June 9, 2019 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
LOCAL
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PA GE 15
High tension over high-rise plans
Douglaston residents say senior housing tower bad for area’s quality of life
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Last Monday, Douglaston
residents came in droves to the
monthly Community Board 11
meeting to express opposition
to a proposed 15-story senior
living facility.
In May, developer David
Marx’s attorney Eric Palatnik
presented the proposal for the
facility at 242-22 61st Ave. to
Deepdale Gardens and Beech
Hills shareholders. According to
the plan Palatnik presented, the
facility would be located between
the Douglaston Shopping Center
and the Douglaston Golf Course.
Marx proposed a zoning height
authorization to the Douglaston
Zoning Committee. The variance
would make it possible to build a
15-story building as opposed to a
maximum of four stories as the
current zoning allows.
“The Proposed Development,
although taller than buildings
in the surrounding area, is
appropriate at this site given its
isolated, elevated location and
would not impair the essential
character of the neighborhood
or cast shadows on neighboring
residences that would diminish
their quality of life. The
Proposed Development would
provide a quality assisted living
facility for seniors, a vulnerable
and underserved population
throughout New York City,” wrote
Palatnik in the written proposal.
Residents strongly opposed the
proposal, charging that the New
York State Department of Health
facility would have adverse
effects on the surrounding area
and residents.
“The proposed height would
greatly change the character of
our neighborhood,” said Mindy
Stein, a member of the Beech
Hills Board of Directors.
Stein added that the 15-story
building would “block the sun
and air, create traffic and noise
A MATTER OF PRIDE IN QUEENS
Thousands waved rainbow flags and cheered on the participants in the Queens Pride Parade through
Jackson Heights on June 2. Photo by Dean Moses
Tire thieves
plague SE
Queens: cops
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Following a large up-tick
of car rims and tire thefts
in southeast Queens, the
105th Precinct is cautioning
community residents to
stay vigilant and safeguard
their vehicles.
As of April 11, there have
been 26 reports of car rims
and tire thefts that occurred
in the middle of the night
in several neighborhoods,
according to 105th Precinct
executive officer, Captain
Kevin Chan.
“The majority of the theft
has been the newer sports
model 2018/2019 Honda Accord
tires and rims,” said Chan.
“These vehicles are placed on
cinder blocks or milk crates
after the tires and rims
are removed.”
According to Chan, the
spike in car rims and tire
larcenies is affecting all
communities in the 105th
Precinct which includes
Queens Village, Cambria
Continued on Page 14 Continued on Page 12
Gunman sought for
robbing man in R’wood
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
Cops are looking for a crook who robbed a man
at gunpoint on the streets of Ridgewood early
Tuesday morning.
Police say that at just before 1:30 a.m. on
‘Murder’ moniker mars DA debate
BY MARK HALLUM
Retired Judge Gregory
Lasak was confronted by
a fellow Democrat for
his reputation under the
unofficial appellation
of “Mr. Murder” during
some of his tenure
serving in the Queens
district attorney’s
office at a Monday
night candidates forum
in Sunnyside.
Mina Malik squared
off against Lasak near
the end of the forum at
Sunnyside Community
Services not only
regarding his nickname
but also in challenging
Lasak’s claim that
he created a unit for
identifying wrongly
convicted individuals.
Mina Malik (right) addresses the “Judge Lasak, you
crowd in Sunnyside on June 1.
Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 14
Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
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