Senator Seeks ‘New Direction’ For The Glendale Shelter Site The project brought much opposition from local residents, civic leaders and elected officials alike for a variety of reasons, including socioeconomic and environmental factors. Addabbo stated he met with Taylor and Barrios-Paoli late last year to express his opposition to the shelter plan and, at a followup meeting, plans to push other possible uses for the site, including senior housing. “I suggested previously housing for seniors or veterans and addressing a need the city has, but also a use that’s more appropriate for the community,” the senator said. “Senior housing does not overburden the alreadybursting, overcrowded district.” “Let’s start the conversation for a use of the property that serves the needs of the community and city,” Addabbo added. Opponents of the proposed shelter previously offered myriad reasons against moving forward with the plan, including questions about the site’s environmental safety. Zoned for manufacturing use, the former factory previously housed industries that used heavy metals and is located adjacent to the Independent Chemical Corporation, which stores various toxic materials. The Glendale Middle Village Coalition (GMVC)—an alliance of civic, community and business groups against the shelter—filed a legal injunction against the DHS’ environmental assessment report issued last July which declared the site safe for development. The coalition claimed the independent firm hired to assess the site did not fulfill its obligations and seeks a more in-depth study. Dawn Scala, a GMVC member, reported during the Community Board 5 meeting last Wednesday, Jan. 14, that the city filed a formal response to the coalition’sArticle 78 proceeding. The coalition, in turn, offered a legal rebuttal and is awaiting a formal hearing, which could take place in February. Should a judge agree to declare the environmental assessment statement null and void, as previously reported, the DHS would be compelled to conduct a draft environmental impact study that could take several years—and cost millions of dollars—to complete. Addabbo also believes “the environmental assessment was inaccurate” and indicated he would seek a full cleanup of the location prior to any development should extensive contamination be found on site. Other lawmakers called for the site to be cleaned and consolidated with the nearby Independent Chemical and the former Hansel ’n Gretel deli meat factory for construction of a public school campus. Addabbo claimed that both Taylor and Barrios indicated a school campus was not on the city’s radar. In considering alternative uses for the shelter site, the senator stated he would also press for bringing new industries or manufacturing businesses to the location. “That should be part of the conversation, no question,” he said.D uring last Wednesday’s meeting, Board 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri also suggested that the site should be used for its intended purpose rather than as a shelter. Regarding current action at the shelter site, Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano stated last Wednesday that the site’s owner, Michael Wilner, successfully combined several lots on the site, which makes it easier for development.Wilner is reportedly leasing the site to Samaritan Village. However, the Department of Buildings recently rejected amended renovation permits at the factory, Giordano noted. Board 5 member Kathy Masi noted Wilner also filed a request to waive a requirement to seek approval from the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) prior to redeveloping the location. The LIRR’s Montauk branch, now exclusively used for freight rail traffic, runs adjacent to the factory and has an inactive rail siding leading into the building. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- Concerns Over Cross Harbor Freight Project Plans Top Board 5 Meeting “You’re talking about another 4,500 trucks on the roads and they want to get them off the bridges and tunnels,” Arcuri added. “Where do you put the people and warehousing of the trucks?Where do you do it?” Moreover, the chairperson noted, the Bay Ridge Line itself would need costly improvements to handle modern freight rail cars. Specifically, he stated, the track would need to be lowered so the taller cars could pass under existing roadways. The price tag for the tunnel options—which the Port Authority estimates at ranging between $7 and $11 billion— should be reason enough to convince the entity to consider increased barging, according to John Maier, Board 5’s Public Transit Committee co-chair. “It would behoove us to advocate more for barging and steer them away from the tunnels, which they already admitted they have no money for,” he said. Arcuri and Parisen urged residents to attend and make their voices heard at a Port Authority public hearing on the matter scheduled to take place next Thursday, Jan. 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Queens Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens. Street festivals With the board scheduled to vote on upcoming street fair applications next month, one Ridgewood resident urged the advisory body to deny renewal for the annual Fresh Pond Road street festival. Speaking during the public forum, the resident—who requested his name withheld from publication—said he and his neighbors are inconvenienced during the four-day September feast, which shuts down a fiveblock section of Fresh Pond Road betweenWoodbine andMenahan streets. “The noise and litter produced as a result of this feast is unbearable to the people in the area,” the resident said. “The street closures make it impossible for cars to move or park.” Public drinking also occurs during the feast, he noted, causing unruly behavior among patrons. The resident also claimed the vendors leave piles of waste behind after the fair which residents are left to clean. Operated by the Federazione Italo-Americana di Brooklyn and Queens, the Fresh Pond Road street festival application is annually disputed among Board 5 members generally for the feast’s length and traffic problems resulting from the road’s closure. Despite opposition from several Ridgewood members, the board has annually recommended approval of the application. Arcuri said the Board 5 Executive Committee will again consider the Fresh Pond Road street fair permit, and applications for other street fairs in the Board 5 area, during its next meeting. Recommendations for or against each application are scheduled to be presented to the full board at the February meeting. The other street fair applications which the board received as of last Wednesday’s meeting are the following: • the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation for a fair on Myrtle Avenue between Wyckoff Avenue and Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood on Sunday, Apr. 12; • the Kiwanis Clubs of Glendale and Middle Village for a street fair on Metropolitan Avenue between 73rd Place and 79th Street in Middle Village on Sunday, May 3; • the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce, the Maspeth Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club of Maspeth for a street fair on Grand Avenue between 65th and 72nd streets in Maspeth on Sunday, May 31; • the Kiwanis Club of Glendale for a street fair on Myrtle Avenue between Forest Avenue and Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood on Sunday, Aug. 16; and • the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District for a street fair on Myrtle Avenue between Wyckoff Avenue and Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood on Sunday, Sept. 13. Other news Zara Sheik of Forestdale Foster Care Services outlined the organization’s mission to assist children in need, and encouraged local residents to consider becoming foster parents. Adults 21 years of age or over who are in good health and are financially stable are considered ideal candidates to assist foster children. Foster parents are required to provide a safe and nurturing home for children of various ages who entered into foster care after experiencing abuse, maltreatment, inadequate supervision and other extraordinary circumstances. Sheik said all foster parent candidates must complete a 30 hour training session and, if chosen to serve, will receive a monthly stipend from the city to cover their expenses. For more information, contact Sheik at 1-718-263-0740, ext. 299.M ario Matos, representing Maspeth High School, announced the students are doing well on state Regents exams, with 97.6 percent of students passing the living environment test; 96.8 percent passing the English language arts exam; 98 percent passing the global studies test; and 98.3 percent passing the U.S. history exam. Moreover, Maspeth High will graduate its first senior class this year, and half of them are projected to receive an advanced Regents diploma, Matos added. Liquor licenses Arcuri announced that the board received the following liquor license applications for review: • New liquor licenses for Taqueria Kermes Inc., 66-36 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood; Fonda Cubana, 913 Wyckoff Ave., Ridgewood; The Ridgewood Ale House, 57-38 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood; Allan Windsor and Kathryn Sullivan, d.b.a Black Fish LLC, 66-48 Myrtle Ave., Glendale (formerly Farrell’s Pub); and The Bad Old Days LLC, d.b.a. The Bad Old Days, 1684 Woodbine St., Ridgewood. • Liquor license renewals for Mickey’s Little Garden Inc., 61- 21 Fresh Pond Rd., Middle Village; Richie’s Pub Inc., d.b.a. Richie’s Pub, 69-47 Grand Ave., Maspeth; Ridgewood Lodge 1642 Local Order of Moose Inc., 72-15 Grand Ave., Maspeth; GISS Restaurant Corp., d.b.a. Paradise Bar Restaurant and Garden, 678 Woodward Ave., Ridgewood; Nicole Kelly Pub Inc., 62-10 Woodhaven Blvd., Rego Park; JNS Ventures Ltd., d.b.a. Vixen, 60-07 Metropolitan Ave., Ridgewood; Frank Kowalinski Post 4, Polish Legion of American Veterans, 61-57 Maspeth Ave., Maspeth; Gottscheer Central Holding Co. Inc., 655-657 Fairview Ave., Ridgewood; and TJ’s Sports Bar, 60-54 Fresh Pond Rd., Maspeth. • Wine and/or beer license renewals for 6265 Exclusive Rosa’s Corp., d.b.a. Rosa’s Pizza, 62-65 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood; CBC Pizza Corp., d.b.a. Glendale Pizza, 68-27 MyrtleAve., Glendale; and Carlo Pizza of Metropolitan Ave. Inc., 74-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village. Those who wish to comment on any of the applications may do so by calling Board 5 at 1-718- 366-1834. The next Community Board 5 meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday night, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 3- TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 • 28 Let The Times Newsweekly Classfieds Work For You! Call Us Today At 1-718-821-7500
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