28 The Queens Courier • august 29, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Hunter’s Point South Park opens BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Talk about a view. Mayor Michael Bloomberg gathered with local elected officials, community members and residents on Wednesday, August 28 to cut the ribbon on the new 5.5-acre Hunter’s Point South Park located on Center Boulevard in Long Island City. “Opening up more of our city’s waterfront Commission approves 5Pointz towers BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] 5Pointz, the graffiti-covered warehouses in Long Island City, is one step closer to becoming two highrise apartment buildings. On August 21, the City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the land use application that would allow the Wolkoff family, owners of the property on Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, to build apartment towers to larger dimensions than allowed by current zoning rules. One tower would reach 47 stories and the other 41 stories, with close to 1,000 rental apartments, 30,000-square-feet of outdoor public THE COURIER/File photo The City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the plan that would bring thousands of apartments, retail space and parkland to the Astoria waterfront. Hallets Point one space and 50,000-square-feet of allowed by current zoning rules. retail space between them. In July, the developers altered the step closer to reality initial plan after listening to comments from Community Board 2 (CB2). G&M Realty’s plan includes about 78 affordable housing units, BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO an addition of 10,000 square feet to [email protected] the initial 2,000 square feet planned for artists’ studios and community Thousands of residential apartments, use of the parking garage for belowmarket retail space and parkland are closer rates. to coming to the Astoria waterfront at The plan also includes the installation Hallets Point, home to the NYCHA of art panels on the street to Astoria Houses. continue to display artists’ works. On August 21 the City Planning There will also be a program to Commission voted unanimously to curate the art and establish a community approve the plan presented by Lincoln advisory group to work with Equities Group, the company behind CB 2 before, during and after construction. the estimated billion-dollar complex called the Hallets Point project. CB 2 voted against the owners’ In 2012, the development group land use application in June. announced it would build seven multifamily However, constructing the towers is within their rights. In July, Borough President Helen Marshall announced she approved THE COURIER/ File Photo The City Planning Commission voted to allow the owners of the warehouses known as 5Pointz to construct two apartment towers beyond what is the Wolkoff’s land use application. The application still needs to be approved by the City Council, followed by the mayor. “Once City Planning delivers the application to the New York City Council, which we anticipate to be sometime this week, I will call the matter up,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. “By calling it up we will trigger a 50-day window in which the City Council must vote on this application. Once this happens there will be two public City Council hearings at which the public will be invited to comment and testify. I will review the application at City Planning’s recommendation.” Van Bramer said he will take part in the public meetings and also meet with stakeholders to make the decision based on what he believes “is best for Long Island City.” residential towers consisting of 2,200 units. Twenty percent of the apartments will be affordable housing. The location will also include retail space featuring supermarkets, drugstores and restaurants. A 100,000-square-foot public park, outfitted with pedestrian walkways and bike paths winding along the waterfront, is also expected to be included. Robert Schenkel, Lincoln Equities development director, previously said the project would be a positive change to Hallets Points, bringing new housing, an affordable supermarket, a spot for a K-8 public school and a landscaped waterfront path. The plan will now go before the City Council. If the plan is approved, construction is expected to begin in late 2014 or early 2015. for public enjoyment has been a top priority for this administration,” said Bloomberg. “Around the city, we’ve reclaimed abandoned or neglected parts of our waterfront, and turning them into innovative open spaces. I know that Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park will quickly join the list of beloved green spaces along our city’s shores.” The park features a central open green space, an urban beach with actual sand, a rail garden, dog run and play area featuring a children’s playground and basketball courts. It will also include a 13,000-square-foot pavilion housing comfort stations, concessions and an elevated café plaza. Parkgoers can also catch the East River ferry right by the park. “For decades to come, future generations of Long Island City residents and Queens parkgoers will be able to enjoy the panoramic views of New York City’s skyline on 5.5-acres of parkland that have never existed before,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who helped secure funds to bring natural grass to the park. Hunter’s Point South Park was also constructed to be prepared for any future natural disasters and flooding of the East River. The park is part of the Hunter’s Point South development project which broke ground in March. The first two residential buildings will include 925 permanently affordable apartments and around 17,000 square feet of retail space. In addition, the project includes a new school building which is almost near completion and will house The Academy for Careers in Television and Film High School and a middle school. This project will be the largest new affordable housing complex to be constructed in New York City since the 1970s. “Long Island City is the most exciting neighborhood in New York and as it continues to grow, it is crucial that public access to the East River waterfront is secured,” said Senator Michael Gianaris. “Together with Gantry State Park, the LIC waterfront will now be a jewel among New York’s parks.” Construction of the park was led by the City Economic Development Corporation, and landscape architecture firm Thomas Balsley Associates and architect firm Weiss/Manfredi designed the park. THE COURIER/ Photo by Angy Altamirano Hunter’s Point South Park is bringing 5.5 acres of open green space, a dog run, playground, rail garden and urban beach to the Long Island City waterfront.
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