16 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 29, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
NYC Parks celebrates renovations at Brookville Park in Rosedale
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e city has completed a $3.1 million
makeover at an oasis in southeast Queens.
NYC Parks joined elected offi cials and
community leaders Wednesday to cut
the ribbon on six newly renovated tennis
courts and a picnic area in Brookville Park
along South Conduit Avenue in Rosedale.
“Brookville Park off ers everything from
sports fi elds to biking paths,” NYC Parks
Commissioner Mitchell Silver said. “Th e
upgraded tennis courts and picnic areas
will enhance this vital Rosedale green
space and make Brookville Park an even
more attractive place for the entire community
to enjoy.”
Th e project reconstructed the picnic
areas with new barbecue grills, accessible
picnic tables, paving, landscaping and
plantings to enhance the area. Th e tennis
courts have been upgraded with new
seal coating, sports lighting and additional
seating to accommodate more park visitors.
Funding was provided by Councilman
Donovan Richards, who allocated nearly
$3 million for the project and Mayor
de Blasio added $350,000 toward the
Brookville Park renovation.
“Th e parks in District 31 are one of the
most important features in my district,
which is why I am always proud to fund
renovations and improvements to ensure
that they continue to maintain the quality
that this community deserves,” Richards
said. “All communities have a right to
beautiful parks and public spaces, and I
look forward to working with the community
to continue making Brookville
Park shine brighter and more attractive
for local residents and visitors to the community.”
Th e tennis courts were last resurfaced
in 2001, the same year they were
named in honor of Rosedale resident
Derek Dilworth who passed away in 1999.
Dilworth was a volunteer at Brookville
Park and an avid tennis player who lobbied
for the maintenance of the Brookville
Courts, repaired fences, purchased storage
equipment and obtained fi sh for the
park’s pond.
Dilworth was the first African-
American air traffi c controller at JFK
International Airport and he oft en invited
local children into his workplace for
tours.
“I’d like to thank the Parks Department
and all the local leaders who helped shape
these improvements that will allow even
more residents to enjoy the brand new
tennis courts and picnic area,” Richards
said.
F.H. tenants were victims of rent reg scheme, judge says
BY MARK HALLUM
mhallum@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A Queens Supreme Court judge ruled in
favor of Forest Hills tenants who claimed
to have been the victims of a fraud scheme
to de-regulate apartments with over 40
residents being overcharged.
Now that the case is class action, the
landlord — simply referred to in court
documents as 111-32 76th Avenue LLC
— will possibly be paying out clients of
Newman Ferrara hundreds of thousands
of dollars.
It was determined through an investigation
by the watchdog group Housing
Rights Initiative (HRI) that the landlord
had violating the J-51 tax abatement program
and pushed the units out of regulation
status.
Judge Timothy Duffi cy said the holding
company had been reaping the benefi ts of
the tax abatements while failing to register
them with the Division of Housing and
Community Renewal, provide rent-stabilized
leases and charge only the rent
increases allowed under the law.
“It’s time for New York state to have a
serious conversation about the enforcement
of our rent of our rent stabilization
system,” HRI Executive Director Aaron
Carr said. “Th e customary indiff erence to
fraud is beyond comprehension and belief.”
Tenants who rented from the defendant
are eligible for reimbursement as long as
they lived in the building prior to May
29, 2014.
Th e J-51 tax abatement is an incentive
given to developers who revitalize
and make other improvements to
multi-family homes for a certain number
of years.
J-51 tax breaks are given for 34 years to
aff ordable housing complexes, according
to the Furman Center, but most projects
only get 14-year exemptions.
Most properties get abatements equal
to 8.3 percent or 12.5 percent of the cost
of work done each year for up to 20 years.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this
story incorrectly stated that HRI would
receive proceeds from the lawsuit. We regret
any confusion which may have resulted.
Courtesy of Sanders’ offi ce
State Senator James Sanders presents a special
event Friday commemorating to 400 anniversary
of African enslavement in America.
Queens event honors
400 years since arrival
of slaves in America
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
As the United States marks the 400th
anniversary of the arrival of the fi rst
slaves on its shores. State Senator James
Sanders will host a special event entitled
“A Tribute to the Ancestors” which will
commemorate the beginning of African
enslavement in America and the continual
fi ght for freedom.
Th e event will take place on Friday,
Aug. 30, at the Black Spectrum Th eatre
in Jamaica highlighting the perseverance
of Africans from 1619 to the present.
“Slavery is deeply embedded into the
foundation of our nation,” Sanders said.
“Th e ghost of the past is still alive with
us today. It reminds us how far we have
come as a people and how much further
we have to go.”
He said that the program will honor
“these creative, industrious people, who
despite being kidnapped and brought to
our shores against their will, were resolute
in their fi ght for human dignity and
equality.”
Sanders will be joined by
Assemblyman Clyde Vanel and keynote
speaker Dr. Ron Daniels, the founder
and president of the Institute of the
Black World 21st Century.
Th e program is co-sponsored by
Congressman Gregory Meeks, state
Senator Leroy Comrie, Assemblywoman
Vivian Cook, Assemblywoman
Michele Titus, Assemblywoman Alicia
Hyndman, Councilman Donovan
Richards, Councilman I. Daneek Miller
and Councilwoman Adrienne Adams.
Sanders said the outdoor event, which
begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Black Spectrum
Th eatre, is sure to be an enlightening,
educational and memorable evening.
“Th at’s why this event is so important,”
Sanders said. “It gives us an opportunity
to look back, but also to look forward
together in unity for a better future.”
Th e Black Spectrum Th eatre is located
at 177-01 Baisley Blvd., and the program
will be held outdoors, so participants are
asked to bring their own lawn chairs.
Courtesy Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
Brookvile Park in Rosedale received a $3.1 million renovation including upgrades to its picnic area
and tennis courts.
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