Thursday, July 9, 2009

Why Astoria looks like that


From the Queens Chronicle:

Part of the audience’s criticism seemed to stem from misunderstandings about what the rezoning is meant to do. Numerous area residents complained bitterly about buildings more than 10 stories tall that have been constructed recently in areas where smaller structures are the norm.

John Young, director of the Queens office of City Planning, repeatedly pointed out that the proposed rezoning would combat exactly those types of buildings, but residents still protested.

The most common objection was that the proposed rezoning could lower property values, since future construction would have to be smaller in scale than what is now permitted.

“When you change the zoning, you basically change the value of people’s property,” a resident of 14th Street said.

Several other individuals asked whether the Planning Department had calculated how the proposed zoning changes would affect property values. Young did not answer that question directly, reiterating instead that the plan is aimed at preserving the character of the neighborhood.

Some residents said it’s too late for that. “Astoria’s character has already been lost,” one resident said. “It’s been destroyed.”

Another resident agreed, saying, “The time to save the whole character of Astoria was 60 years ago.”

Despite the community’s gripes about what is perceived as overdevelopment, many individuals objected to stricter rules for their own streets. Residents of streets that are proposed to be zoned R4, which caps building heights at 35 feet and requires front yards of at least 10 feet, said they would rather be zoned as R6, R6A or R6B, which allow buildings up to twice that height and don’t require yard space.


I'm confused - is Astoria a neighborhood that residents want to preserve and live in, or is it a cow to be milked for every last drop? Since you folks seem conflicted on the answer, the bulldozers will keep rolling.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some very vocal people are running around spreading propaganda and frightening ignorant homeowners who would not understand zoning if it ran up and bit them in the ass.

I disagree that the time to save Astoria was 60 years ago--all the carnage has occurred within the last 5 years. I know, I'm third generation with nearly 50 years of living here myself.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like Astoria had the absolute worst and most confused people at this hearing to stand up for it and protest rezoning.

Anonymous said...

Same people that run this blog...

Queens Crapper said...

Only one person runs this blog right now and is not the least bit confused as to whether community or profit comes first.

Anonymous said...

My annonymous comment;
It sounds like Astoria had the absolute worst and most confused people at this hearing to stand up for it and protest rezoning.

NOT my annonymous comment;
Same people that run this blog...

-Just to allleviate any confusion. I totally support the Queens Crapper!

Anonymous said...

Right about Astoria, they have not the foggiest notion on what is going on.

Stupid. Lazy. Intentially Isolated.

All this describes the community. Unless they wake up and start to get up to speed they are f*@#^d.

Anonymous said...

LOL, the COMMUNUITY speaks, and Queens Crappers are mad that the community actually supports development! Duh!

Sorry, most New Yorkers do not want New York frozen in time, so it deteriorates and becomes a Detroit.

We want a vibrant New York, which includes new construction! Tough luck, fossilized NIMBYs.

Anonymous said...

Astoria is being wrecked. I was nearly killed by this wonderful development and I know several families within a block of me who were driven out of homes and in one case had their home completely demolished by incompetent or corrupt builders who knocked a wall on top of them.

There is a news blackout worthy of the Soviet Union regarding the carnage caused by this wonderful development.

Futhermore, talk about frozen in time, how about the unfinished and unusable rat traps frozen in time by the credit crisis. The city lists about a dozen in Queens, but I know of nearly that many within a block or two of me. Stalin lives.

Anonymous said...

Astorians support development, because it has made our community better! Luxury condos are a lot better than falling down warehouses.

The Queens Crappers are just mad that they live in rent-controlled hovels, or in their mother's illegal basement unit!

Anonymous said...

Where were there falling down warehouses in Astoria? One family homes were torn down and replaced with 6-family shitboxes. This is part of what led to the blackout.

Anonymous said...

If you think Astoria is full of warehouses, you should actually visit.

There are few or no warehouses in Astoria except in the most remote reaches of the neighborhood near the Riker's Island Bridge approach or by Astoria projects, and those are still standing.

The typical Astoria house was a 1920's two family brick or one family Tudor north of the Triborough bridge, or a new law tenement or Mid-Victorian home in Old Astoria.

Warehouses are more commonly seen in nearby neighborhoods such as: "Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Hunter's Point, Steinway, Sunnyside. I doubt you can actually differentiate between any of these neighborhoods or locate Astoria on a map.

Anonymous said...

That's because the ass lives in Hunters Point in a prime location between a railyard and subway fan.

Anonymous said...

Sure, the blackout was caused by new construction! That makes sense! It has nothing to do with ConEd!

Maybe it was caused by all your bloviating about development?

Power outages have nothing to do with new construction, but nice try! Maybe you can blame the immigrants next, or the hipsters! Or, more appropriate for your generation, blame the dirty hippies, or the Commies!

Anonymous said...

"LOL, the COMMUNUITY speaks, and Queens Crappers are mad that the community actually supports development! Duh!

Sorry, most New Yorkers do not want New York frozen in time, so it deteriorates and becomes a Detroit.

We want a vibrant New York, which includes new construction! Tough luck, fossilized NIMBYs"


Thank you for that opinion Junior.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, most New Yorkers do not want New York frozen in time, so it deteriorates and becomes a Detroit.


NO WE WANT IT TEEMING AND DIVERSE AND FILLED WITH CHEAP-ASS CONSTRUCTION SO IT LOOKS LIKE BAGDAD UNDER SADDAM.

SPY vs SPY said...

Why I love Crappy~

MYTH
Power outages have nothing to do with new construction, but nice try!

REALITY
You are right, because the new development on the river did not share in the electrical problems. You know why? Because we are subsidizing your friends' development.

Meanwhile, our wire built for a 1950 population base, rotted and no one in charge (well aware of the population growth) had the sense to ask one freakin question on what was going on.

The cafes open to, and air conditoning the street, adds a nice touch of urgency

MYTH
Maybe you can blame the immigrants next, or the hipsters!

REALTY
If someone is defining the local housing stock (and pricing) by cramming 10 in a place intended for 4, and comes from a place where living conditions are at best rudimentary, then yes, immigrants impact on housing will be looked and and openly commented. You are free to join that discussion.

Hipsters? We are still waiting to hear from them on the hospitals vs bike lane issue.

Notice, their little aches and pains get the ink (weekend train work and noisy fans) while page 5 drones on about lack of school desks and possible service cutbacks?

MYTH
Or, more appropriate for your generation, blame the dirty hippies, or the Commies!

REALITY
We are the commies.

astorians.com not! said...

Well, went over to astorians.com where the hipsters (except the gay thing) talk like the old Greeks and Italians (how about that new restaurant? no, don't talk about zoning)

Interesting thread on the recurring problems at Astoria Pool. Called them the 'Two Coves' people ... hehehe ...

same community that will be living across the street from a half dozen massive 30 story towers planned for the waterfront.

I'm a-gittin a piece of the action there, how about you? ;)

http://www.astorians.com/community/index.php?topic=15506.0

Anonymous said...

Um, most people like tall buildings! Hate to break it to you, but most people would prefer a luxury highrise over a garbage-filled vacant lot.

This is NYC, not Nebraska! If you hate big buildings, why do you choose to live in NYC? It's a big planet out there...

Spy vs Spy said...

MYTH
Um, most people like tall buildings! Hate to break it to you, but most people would prefer a luxury highrise over a garbage-filled vacant lot.

REALITY
Sure, if we ignore home building since oh say the Middle Ages where people were crammed together to protect themselves from the Vikings. Since the Plague the rule is to put a little space between ourselves.

The trend is backyard, sunlight, etc. Read Jacob Riis and put down those City Planning Reports.

Broaden your horizons. Your family will thank you for it.

And Mr Developer, my property is not a garbage filled lot. Anyone who calls it that is an asshole.

MYTH
This is NYC, not Nebraska! If you hate big buildings, why do you choose to live in NYC? It's a big planet out there...

REALITY
Oh, ok, go into a landmarked district of the Village or Brooklyn Heights, or Douglaston where the lots are underutilized, and tell that to the locals.

This is not Calcutta: you want a third world slum move to the third world.

Anonymous said...

CB1 the community board from hell.