6 The Queens Courier • OCTOBER 24, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com DOB reviewing Flushing Commons permit BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] Developers of the long-stalled $850 million Flushing Commons project have filed their first permit with the city’s Department of Buildings, according to Crain’s and city officials. A DOB spokesperson said the department received and will review an application from TDC Development International and The Rockefeller Group. The near decade-old project will bring housing and retail to downtown Flushing but, according to Crain’s, construction has to begin by October 31, under a contract between the city and developers. The two-phase project, when complete, will include a total of more than 600 residential units, 500,000- squarefeet of retail or commercial space and a new YMCA, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) said. It was broken into two phases as to not disturb nearby businesses and ease parking problems. A 62,000-square-foot YMCA, with two pools, a full-size gym and an indoor running track, will headline the first phase of the project, along with a 1.5-acre space with a fountain plaza and amphitheater, officials said. The second phase includes more housing, commercial and community space. Rendering Courtesy of New York City Economic Development Corporation Developers want to modify a portion of Municipal Lot 1 in downtown Flushing, though NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky said existing parking spaces would be maintained during construction. There will be a total of 1,600 parking spaces — an increase of 500 — at the project’s completion, according to officials. The development is expected to create more than 2,600 construction jobs and 1,900 permanent jobs, the NYCEDC said. With additional reporting by Terence M. 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The artists will also not be allowed to put any new art up during this time. “Truly it was a good result for us,” said Chanes. The developers hope to build two apartment towers – one 47 stories and the other 41 stories tall – with close to 1,000 rental apartments, 32,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space between them. However, according to Chanes, one of the biggest concerns is the fact that the artists’ working spaces are expected to be in the second tower, which developers have said would only be built if there is demand. Developers agreed with the City Council to build and staff the two buildings with 100 percent union workers, bringing more than 1,000 jobs to Long Island City, and also increase the number of affordable housing units from 75 to 210. Yet, the federal lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, claims the destruction of 5Pointz, which is home to over 350 works of unique aerosol art, would result in a violation of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, which gives visual artists limited moral rights and copyright law. Chanes said that as far as they know, this is the first case of street artists looking for legal protection of their work in the whole country. Although a lawyer for the Wolkoffs did not return calls for comment as of press time, according to court documents, both the Wolkoffs and G&M realty are claiming the artists had a “clear oral understanding and agreement that the site was absolutely going to be redeveloped.” The restraining order will be lifted on October 28, but during the 10 days the judge will review the facts on the case and the group hopes to put together an offer to buy the building from the Wolkoffs or come up with an alternative plan.
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