QNE_p042

QC01192017

42 THE QUEENS COURIER • WHITESTONE • JANUARY 19, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM living in college point & whitestone This project will take stink out of Flushing Bay BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com @smont76 Parts of Flushing Bay are about to get a long-overdue cleanup. The city Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced plans to dredge portions of Flushing Bay by the World’s Fair Marina with long-reach excavators to “improve the health of the waterway and significantly reduce nuisance odors.” Th e $34 million project is slated to start this month. Equipment was being mobilized for the project last week and dredging operations are expected to occur over a 24-hour period, seven days a week. Dredging work is expected to be completed this year, according to the DEP. Th e project also includes plans to enhance more than three acres of existing wetlands and remove 78 deteriorated timber piles, an abandoned pier and non-native trees at the site. Th is work is slated to continue over the next several years. Th e release states boaters with vessels docked at the marina will have access to their watercraft s at all times. “Th is $34 million dredging and wetland expansion project will help to clean up Flushing Bay and improve the quality Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Transpoman of life for the residents of northern Queens,” DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “I’d like to thank our partners who have worked with us on the extensive planning needed to carry out this project and we look forward to working together on our many other initiatives that will enhance the environment in and around Flushing Bay.” Local politicians also spoke out about the impact of the upcoming project. “At long last, Flushing Bay will receive this integral cleanup,” Councilman Paul Vallone said. “With the reduction of the unbearable odors and a now healthier waterway, the DEP’s eff orts will provide much relief to my constituents.” “Th e rapid real estate development in Flushing and throughout Queens has shined a spotlight on the urgent need to devote more resources to our surrounding waterways,” Councilman Peter Koo added. “I would like to thank DEP for committing these necessary resources to our community, and I encourage the city to continue expanding this push toward sustainability to the rest of our underserved waterways.” Half of ‘The Bridges’ project in Whitestone gets approval BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@smont76 At its Jan. 9 meeting, Community Board 7 voted unanimously in favor of an application to build 22 single-family homes along a Whitestone street that is not legally mapped. Th e houses would be built along the soon-to-be constructed “Sullivan Drive” within Th e Bridges at Whitestone — a development of custom-built homes on a 6-acre plot of land between 150th Street, 6th Avenue and Powells Cove Boulevard. Th e 22 homes in the application are part of a total of 45 homes planned for the location. Board Chairperson Eugene Kelty said the application was previously tabled while the board waited for documents from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) addressing concerns regarding the street. Prior to the Jan. 9 meeting, the board received the documentation. According to Eric Palatnik, attorney for the applicant, the 22 homes would be built along Sullivan Drive and the development will not be gated. “It will not be a gated community,” Palatnik said. “To the naked eye, it will look like every other street.” THE COURIER/File photo Photo of the 6-acre plot of land on the day of groundbreaking. Board member Kevin Shields Sr. made a motion to approve the application. Th e vote was unanimously in favor. Th e application still must go on to the Board of Standards and Appeals. Th e Bridges at Whitestone project is being led by O’Sullivan Builders and Developers — a Whitestone-based company — and broke ground in November 2015. According to their website, houses at the development start at $1,628,000. Situated in the northernmost corner of Queens, the development’s name is inspired by its position between the Whitestone and Th rogs Neck bridges. Flushing Bay GRAND OPENING CALL US TODAY! TO SCHEDULE YOUR PETS NEXT GROOMING Your furry friends will be in good hands here at Lola’s Grooming Salon. We have over 20 years of grooming experience. Your pet will get the best treatment at Lola’s Grooming Salon. 10% OFF YOUR FIRST SERVICE May not to be combined with any other offer. $5 OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE Minimum Purchase of $50 May not to be combined with any other offer. 718-460-LOLA (5652) 20-28 College Point Blvd., College Point, NY 11356 www.LolasGroomingSalon.com Like us on Facebook


QC01192017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above