full support of Bartlett
Dairy. This project brings
needed development for the
location, job opportunities for
local residents and a general
economic development all
around,” CB 13 District
Manager Mark McMillan
said. “It also fits in nicely with
the recent creation of Gateway
JFK, the Industrial Business
Improvement District
comprised of the airport
freight business, hotels and
residents within the Spring-
Jam Civic Association area.”
Gateway JFK began as
JFK Ibid in 2014 as a plan to
create a district to revitalize
the Springfield Gardens area
surrounding JFK Airport by
making the cargo community
aware of the benefits of
nearby off airport real estate,
business opportunity and
economic advantages.
“Gateway JFK is happy
to see Bartlett come into the
community,” Gateway JFK
Executive Director Scott
Grimm-Lyon said. “We believe
they will be a great contributor
to the area and a beacon of
development. They will help
show that our community is
ripe for investment.”
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by email at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
Contract
Financing
Loan Fund
Is your business working as a prime or subcontractor on a
project with a City agency or City-funded entity?
Loans at a 3% annual interest rate are available to
eligible businesses.
Loan repayment terms align with the contract payment schedule.
Closing fees apply.
CALL 311 OR VISIT nyc.gov/contractfinancing
8 TIMESLEDGER, JUNE 21-27, 2019 BT QNS.COM
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