CB 5 Committee Approves Zoning Change For Industrial R’wood Site What’s your opinion? Send an email to [email protected] TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 • 32 to 118 parking spaces in an underground garage. The structure would also include a 1,500 sq. ft. community room. Repeating comments voiced at a Board 5 public hearing on the matter last month, Ridgewood residents living near the site told committee members they welcomed the proposal. Antonia Guzman stated the lot— presently used to store construction vehicles and equipment—is a magnet for prostitution, littering and other quality-of-life problems. Having a residential building there, she claimed, would help make the area clean and safe. “We’re better off with building these houses,” added Ridgewood resident Mervin Paugh. “I’m for building these houses. Something should be done.” Others in the area, however, voiced concerns over how the project would impact rent levels in the surrounding community. Rob Solano, executive director of Churches United for Fair Housing based at St. Brigid Church in Brooklyn, noted rents have been “going up little by little” in Ridgewood and Bushwick as the demand for housing increased in recent years. The new development, he feared, may drive rents beyond a reasonable point for most residents living in the community. Attorney David Schwartz, speaking on behalf of the owner of 176 Woodward Ave., tried to allay those fears, noting all rents in the Man Shot To Death In Bushwick Results Of Participatory Budget Vote HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR CHILD’S HOMEWORK TODAY? A rendering of the proposed apartment house at 176 Woodward Ave. in Ridgewood. Cops Slam Brakes On Woodside Drag Racers Each defendant faces up to one year in prison if convicted. Rivera, Marr, James and Nolesco are alleged to have participated in races between 1:15 and 1:40 a.m., while Lozano and Henry are alleged to have acted as flagmen for several races, law enforcement sources said. In a press release, Brown said “Turning the streets of Queens into speedways endangers not only innocent pedestrians but also the spectators and drivers who are drawn to these dangerous spectacles. Such illegal speed contests have no place on the streets of our city.” Brown said officers were able to effect the arrests by boxing in the drivers and blocking Laurel Hill Boulevard from 48th Street to 58th Street with barricade trucks and vans. “These arrests send a clear message that disregarding the safety and welfare of Queens residents will not be tolerated,” Bratton said. Residents reacted at the COMET the meeting Monday, Apr. 7 and were told of the arrests during an update on crime in the area by Capt. Hugh Bogle, 108th Precinct executive officer Rosemarie Daraio, COMET Civic Association president said the drivers pose a threat not just to other motorists, but crowds that gather to watch pose a safety issue as well. “There can be 400 spectators there,” Daraio said. Drivers congregate at area gas stations or fast food places, then head to locations where races are held on public streets. To combat crowds watching, officers also gave summonses to 57 others that were watching the races, Bogle reported. According to multiple police sources and the Queens DA’s office, four cars were seized in connection with the arrests. These vehicles will be searched with warrants to determine if they were illegally altered to add extra horsepower or performance. Four smartphones were also seized. Police will examine the phones to find out if the defendants posted any photos or videos regarding planning or participating in races on social media, it was reported. To Daraio, the issue is “a serious, serious problem.” Bogle knows drag races along this strip have been an ongoing problem and his command is dedicated to root out these reckless drivers, particularly after Mayor Bill de Blasio made traffic and pedestrian safety a priority of his administration. Bogle said going forward the precinct will keep a watchful eye on popular racing corridors “and look to see if people are there.” He also said the precinct will conduct “sweeps” once a month and “continue to monitor it and make sure they get the message.” Daraio asked the meeting to call their local precinct if they hear or see a dag race, or become aware of a potentially dangerous situation developing. “If you hear something you should call the precinct,” she said. Assistant District Attorney Oscar W. Ruiz, deputy bureau chief of the District Attorney’s Special Proceedings Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Investigations Division Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Division Linda M. Cantoni. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- then fled from the scene in an unkown direction. Officers from the 83rd Precinct and EMS units rushed to the location after receiving a 911 call about the shooting. Paramedics pronounced Martinez dead at the scene. Various police units canvassed the surrounding area for evidence and possible suspects. Despite their efforts, it was noted, no immediate arrests were made. The case was presented to the 83rd Precinct Detective Squad for further investigation, police said. Anyone with information regarding the murder that could prove helpful is asked to call the 83rd Precinct Detective Squad at 1- 718-574-1796 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Information may also be sent to Crime Stoppers via text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. All calls and messages will be kept confidential. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- If You See Breaking News On Your Block... Contact The Times Newsweekly Call 1-718-821-7500 • Email [email protected] popular project; 96 votes were cast for the proposal, which is estimated to cost $150,000. The fifth and final project, receiving 93 votes, was $100,000 in capital funding toward interior renovations at the Richmond Hill library. Missing the cut were upgrades at the 102nd Precinct’s Richmond Hill stationhouse; new hiking trail signs at Forest Park; new fencing and signage at the Forest Park dog run; and renovations to Richmond Hill’s Marco Giovanelli Playground. Under participatory budgeting, voters in a City Council member’s district get a chance to form and vote on a list of capital projects for the next fiscal year budget; generally, each participating council district receives about $1 million in funds for these projects. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 4- proposed apartment house would be stabilized for at least 15 years. The owners agreed to rent stabilization in order to receive a 421-A state tax abatement for the same period of time.A s previously reported, proposed rents for the building range from $1,000 for each studio unit to $1,800 for a three-bedroom apartment. Rent stabilization, Schwartz explained, would affect the building’s first tenants, as their rents would only increased annually on rates agreed upon by the Rent Stabilization Board. “If a tenant leaves, at the end of the 15-year tax exemption period, the apartment will no longer be rent stabilized,” he noted. Schwartz later suggested the owners were charging rents at or lower than the market rate for similar Ridgewood dwellings. Resident Manny Jalonschi also cautioned the committee that provisions must be made to ensure the new building does not overwhelm local schools and infrastructure. He also expressed reservations about the loss of manufacturing areas, which could jeopardize long-term economic development in the neighborhood. Those sentiments were echoed by committee members Paul Kerzner and Ted Renz, who offered an alternative development and zoning plan. Kerzner suggested the Department of City Planning institute “MX” mixed zoning code in Ridgewood to allow the developer to build a four-story building, with the ground floors occupied by “industrial condos” and the upper floors reserved as condominium or co- -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- operative apartments. “There is a growing momentum for manufacturing jobs. They are coming back to the city,” Kerzner said, adding that there needs to be space for such industries to return. Selling industrial condos, he noted, would prove affordable for light manufacturers such as textile producers. “I see this as a policy issue,” Renz added. “Having a mixed use community is a very efficient community,” as many residents would be within walking distance from their jobs. Kerzner also feared a precedent would be set by the board recommending the conversion of industrially-zoned property to residential space. If this proposal were to proceed, he claimed, property owners in other manufacturing areas in Board 5’s confines would seek similar changes. Tom Smith of the Department of City Planning called the MX idea “very interesting,” but cautioned it would need “to be looked at extremely closely” in the future. Mandating that owners develop condominiums or co-operative apartments would also be “difficult, if not impossible,” Smith added. Committee member Kathy Masi also dismissed the notion of a precedent, as the situations would differ depending on each individual case. Another committee member, Daniel Creighton, charged the board had no right to tell a property owner what to do with their property. The committee’s resolution in support of the rezoning and development was scheduled to be voted on by Board 5 at its meeting last night, Wednesday, Apr. 9. More details will be featured in next week’s issue.
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