4 APRIL 18, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Nonprofi t buys Glen. rent-stabilized bldgs.
Truck strikes cyclist on street
near Maspeth/Woodside border
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
EDAVENPORT@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
A cyclist was critically
injured aft er being hit by
a truck at an intersection
on the Maspeth/Woodside border
last week, law enforcement sources
reported.
According to police, at 7:40
a.m. on April 11 officers from the
108th Precinct responded to a 911
call regarding a cyclist hit at the
intersection of 69th Street and
Maurice Avenue.
Upon their arrival, police
found that a man was riding his
bike at the location when he was
hit by a truck.
EMS rushed the victim to
Elmhurst Hospital in critical
condition.
The truck driver remained at
the scene following the collision.
No arrests have been made at
this time and the investigation
is ongoing.
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
A trio of apartment houses near
the Glendale/RidgewoWod
border with a combined 72
rent-regulated apartment units
have been sold to nonprofi t groups
aiming to keep the buildings
aff ordable for all.
Ariel Property Advisors announced
on April 11 the closure of the $15.96
million deal for three four-story
apartment houses at 71-15, 71-21 and 71-
27 65th St., off Myrtle Avenue — which
the fi rm referred to as the “Glendale
Multifamily Portfolio.” The buildings
are listed as being rent-regulated in the
2017 state Department of Homes and
Community Renewal registry.
The portfolio’s buyers were
identifi ed as a group led by Rockabill
Development, which boasts on its
website of specializing “in providing
consulting services and being as a
development partner to the aff ordable
housing industry since 2007.” Rockabill
notes that it also “primarily serves the
nonprofi t community.”
An examination of Department of
Finance records further revealed
that Rockabill was joined in the
acquisition with a group called Selfh elp
Glendale Housing Development Fund
Inc., with offi ces at 581 Eighth Ave.
in Manhattan.
That’s also the headquarters
of Selfhelp Community Services, a
nonprofi t organization which operates a
slew of senior housing complexes across
the city — seven of which are in Bayside
and Flushing.
Sandy Myers, vice president for
external relations and communications
at Selfhelp Community Services,
confirmed to QNS on Thursday
that Selfhelp Glendale Housing
Development Fund is indeed affi liated
with the nonprofi t group. The plan
is to preserve the three buildings’
affordability while also providing
expanded services to residents who
may need them.
“This development is a preservation
deal through the Department
of Housing Preservation and
Development’s Neighborhood Pillars
program to preserve affordable
housing,” Myers said. “No one is being
moved out.”
According to sources familiar with
the transaction, Rockabill handled the
acquisition and will assist Selfh elp in
procuring funding for the housing
program. Selfh elp, in turn, will provide
various services to the tenants. Myers
explained that would include assistance
regarding various social and health
care services.
Three apartment houses at 71-15, 71-21 and 71-27 65th St. in Glendale have
been sold for $15.96 million. Photo via Google Maps
About 88 percent of the three
buildings’ units are rent-stabilized,
according to a spokesperson for City
Councilman Robert Holden, and the
majority of all units are occupied by
seniors. Rockabill representatives met
with Holden back in March to discuss
their plans for the buildings, which
will essentially guarantee that they
remain aff ordable to all tenants for the
next 20 years.
“Rockabill is a long time aff ordable
housing player and so when we
purchased the buildings we brought
them into a regulated environment with
the City including the 9 free market
units,” said Niall Murray, Rockabill
managing principal.
Murray added that some
improvements are planned for the
buildings, including upgrades to
the windows, rooftops and brick
façade. Crews will also provide
other renovations to increase energy
effi ciency and water conservation.
“There will be no rent increases either
as a result of the change of ownership
or because of the renovations,” he said.
“We held a tenant meeting at which
approximately 40 people showed up to
introduce them to the new management
team and they are aware of the scope
of renovations.”
Holden sounded an optimistic tone
about the deal in an April 11 statement
to QNS.
“This development is very promising
for Glendale as it will provide our
seniors with much needed resources,
home improvements and rent stability
for many years to come,” Holden said.
“Helping seniors to age gracefully in
their homes not only makes their lives
more enjoyable, but also puts their
family members at ease.”
Ariel talked up the buildings’ location
in its sale announcement, noting that
it’s on the border with Ridgewood and
is located close to “an array of retail
outlets.” The apartments are directly
across the street from a Stop and Shop
supermarket, around the corner from
businesses on Myrtle Avenue and
about 1 1/4 miles away from The Shops
at Atlas Park.
The buildings are also close to public
transit options including the Q55 bus
on Myrtle Avenue and the B13 and B20
buses on Fresh Pond Road. They’re also
about a half-mile walk from the Fresh
Pond Road station on the M subway
line.
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