4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 8, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM Court rules against proposed ‘Willets West’ mega mall near Citi Field in Queens BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76 New York’s highest court has ruled against a long-delayed proposal to develop on over 60 acres of public parkland in Corona. Th e New York State Court of Appeals announced on June 6 that the $3 billion development proposal by the Queens Development Group LLC (QDG) will not be able to move forward without approval from state legislature. “In sum, the text of the statute and its legislative history fl atly refute the proposition that the legislature granted the city the authority to construct a development such as Willets West in Flushing Meadows Park,” the majority ruled, referring to a law that allowed for Shea Stadium to be constructed on parkland in the 1960s. Th e two-phase development proposed by QDG, a joint venture between Sterling Equities and Related Companies, included plans to construct a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, public school and aff ordable housing in the area where Shea Stadium once stood, known as “Willets West.” Th e city approved QDG’s proposal in 2012, but an appellate court blocked the developers from using designated parkland without legislative approval in July 2015. Th e New York State Court of Appeals decided in November 2015 that it would consider QDG’s appeal to review the ruling that shot down the proposed project. Today, the project was shot down again by the court. Bayside-based state Senator Tony Avella, who was the lead plaintiff in the case against the developers, said the court’s decision was “music to his ears.” “Today’s decision was a resounding victory for the public trust doctrine and residents across New York state,” Avella said. “Th is land was intended to be used as parkland, not for the development of a mega-mall. In a city where public land is in short supply, simply handing over parkland would be an absolute disgrace and a betrayal of the public trust. Th is victory sets a precedent for decades to come that our government cannot give away our parkland or be complicit in a developer’s heist of public land.” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz put out a statement regarding the decision, stating that redevelopment at the site “must meet the city’s critical needs and ever-growing demand.” “Willets Point has been a topic of discussion for decades, and it’s now been nearly 10 years since the Urban Renewal Plan to redevelop this 61-acre parcel of untapped land,” Katz said. “Queens needs predictability and action in this highly coveted area of Willets Point. Th e City has immediate, desperate needs for aff ordable housing units and good jobs. In addition to the urban renewal plan proposals for hotels, soccer and hockey stadiums to attract even more visitors and generate economic activity and jobs have been abundant. We look forward to working together with the current administration and the community on identifying what’s in the best interest of the borough, and on an aggressive timeline to clean up the area and its nearby waterways. Former state Senator Hiram Monserrate, who recently announced a run for outgoing Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland’s council seat, put out a statement applauding the court’s decision. “I salute Senator Tony Avella and the Park advocates who stood up to protect our local park when our local offi cials went along with this immoral land grab,” Monserrate said. “Now the entire Willets Point Plan needs to be re-opened with the 2008 plan as a road map towards responsible development that benefi ts the people.” New safety changes for Northern Blvd. BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76 Changes are coming to some major Bayside and Douglaston corridors. Northern Boulevard between 223rd Street and Douglaston Parkway, the only road that connects Bayside to Douglaston, and the Alley Pond Park edge from Northern Boulevard to Springfi eld Boulevard will undergo changes to accommodate nearly 6 miles of protected bike lanes. Th e plans were presented by the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and approved by Community Board 11 at a June 5 meeting. “For a long time, some of the bicycle connections in Community Board 11 have been lacking, to say the least,” said DOT Deputy Borough Commissioner Al Silvestri. In addition to the protected bike lanes, the approved plans will also narrow travel lanes to calm traffi c, enact signal timing adjustments to improve pedestrian safety, and reduce the speed limit to 30 miles per hour along Northern Boulevard between 223rd Street and Douglaston Parkway. To accommodate the bike lane, one westbound lane of traffi c on Northern Boulevard will be removed. All three eastbound lanes will remain, per the board’s request. Last summer, 78-year-old Michael Schenkman was struck and killed by a car while riding his bicycle on Northern Boulevard to access the nearby Joe Michaels Mile bike path. Th e tragedy spurred volunteers part of the Transportation Alternatives group to begin a campaign for a protected bike route connecting the two neighborhoods. Individual members of the group testifi ed in favor of the project during public participation and presented the board with a petition with over 1,100 signatures in support. Michael Schenkman’s son Peter spoke at the meeting, calling current conditions for cyclists and pedestrians at the site “like playing a sick Frogger game,” trying to avoid oncoming traffi c. He called on the board to approve the project. In his remarks, Silvestri stated that the fatality caused the department to take “a hard look” at the conditions in the area. “I’ve nearly died biking on Northern Boulevard many times over the years, even as a teenager,” said Laura Shepard, Oakland Gardens resident. “Drivers speed on Northern Boulevard and don’t look out or yield to cyclists and pedestrians.” Aft er nearly two dozen individuals from the public spoke, a number of them from Transportation Alternatives, the board launched a discussion about the project. Board member Janet McEneaney suggested that the vote on the Northern Boulevard and Douglaston Parkway segments of the project be tabled until the board’s next meeting in September. Th e motion was narrowly denied with a close vote. Th e board then voted on each of the three parts of the plan, separately. Only one phase in the three-part project was not approved by the board. DOT proposed that the Douglaston Parkway roadway between Northern Boulevard and the Douglaston LIRR station be narrowed and that a bicycle lane be painted. With a tied vote of 15-15, the plans did not receive board approval. CB11 District Manager retires after 13 years BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76 Susan Seinfeld, District Manager at Community Board 11, is offi cially retiring from her post at the end of the month. She held the position for 13 years. The community leader was recognized at both the June 5 Community Board 11 meeting, her final meeting as District Manager, and at the June 6 111th Precinct Awards Night, receiving the Community Service Award. “It’s a thankless job,” Councilman Barry Grodenchik said to Seinfeld. “But you have done it with grace and style.” “Susan is one of the board members who will stick in my mind forever for all she has done,” said fellow board member Jack Fried. “It’s not an easy job … but I’d like to thank her for her work.” Seinfeld, who has a long career in public service, assured board members she would stay involved. Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS “I have been very honored to serve Community Board 11,” Seinfeld said. “I’m still going to be busy in the community.”
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