4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 10, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Kissena Center plans would replace Flushing mini-mall
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A new mixed-used development with
more than 200 new apartment units
might be coming soon to Flushing.
Kimco Realty Corporation, a real estate
development based in New Hyde Park,
has fi led proposals to construct a new
eight-story mix-used building at 46-15
Kissena Blvd marketed as “Th e Kissena
Center.” It would replace an existing
neighborhood shopping center comprised
of multiple one-story retail businesses
and a surface parking lot.
New York Yimby fi rst reported the
story.
Designed by S9 Architecture and
Aufgang Architects , Th e Kissena Center
would contain rental apartments, a
community facility, commercial retail,
and a parking structure, according to
NewYorkYimby, a website that covers
new development, construction and real
estate in New York City.
Th e proposed residential area is approximately
244,000 square feet with 244 units
— about 25 percent to 30 percent of the
apartments would be let as aff ordable
housing. Above the fi rst fl oor, the building
would set back from the rear lot lines,
creating an L-shaped structure to accommodate
residential terraces.
Within the building, a community facility
would occupy 15,675 square feet of
the second fl oor. Th e ground fl oor of
the structure would contain just under
58,000 square feet of retail, and two level
of below-grade parking to accommodate
333 spaces for both residential and commercial
use.
Pending approvals, the developer estimates
the project will be 22 months of
construction with slated completion by
2021.
Pistol-packing
robber hits three
men in Flushing
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com
@robbpoz
The suspect
who recently pistol
whipped a
man and stole his
cash on a deadend
block in
Flushing has
been tied to
two other violent
robberies in
the neighborhood,
police announced.
Cops said the attacker
mugged a 28-yearold
man at 5:30 a.m. on Dec.
29, 2018, in the area of Maple
Avenue and Kissena Boulevard.
According to authorities, the
perpetrator confronted the victim
and displayed a gun while
demanding cash. He then proceeded
to strike the man in the head with
the weapon, then removed the victim’s
iPhone 5 and fl ed the scene.
Paramedics brought the victim to
a local hospital for treatment of a
facial laceration.
Two days later, at 11:45 p.m. on
Dec. 31, 2018, the robber confronted
a 47-year-old man in the area of
Pople Avenue and College Point
Boulevard. Law enforcement sources
said the bandit struck the man
over the head with an unknown
object, then pointed a fi rearm at
him.
Th e suspect, however, took off
seconds later without any property,
police said.
Both cases were reported to the
109th Precinct. Detectives later
determined that the two episodes
were connected to the Dec. 27, 2018,
robbery and assault of a 54-year-old
man on Summit Court off Sanford
Avenue.
At about 3:21 a.m. that day, police
said, the robber struck the victim
in the head multiple times with his
gun, then forcibly removed $400
in cash and fl ed the scene. Th e victim
was treated for facial lacerations
and swelling.
On Jan. 4, the NYPD released
video footage of the bandit, who’s
described as a black man standing 5
feet 10 inches tall, weighing between
185 and 190 pounds and believed to
be between 18 and 24 years of age.
Anyone with information regarding
the suspect’s whereabouts can
call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-
TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-
PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers
website, nypdcrimestoppers.com,
send a direct message on Twitter to
@NYPDTips or send a text message
to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter
TIP577. All calls and messages are
kept confi dential.
College Point residents will rally Sunday at City Hall over shelter
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
College Point residents are taking their
homeless shelter fi ght to City Hall this
Sunday.
In keeping with the momentum of the
last few months, hundreds of local residents
against the controversial men’s
shelter will head to Manhattan on Jan. 13
to voice their concerns to the city.
Since residents fi rst heard about the
shelter this past October, people from
College Point have been joined by neighbors
in Whitestone, Flushing and Bayside
for meetings, rallies and letter-writing
campaigns in an attempt to stop the shelter
at 127-03 20th Ave. from coming.
“College Point will be heard and taken
seriously!” reads the fl ier advertising
the upcoming protest. Rally organizers
known as A Better College Point urged
participants to sign up at abettercollegepoint.
com to get contact information
and an accurate headcount prior to
the event.
Residents have argued that a lack of
a hospital, limited public transportation
and an abundance of school-aged children
make their town ill-equipped to
handle a shelter. Detractors added that
aff ordable housing would be a more viable
option for the 200 prospective men
who will live in the shelter.
Now, the CP Residents’ Coalition Inc.
and A Better College Point are spearheading
a GoFundMe campaign to raise
money for their legal campaign. As of
Jan. 8, the campaign has amassed $1,635
of its $100,000 goal which will go toward
hiring a lawyer against the city and the
Department of Homeless Services (DHS).
According to the campaign description,
residents said they are “willing to
sit down with the city and DHS offi cials
to address the controversy and work out
a solution which will benefi t everyone.”
But in the event that the agencies fail to
meet with residents “then we will continue
to fundraise for a lawyer and then meet
them in court.”
DHS said that the College Point
Shelter is part of the mayor’s “Turning
the Tide on Homelessness” plan that
would allow homeless individuals to be
sheltered in their home boroughs. Th e
“borough-based approach” would also
encourage the closure of the 360 cluster
sites and commercial hotel facilities citywide
in favor of smaller shelter facilities in
each borough.
“Th e city and not-for-profi t social service
provider partner Westhab are opening
this facility as soon as possible to give
individuals experiencing homelessness
from Queens the opportunity to be closer
to the communities they called home as
they get back on their feet. We are ensuring
the building is ready for occupancy,
fi nalizing all required reviews, and expect
to open this facility this fall aft er all has
been completed,” said DHS spokesperson
Arianna Fishman.
Th e protest at City Hall is on Sunday,
Jan. 13 from noon to 1 p.m.
Photo via Google Maps
This mini-mall and parking lot at 46-15 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing could give way to an 8-story mixeduse
development known as “The Kissena Center.”
Photo: Jenna Bagcal/THE COURIER
The proposed homeless shelter site on 20th Avenue in College Point
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