4 THE QUEENS COURIER • NOVEMBER 18, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens offi cials commemorate veterans in Elmhurst
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Local elected offi cials, including Queens
Borough President Donovan Richards
and District Attorney Melinda Katz, gathered
in Elmhurst Park to host a veterans
memorial ceremony on Wednesday,
Nov. 10.
“Every night that I put my kids to sleep
safely in their beds, I thank all of you
that are here today,” Katz said. “We take
a moment to acknowledge those men
and women around the world that makes
sure we continue to be able to be safe and
sound in our homes. You will never be
forgotten.”
About 40 Vietnam veterans joined the
offi cials at the Queens Vietnam Veterans
Memorial in Elmhurst. Katz said that she
remembered the disrespect many veterans
dealt with upon returning home aft er
the war, as Vietnam soldiers were looked
down upon by the anti-war movement,
unlike World War II veterans.
“Th at was a personal issue to me when
I became elected many years ago,” Katz
said. “I remember the men and women
coming home from Vietnam. I remember
what you all went through aft er fi ghting
for our country. It was imperative for
me to do something to show you honor,
respect and say, ‘Welcome home.’”
Sean McCabe receives an award from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz during veterans memorial
ceremony in Elmhurst Park on Nov. 10.
Th e Vietnam memorial was fully funded
by Katz, who was borough president at
the time and allocated over $2 million for
the project.
Katz also referenced the vandalism that
defaced the memorial in June. Th e graffi -
ti painted swastikas over the monument
and referred to veterans as “baby killers.”
“Many of us stood up here and made
sure folks realized this is a sacred site,
Photo by Julia Moro
and we will not stand for it being vandalized,”
Katz said. “It must be treated with
respect.”
Richards co-sponsored the event
to thank veterans for their service and
promised to always remember veterans’
sacrifi ces.
“I have the freedom to run for offi ce
because of each and every one of you,”
Richards said. “When we talk about
democracy and our country, I know
there’s a lot of political polarization out
there, but bottom line, this is the greatest
country on the face of the Earth.”
Richards also mentioned Queens is
home to the largest population of veterans
in the entire city and will work tirelessly
to make sure they are getting the
care they need.
“We need to continue to work hard
to ensure the benefi ts you deserve you
are sorely getting,” Richards said. “We
should never have veterans sleeping on
our streets who paid the biggest price and
in many ways the ultimate sacrifi ce for
our country.”
State Senator Joseph Addabbo also
spoke to the services veterans need.
“I’m of the belief Veterans Day is every
day, not just one day of the year,” Addabbo
said. “It’s not enough just to say ‘thank
you.’ As elected offi cials, we have an obligation
to address every single issue that
confronts a veteran of today. Whether
it be housing, mental health, the suicide
rate that must be addressed — we have an
obligation. Th at’s how you say ‘thank you’
to a veteran.”
Katz and Richards also handed out
awards.
Th e ceremony closed with the audience
calling out names of fallen veterans and a
signal for taps.
Read more on QNS.com.
Kaufman Astoria Studios sold to West Coast team
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Kaufman Astoria Studios has been sold
to the same consortium of Los Angelesbased
investors that acquired Silvercup
Studios in Long Island City last year.
Hackman Capital Partners and Square
Mile Capital Management announced the
purchase of the Kaufman Astoria Studios.
Built in 1920, Kaufman Astoria Studios was
the original home of Paramount Pictures
and has grown into one of the largest and
most sophisticated fi lm and television production
facilities on the East Coast.
Th e old Astoria Studios had become
dilapidated and abandoned aft er it
closed in the 1970s until the late George
Kaufman acquired the property in 1982,
helping to bring a renaissance to the surrounding
neighborhood.
“Kaufman Astoria Studios is excited
to start a new chapter in our 100+
year story,” Kaufman Astoria President
and CEO Hal Rosenbluth said. “Since
inception, the commitment and vision of
George Kaufman has been paramount to
revitalizing the greater Astoria community,
ensuring the fi lm and production
industry serves as a pillar and economic
driver for arts, culture and local small
businesses.”
In 2014, Kaufman Astoria Studios
became the anchor of the Kaufman Arts
District, which spans a 24-block area
and is home to seven institutions, including
the Museum of the Moving Image,
the Queens Council on the Arts and the
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed,
but when bids came in for Kaufman
Astoria Studios last March, it was believed
to be around $600 million for its more
than 500,000 square feet of production
space, including 11 sound stages and New
York City’s only studio backlot.
“We are beyond thrilled to add Kaufman
Astoria to our studio portfolio and excited
to further its legacy as a quintessential
destination for major motion pictures
and television shows,” Hackman Capital
Partners Founder and CEO Michel
Hackman said. “Th e studio has a remarkable
history and has been an incredibly
active and participating stakeholder in
rejuvenating the entire Astoria neighborhood.
We are excited to work with Hal
Rosenbluth and the entire KAS team, as
the studio continues to grow and excel as
one of the best production facilities in the
industry.”
Th e acquisition is not expected to
impact the Innovation QNS proposal, a
joint venture between Kaufman Astoria
Studios, Silverstein Properties and
BedRock Real Estate Partners to develop
a $2 billion mixed-use fi ve-block area centered
at the intersection of Steinway Street
and 35th Avenue.
Hackman Capital and Square Mile
Capital acquired Silvercup Studios in
Long Island City in September 2020
along with Th e Culver Studios and the
Television City Studios in Los Angeles, as
well as production studios in Ireland and
the United Kingdom.
Th e demand for production facilities
has increased across the industry with
the growth of streaming content in recent
years.
“Th e acquisition of the legendary
Kaufman Astoria Studios by our investment
partnership is another huge step
forward as we continue to build a portfolio
of iconic studio properties,” Square
Mile Capital CEO Craig Solomon said.
“As demand for facilities and production
services surges, we will continue to seek
more opportunities to serve the growing
content marketplace.”
In addition to owning and operating its
own studio assets, Hackman Capital and
its affi liate Th e MBS Group design, develop
and build studios; manage studios for
other studio owners; and provide global
studios and content creators with comprehensive
production services and studio
based equipment rentals.
“Working with Michael, Craig and the
MBS crew to grow the studio is the perfect
fi t we needed,” Rosenbluth said. “Kaufman
Astoria Studios looks forward to building
on our great history and expanding on the
landmark studios’ success. We are thrilled
that Kaufman Astoria will continue to
serve as an iconic studio within the growing
New York and television market.”
Photo courtesy of KAS
Kaufman Astoria Studios has been sold to the same West Coast group of investors that acquired
Silvercup Studios in Long Island City last year.
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