16 The QUEE NS Courier • august 14, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com The Doe Fund expands to include more Astoria streets BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com/@aaltamirano28 More Astoria streets are getting cleaner thanks to the “men in blue.” After hearing positive feedback from residents and business owners, The Doe Fund, which was initially brought to the western Queens neighborhood in April, will now expand street sweeping services to Steinway Street, Newtown Road, Ditmars Boulevard and 23rd Avenue, Councilman Costa Constantinides announced on Aug. 7. “This will be a boon to residents and small business owners across Astoria. The ‘men in blue’ will continue to provide reinforcements and additional resources to help keep Astoria clean,” said Constantinides, who has allocated over $130,000 for street sweeping by The Doe Fund as part of the new citywide initiative Clean NYC. The nonprofit organization, which employs recently homeless or formerly incarcerated people as part of its Ready, Willing & Able transitional work program, was keeping the sidewalks clean and clearing the corner trash cans along 30th Avenue, Broadway and 31st Street. “This program will increase the quality of life in Astoria, that’s the most important. Clean the street, find new jobs and community come together to be from corner trash cans once per day in Astoria, the concerned about the quality of life,” said Ahmed Jamil, expansion of The Doe Fund helps alleviate the trash president of the Muslim American Society. “At the end and littered streets which have previously caused problems of the day before, you saw the garbage on the streets in the neighborhood, such as sidewalk accessibility and you now don’t see it anymore.” and shopping issues, according to Constantinides. Although the Department of Sanitation collects trash “The Doe Fund, combined with community street and THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano graffiti clean-ups, will continue to make a difference in our district and across the city,” said Constantinides, who has also allocated $30,000 in funding for graffiti removal services. “Clean streets and buildings make our neighborhood more enjoyable and inviting — a win for everyone.” Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Parks and Recreation The Olmsted Center, a relic from the 1964 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is set for a makeover. Former 1964 World’s Fair office building set for upgrade BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com @liamlaguerre Recent talks of upgrading World’s Fair relics seem to focus on the New York State Pavilion. But the Olmsted Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which was constructed in 1964 and used as temporary offices for Robert Moses and the World’s Fair Corporation staff during the colossal event, is also getting a makeover. The Parks Department announced Aug. 4 that it is accepting bids for a contractor to renovate the center, which is named in honor of Frederick Law Olmsted, co-designer of Central, Prospect and Riverside parks. Today, the building houses the bulk of the agency’s capital project staff. The renovation project, which is designed by BKSK Architects, is split in two phases. The first is the expansion of the center with a new 10,000-square-foot annex building, which is nearing completion. The second phase, which will commence in early 2015 after a bid is selected, will technologically enhance the building and resolve flooding problems. It will include a new system to lead water into bioswales that will contain and absorb it. The renovated building will include Kebony wood for the walkways, complimented by steel railings and stainless steel cabling. The construction will also include new siding to improve the center’s resistance to weather, and reconfiguration of the interior to accommodate employees and people with disabilities. Bids for the project are due Sept. 8. Apartment building sells for $21 million BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com/@liamlaguerre A 103-unit apartment building in Elmhurst sold for $21 million, according to real estate company Massey Knakal, which announced the sale on Aug. 7. The six-story building, which is 89,000 square feet and has 21 indoor parking spaces, is located on the corner of 80th Street and 45th Avenue. The sale breaks down to approximately $203,883 per unit and $236 per square foot. There are 18 studios, 42 one-bedroom apartments and 43 two-bedroom units in the building. Massey Knakal said that the property is ideal for condominium conversion. Photo courtesy of Massey Knakal Real estate company Massey Knakal announced the sale of a six-story Elmhurst apartment building for $21 million.
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