8 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 10, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
New push for clean energy after ‘Astoria Borealis’
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
Councilman Costa Constantinides
stood alongside other northwestern
Queens leaders in front of Con Edison on
Jan. 8 to announce a new bill that calls for
a study on how the city can close its 21
gas-fi re power plants.
Th e announcement came two weeks
aft er the “Astoria Borealis” event, a malfunction
of high voltage equipment at
Con Edison’s Astoria plant near 20th
Avenue which caused a massive arcing
that lit up the skies over New York City.
Some view the event as a wake up call to
the city’s need to power itself by a safer
and renewable energy source.
“At a time when we’re trying to shed
our reliance on fossil fuels, it is crucial
we target the low-hanging fruit like our
secondary plants in favor of renewable
alternatives,” Constantinides said during
the press event outside the 20th Avenue
facility.
Th e study would examine the feasibility
of replacing the city’s 21 gas-fi re
plants with batteries storing energy from
wind, solar and other renewable sources.
According to city data, 21 of the 24 power
plants in New York City are gas-fi red
and contribute to about 30 percent of all
greenhouse gas emissions that come from
the utility sector.
“Dirty energy production so close to
where we live, work and play is harmful
to our health. Our borough is one of the
most polluted in New York City, and this
is not an environment we should have to
raise our children in,” said state Senator
Jessica Ramos, who also took part in the
conference. Power plants represent an
unnecessary health risk, she said.
Studies show that people exposed to air
pollution produced from gas-fi re power
plant are more likely to develop respiratory
disease. Claudia Coger, president of
the Astoria Houses Resident Association,
said that she can attest to this: Th ree of
her grandchildren, who also live relatively
close to the Con Edison plant, have
asthma.
But to others, this is more than just
about cleaning the air of northwestern
Queens, an area oft en referred to as
“Asthma Alley” due to the propensity of
pollutants overhead.
“What happens here in Queens and
here in New York City and here in New
York state will send a message that we
understand that our fi ght is part of a global
fi ght against the ravages of fossil fuels,”
said Leslie Cagan, a coordinator for the
People’s Climate Movement NY.
According to the 2018 United Nations
Climate Change report, humanity only
has until 2030 to curb climate change
before extreme heat waves, droughts, and
rises in sea levels devastate the planet.
“We have to win,” said Cagan.
Photo: Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech/THE COURIER
City Councilman Costa Constantinides at the
Jan. 8 press conference in Astoria.
Jackson Heights site with popular bar sold for $7 million
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
A large retail property in Jackson
Heights that’s home to Terraza 7, a popular
bar featuring live music performances,
has been sold for $7 million, it was
announced.
Th e brokerage fi rm Cushman &
Wakefi eld sold the 8,730 square-foot
site located at 84-02 Roosevelt Ave. to
Malachite Services, a Long Island-based
real estate fi rm that owns several shopping
centers across the nation.
Th e sale was equal to $802 per square
foot and $200 per buildable square foot,
according to a press release. Th e property,
which spans the addresses 84-02
through 84-16 Roosevelt Ave. and 40-17
through 40-21 Gleane St., has up to
35,000 buildable square feet.
Th e fi rm plans on renting the 8,730
square foot space but plan to develop it
in the future.
“Th e investor benefi ts from the opportunity
to take advantage of the newly
revived 421-a program,” said Cushman
& Wakefi eld’s Stephen Preuss in a press
release. “During the fi rst two years aft er a
property purchase, the 421-a tax exemption
program gives unit owners a 100
percent exemption from any increases
in their property taxes. Aft er those two
years, property taxes are increased by 20
percent for the normal tax rate every two
years for the following eight years.”
Th e area highlighted in green is what
was sold to Malachite Services, which
owns several shopping centers across the
country.
Th e property is located within walking
distance of the 82nd Street stop on
the 7 line.
But not everyone is convinced the sale
is good for the community.
Photo courtesy Cushman & Wakefi eld
“Th e sale is a part of what’s coming to
Queens,” said Carlos Freire, creator of the
documentary Terraza 7, a live music a bar
that currently occupies part of the property.
“Gentrifi cation is taking over the area
of Jackson Heights causing the disappearance
of the diversity of the area.”
84-02 Roosevelt Ave.
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