for breaking news visit www.timesnewsweekly.com JUNE 25, 2015 • times 3 A Ridgewood hotel near Newtown Creek? BY LIAM LA GUERRE [email protected] @liamlaguerre Today Newtown Creek stands as one of the “nation’s most polluted waterways,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as a result of industrial contamination from nearby factories and raw sewage dumping that dates back to the 1800s. But listed as a Superfund site since 2010 and with an ongoing remedial process, brokers at Greiner- Maltz Investment Properties are marketing a site across from a section of the infamously contaminated body of water that could be in high demand after the grimy, toxic 3.8-mile creek is cleaned up. The site sits at the edge of Ridgewood near the border of East Williamsburg and Maspeth to the north. It begins where Metropolitan and Onderdonk avenues intersect, and is surrounded by various factories in the neighborhood. An existing 4,225-square-foot building with the address 46-00 Metropolitan Ave. is on the site, which is being used as an auto junk yard. The property has up to 40,720 square feet of buildable space zoned for manufacturing, but an investor could redevelop it into a hotel — with views of the now-mucky creek — brokers said. “We’re getting a lot of interest. Some investors feel that this area is going to change,” said John Orgera, director of sales for Greiner-Maltz. “There are talks about the cleanup of Newtown Creek. There is bike lane proposed for that area. So people are optimistic.” Orgera and John Gonsalves are marketing the property, which they said could also be used for a retail space or mixed- u s e office. The asking price is $7,250,000. The closest train station from the site is the Jefferson Street L stop, which is a 10-minute walk. Nearby the site is a popular restaurant, Bun-Ker Vietnamese, and a few blocks further is the Knockdown Center event hall in Forest Park homicide suspect BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes. com/@A_GiudiceReport Sought for questioning in the recent murder of a Flushing man in Forest Park, a person of interest in the case was picked up by police for drinking inside the park on June 19 and was later charged with the homicide, authorities said. Zoltan Forai, also known as Stephen Forai, was apprehended by police on June 19 in connection to the June 10 murder of Diego Piedrahita, 23, of Booth Memorial Avenue, law enforcement officials stated. The motive for the murder is still unknown, but according to authorities, Forai and the victim were known to each other. Sometime between June 8 and June 9, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, Forai allegedly kicked Piedrahita about the head and body, then used a rock to strike him multiple times in his face and head, causing his death. Parkgoers discovered Piedrahita’s body on the afternoon of June 10. According to police, Forai was spotted by police last Friday at Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue near Forest Park. Forai, who was known to frequent the Forest Park Bandshell and Victory Field, was allegedly observed drinking a can of beer, and he was arrested for drinking in public. Forai allegedly shaved his beard so as to not look like the bearded suspect wanted for questioning in Piedrahita’s death, authorities said. Forai was arraigned on Saturday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Bruna DiBiase on seconddegree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges. He was ordered held without bail and must to return to court on July 2; if convicted, Forai faces up to 25 years to life in prison. Photo courtesy of NYPD Police arrested Zoltan Forai, also known as Stephen Forai, in connection to the Forest Park murder of a Flushing man on June 10. knew his victim: DA Maspeth. Continue on Metropolitan Avenue past F l u s h i n g Avenue and the street becomes a commercial strip with restaurants and stores. An environmental study will have to be performed in the event that a developer intends to build on the marketed site, and the property may need a cleanup of its own if serious contaminants are found, but investors could lose out big if they don’t act, the brokers said. The remedial investigation of the Newtown Creek started in its second phase last year, according to the EPA. “Once it’s cleaned up it’s only going to get more expensive,” Gonsalves said. “There isn’t any more land. What may be expensive today could be a steal in five years.” RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photos by Anthony Giudice Brokers at Greiner-Maltz Investment Properties are marketing a site across from Newtown Creek that they believe could be transformed into a hotel.
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