Sunday, February 24, 2008

Flushing megacrap still vacant

A Flushing building, which has sat vacant for years, remains empty despite being approved recently by the Department of Buildings, after having earlier been deemed illegal.

Flushing Building Stays Empty Despite Approval

The DOB did in fact find that the “application does not comply with the legal requirements for approval,” and informed the applicant, Sam Suzuki of Suzuki Associates Ltd., of its objections. Suzuki revised the plan and it was approved in November.

No application has been submitted for a Certificate of Occupancy yet, according to the DOB.

The building, located at 143-17 38 Ave., has been a subject of controversy since construction began in 2000.

Work stopped when the DOB issued two violations and a stop work order in the late summer of 2000, for failure to provide proper protection at the sides of the excavation site. Fines for both violations are still overdue, according the DOB Web site.

In December 2000, three violations were issued for performing construction without a permit, but were later dismissed.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like this particular project has been going on eight years. This should not be allowed. A project should have to be completed in a reasonable and timely period.

Some other observations:

Note that Angelo Costa, Architect, who self-certified the plans for Tommy Huang's fiasco on 223rd Street in Bayside, is listed as the architect here too. Also, the name Weintraub, once again, shows up as Plumber. Are these guys on anybody's radar screen. Hm!

Both projects began a number of years ago and are not completed and have no certificates of occupancy. Could it be that Angelo (whose new firm name is Meltzer/Costa in Great Neck) is reluctant to due any more work on either site because of impending civil lawsuits?

Anonymous said...

How DOB got away with approving this project
is a prime example of their CROOKEDNESS
and the pressure that local officials
can exert on that already flagrantly notorious
city department.

COUNCILMAN JOHN LIU
(Tommy Huang's cousin)
received campaign contributions
from the owners of this same property
SUZUKI ASSOCIATES LTD.

LOOK IT UP!

BUT HERE'S THE KICKER.

A representative from the FDNY told me that
THERE IS NO WAY TO GET FIRE DEPT.
APPARATUS to the old LINCOLN APTS.
located right behind this courtyard infill project.

When I asked that firefighter,
"What about using ladders to reach any people
trapped within in case a fire breaks out"?

He informed me that the angle afforded
by the remaining alley was too acute
to accommodate a fireman fully loaded with
equipment like heavy air tanks etc. on his back.

The ladder would tip over backwards
while attempting to carry someone down!

SO, WHY AREN'T THESE BEING TORN DOWN?

The residents in the Lincoln Apts.
lives are in jeopardy in the event of a fire !

HOW DO THEY ESCAPE FROM THEIR
4 STORY APTS. IF NO FIREFIGHTER
CAN REACH THEM?

WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER C.M. LIU?

DO THEY BURN AND YOUR OFFICE
MERELY CHALKS IT UP TO PROGRESS?

H-m-m-m....THAT'S WHY THEY CAN'T GET
A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY to this day.

But the DOB approving this project
in spite of the fact that it violates the fire safety code is outright CRIMINAL!

Anonymous said...

Looks like this is a $20M project. See, ACRIS Block 5013 lot 62.

Rossrock, boutique private equity firm, specializing in the purchase of commercial real estate properties and the purchase of distressed commercial mortgage loans. Rossrock was formed in 1992 and presently has 15 in staff, including four principals. See, Rossrock.com.

Was this a good investment? Will they get their Certificates of Occupancy? What say you?

Anonymous said...

"Flushing megacrap still vacant."

I prefer the term "Uberkrap" as in "Ubermensch". (See my work "The Twilight of the Pols")

Anonymous said...

Suzuki, Sam
Port Washington , NY 11050
Bowne Parking/Partner ACKERMAN, GARY L (D) House (NY 05)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN $2,300 primary 09/24/07

Suzuki, Sam Port Washington , NY 11050
Bowne Parking/Partner
ACKERMAN, GARY L (D)House (NY 05)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN $1,300 general 09/24/07
Suzuki, Sam
Port Washington , NY 11050
Bowne Parking/Partner ACKERMAN, GARY L (D) House (NY 05)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN $-2,300 primary 07/20/07

Suzuki, Sam
Port Washington , NY 11050
Bowne Parking/Partner ACKERMAN, GARY L (D)House (NY 05)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN $-1,550 general 07/20/07

Suzuki, Sam Port Washington , NY 11050
Bownetree/Partner ACKERMAN, GARY L (D)
House (NY 05)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN $1,550
general 04/04/07

Suzuki, Sam
Port Washington , NY 11050
Bownetree/Partner ACKERMAN, GARY L (D)
House (NY 05)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN $2,300
primary 04/04/07

Does this mean anything?

Anonymous said...

Under certificate of occupancy history it says that there are outstanding plumbing issues. You can bet there are.

Also, they should have been required to obtain FDNY approval. Sounds so so familiar.

If the FDNY wants to keep their men safe why don't they step in and see that the right thing is done in the end.

Anonymous said...

It absolutely means plenty.....
and thanks for bringing it up!

Gary Ackerman and Tommy Huang
have been asshole buddies
since the Donald Manes era
(although Gary will probably deny any connection).

Manes and Huang
were similarly attached to each other.
(It was Manes that "persuaded" Huang to buy the historic RKO Keith's theater).

Come to think of it Shulman played
in that "series" game too.

So did Myra Baird Herce... of the now defunct
Downtown Development Corp.
and a former CB#7 member.
(There's some question (?) about several thousands
of dollars that remain unaccounted for
when DFDC disbanded) H-m-m-m-m? !!!

Now we have Councilman Liu....Huang's cousin
related through Alice Liu's family.

Alice Liu is Tommy Huang's wife!
Some family tree.....poison ivy....I'd say!

This is but the tip of the iceberg
as to all who were connected to the sellout of Flushing.

Community Board #7 played a prominent role.

Myra Baird Herce currently shares chairmanship
of the Flushing Chamber of Commerce along with,
I believe, Jack Hogan (Quinn Funeral Home) and Richard Gellman (First National Bank of NYC).

Myra Herce
probably knows where "all the bodies are buried".
Maybe someday in the future, a subpoena
might loosen her tongue!

H-m-m-....then there's, most likely, a Stavisky connection in Flushing's demise.
Evan, son of the bitch Toby, is still going strong
with the "Parkside" group that has practically
all of NYC's lobby assignments neatly sewed up!

A lovely crew that I wouldn't turn my back on.

Anonymous said...

I read somewhere that Parkside is connected with Suzuki.

Anonymous said...

Parkside is connected to everybody and everything
(maybe even to some organized crime families)!

It's like the fabled Hydra of Greek mythology.

Try and get rid of it.
You'd have better luck pulling Dandelions.

Anonymous said...

Gary Ackerman? THROW THE BUM OUT!!!