6 The Queens Courier • JUNE 13, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Board approves variance for Scobee parking lot BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] Community Board 11 approved a variance that would shift parking at the former Scobee Diner site. The variance, which moves the parking lot to the back of the property, will improve safety, said Matt Carmody, a traffic engineer for new owner Lion Bee Equities. He said otherwise, drivers would have to back on to Northern Boulevard when leaving the popular eatery, thus holding up traffic and leading to accidents. The variance will also convert some parking spaces in a residential zone to commercial spots. There will be 17 parking spaces in the new lot, including one handicapped space. Scobee’s shut down two years ago when restaurant owners failed to reach agreement on purchasing the 252-29 Northern Boulevard property from the landowners. Lion Bee Equities, a Great Neck-based company, has proposed transforming the site into a CitiBank on the first floor and a dentist’s office on the second. The CitiBank would include a drivethru ATM with a Little Neck Parkway entrance. Drivers would exit onto Northern Boulevard. The community board’s Little Neck Land Use Committee originally told the THE COURIER/File photo Community Board 11 approved a variance to move parking to the back of the former Scobee Diner site. developer to bring back a plan without a drive-thru ATM. But board members said removing the ATM turned out to be a non-starter. Residents and some board members are worried the plan will turn Little Neck Parkway into a heavily congested area. Vivien Lenk, who lives two blocks from the site, said the current plan could pose safety risks at the busy intersection with cars coming in and out. “It’s really an accident, or many accidents, waiting to happen,” she said. The board voted 24-18 to approve the variance on June 10. BAD HAND Queens casino may be a no-go BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] It could be no dice for full gaming at Resorts World Casino New York City if a new bill in Albany goes through. A full gaming bill would allow games such as blackjack, roulette and poker to be legal in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plan, the Upstate NY Gaming Economic Development Act, calls for three upstate casinos if the referendum is passed by voters in November. A downstate casino — anything south of Putnam and Rockland Counties — would have to wait until the first upstate one has opened five years from now. Queens legislators have said if New York City is left out, it would kill 1,000 expected jobs and an economic boost for south Queens. Cuomo first introduced the idea during his State of the State address this January. It was part of a push for more upstate tourism. The legislature has until June 20 to negotiate and pass the bill through both the Senate and Assembly before ending for the summer. Cuomo emphasized his priorities on WNYC’s “Capitol Pressroom” on Tuesday, June 11. “That’s about the upstate economy,” he said. “We’re trying to keep the emphasis on upstate.” Queens legislators and business leaders held a press conference on May 28 calling for a “fair share” in the gaming bill. They argued that Resorts World could expand by January 2014 if voters approve gaming this November. Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder, whose district includes the Racino, said the area needs jobs and further economic activity in the wake of Sandy. He contends that expanding gaming at Resorts World would give the needed push. “I think that the bill’s a good starting point, but I don’t see how I can support a bill that doesn’t recognize the need for job creation in southern Queens and Rockaway,” he said. State Senator John Bonacic, chair of the Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, has been supportive of Resorts World becoming a full casino if the bill is passed. He called for the governor to change the gaming plan to include Queens and put the kibosh on any ideas for a casino in Nassau County. Bonacic has proposed a bill that would establish upstate casinos before granting two casinos to Queens or Westchester County between 2019 and 2021. State Senator Joseph Addabbo said he could not support Cuomo’s bill in its current form. If Cuomo’s bill passes both chambers, Addabbo said voters might not support a plan that leaves the city out. “The people vote no,” he said, “This whole thing comes down like a house of cards.” BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FREE Measuring & Installation w/purchase of $100. • Draperies • Vertical Blinds • Honeycomb Shades • Custom Window Shades • Mini Blinds Nobody Beats Our Prices! 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Come to a Free Workshop on Wills Living Trusts & Medicaid Planning June 27th at 6:15-8:15 Citibank 64-20 108th St Forest Hills, NY 11375 July 11th 6:30-8:00 Queensborough Public Library- Central library 89-11 Merrick Blvd, Queens, NY 11432 June 18th 11:30-1:30 June 19th 5:30-7:30 June 26th 1:00-3:00 Seating is Limited. Refreshments Served. Call now to reserve your seat 718-275-7779 At the workshop, we will discuss several issues, including: -The advantages and disadvantage of Wills and Living Trusts -How to plan before you need Long Term Care -How to protect your children’s inheritance from future ex-spouses, lawsuits and other claims Presented By Law Firm of Albert Cohen, P.C. 104-70 Queens Blvd., Suite 312 Forest Hills, NY 11375 718-275-7779 www.cohenestateplanning.com
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