14 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 24, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Plans for new high school in Flushing withdrawn: offi cials BY ALINA SURIEL asuriel@queenscourier.com/@alinangelica The Department of Education has decided not to insert a 450-seat high school into the DOE District Offi ce at 30-48 Linden Pl., according to offi cials. City Councilman Peter Koo met with Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña earlier this year to express his opposition to the plan due to safety and congestion concerns. The chancellor stated at that meeting that the plans to build a high school would not go forward, and Koo received a written notice this week from the DOE confi rming the proposal’s cancellation. Koo said the area is already congested and any infl ux of new students must take into account existing and planned conditions of the neighborhood, including the future development of the nearby Whitestone Lanes. “We must remain vigilant to ensure that any future use of this location is appropriate for our community especially with regards to the number of students it will serve,” Koo said. State Senator Toby Stavisky said that while Queens is always in need of more schools, the space is not suitable to hold hundreds of high school students. “I am pleased the Department of Education has heard the concerns of the community,” Stavisky said. “This is the second time the DOE has considered this site for a school and I hope it’s the last time.” Community Board 7 Vice Chair Chuck Apelian stated that the board is proud to have worked closely with Koo to convince the DOE and SCA that a high school at Linden Place was an incorrect choice. “Our Board remains diligent for the best education interests for the children of our community and City Councilman Peter Koo, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and other offi cials opposed the school. we remain vigilant against any inappropriate future use at the Linden Place site.” According to Koo, the DOE correspondence still casts an uncertain light on the future of 30-48 Linden Pl.. The email from the DOE’s Intergovernmental offi ce states that while there will not be a regular school in the building, planning for the site is still Photo courtesy of Peter Koo’s offi ce fl uid and will likely include a mixed use building with some instructional programs for high schoolaged students. The administrative offi ces of School District 25 and an Alternative Learning Program are currently operating at the site. A 2007 proposal for a school in the building was also shot down after community outrage. WINNER 3 YEARS IN A ROW I WILL BETTER HEAR THIS YEAR Get CaptionCall® absolutely FREE! Contact our office to schedule a hearing evaluation, and see if you qualify to receive a CaptionCall phone at no cost! 516.708.4844 PLLC Great Neck 107 Northern Blvd, Suite 309 www.gbaudiology.com
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