From the Daily News:First, the good news for Astoria: The city is close to unveiling a zoning plan that will prevent tall buildings from sprouting on streets lined with one- and two-family homes.
Now the bad news: That zoning may not be approved in time to prevent the construction of a 10-story building in the middle of Norwood Gardens, a leafy enclave of smaller homes along 36th St.
"This is a beautiful block with unique architecture and a special ambiance, which this new zoning will protect," said City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. "Unfortunately, some people are trying to rush projects in before it happens."
Neighborhood residents said the developer has filed plans to build an apartment building that could reach 10 stories and include eight to 10 units.
Neighbors are also concerned about the area's utilities and services being stretched even thinner than they are now.
22 comments:
If it was a Nice cool looking brick building it would be ok.
But another soulless drab steel with granite countertop luxury kondo is just plain wrong to build there
"If it was a Nice cool looking brick building it would be ok."
No it wouldn't be ok.
A ten story building doesn't fit in in that neighborhood. So it's NOT ok.
When is this sh@# going to stop??
Peter Vallone, community preservationist.
(they dont stand a tinkers chance in hell)
Now the bad news: That zoning may not be approved in time to prevent the construction of a 10-story building in the middle of Norwood Gardens, a leafy enclave of smaller homes along 36th St.
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We heard this over and over again. We know there is a script in these things.
Peter Vallone was asked why he did not submit a proposal (as Tony A did) to stop this from happening.
He said there is no support in city council.
That is not an acceptable response.
City council is controlled by the Democratic Machine. He is a member of the machine. The machine can do anything it wants to.
He is responsible for this happening.
Step up to the plate and admit it, Peter.
And people, every time you see this happening, write to the weeklies and demand he take action, every time you see him, get in his face and demand he take action.
When is this sh@# going to stop??
ITS NOT. YOU HAVE TO MAKE THIS A CITYWIDE PRESERVATION ISSUE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COMPARE NOTES WITH EACH OTHER.
THOSE OF US FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES KNOWS THAT ASTORIA IS BEING FED A LIST OF EMPTY PROMISES.
A VENAL DOB, A COMMUNITY BOARD READY TO GRANT SPOT VARIENCES, AND 8 STORY BUILDINGS LINING THE AVENUE MAKES A PROMISE OF 2 STORY BUILDLINGS ON A SIDE STREET AN EMPTY PROMISE NOT WORTH THE PAPER ITS PRINTED.
THEY ARE BEING FED A LIST OF WORTHLESS ASSURANCES THAT WILL LULL THEM INTO SLEEP - WHEN THEY AWAKE IT WILL BE TOO LATE.
Little backwards and half assed most of us think.
You start with a community's needs, then ajust the community zoning to fit what a community can sustain.
That is not happening here. Here the needs of developers (and dare we say, campaign donors) takes precedence.
Astoria is already at the point of collapse - as the power grid showed us a few years ago.
Why does Vallone complain about inept managment of Con Ed, and more power plants, then goes out and adds to the population? That is bullshit in my book.
Astoria doesn't need more traffic, more lines in the ER, more students, more sanitation, more delays in the subway.
None of this is being discussed - only the pressing need (as Vallone and City Planning says) for 'planned growth' (translation in plain English: a 9 story building in your back yard).
Who the hell said this is the most important thing?
We need to take care of the voters and taxpayers living in our community, not the speculators and transients that this design will bring in.
Our services are already totally unacceptable - inadequate.
We have seen what City Planning did to LIC and Dutch Kills. They destroyed fine communities. The locals are being pushed out.
This will happen to Astoria. We are next next.
Thank you Peter.
I wonder how many registered voters are in Norwood Gardens. There must be more than the 7,000 votes that Vallone had to win the election. If those people in Norwood Gardens had spread the word what Vallone allowed to happen and voted against him. Then maybe he would have gotten the message.
Try about 7 years too late. http://astorialic.org/neighborhoods/norwood_p.php
"In Summer 2002, a 4-story, 50 foot high building was built in the middle of the block. The building is higher than the rest of the single family houses that are only about 22 feet in height."
I wonder how many registered voters are in Norwood Gardens. There must be more than the 7,000 votes that Vallone had to win the election. If those people in Norwood Gardens had spread the word what Vallone allowed to happen and voted against him. Then maybe he would have gotten the message.
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One of the problems that makes this process pathetic and a bit sad:
If you fix your block, it doesn't matter. You have to fix the entire community.
Norwood's mistake is for them to think they can take things on their own.
You fail time and again.
The zoning area doesnt make sense - development in Dutch Kills, the waterfront, 21st Street, and Old Astoria is the other half of the picture. You cannot arbitrarily draw lines on a street grid for zoning study thinking there is no spillover.
You all have the same electric grid, same sewers, same hospitals, same sanitation district.
You got to look at the whole picture cause God knows, the whole picture will be in your face before you know it.
An obnoxious TLC nedanderthal leaning on the horn because the streets can not handle traffic will blare in Vernon as well as Broadway.
It's not a 10 story building, it's a ten UNIT building!!! And Mr. Queens Crap blogger, I am own of the parties involved in this construction. Stop wasting your time. Nothing can stop us, and nothing will stop us.
"It's not a 10 story building, it's a ten UNIT building!!!"
Ooh. That's different. Never mind.
"And Mr. Queens Crap blogger, I am own of the parties involved in this construction."
Speak English much? I hope your constructions are better than your language skills. Just sayin'...
Did you really expect empathy when you come here like a jerk?
HEy, make fun of my English all you want, all the money I make helps me sleep better at night. Listen suckers, we are going by the laws of Queens. Now, this abortion would not be allowed in my neighborhood. In Manhasset we pass laws to protect our community. And oh, Primadonna, you are SO hot!!
HEy, make fun of my English all you want,
Hey, we will!
Did you really expect empathy when you come here like a jerk?
I second that remark.
Hey douche, we can read. This is the quote from the NY Daily News article, "Neighborhood residents said the developer has filed plans to build an apartment building that could reach 10 stories and include eight to 10 units." Did you really think that you can rudely jump in and try to sell us bullshit? Been there, done that! The people who read this blog are a little more educated than you anticipated so go back to your little construction shack and throw back another one. TROLL!
The developer who posted here must be a bit worried about future projects. Crapper what you are doing is not a waste of time, if it compelled him/her to respond.
Maybe you won't stop this project but anything that exposes developers and the "do nothing" Vallones is a win.
Look people, I don't want to insult too many off you, because who knows, some of you may be my future tenents, but why are you so mad at me? Be mad at yourselves!!! You people are the tools that elect guys like Vallone it year after year after year! Blame yourselves!!!!
BTW, the building will be done in about 6 months, rent will be reasonable and you will be paying for your own heat!
ouch
ah,,,
does anyone know what density is planned for peter's block?
The developer who posted here must be a bit worried about future projects.
ok come on, its Astoria for Christ's sake. He has nothing to worry about.
They can always fill the buildings with Honest Joe's little buddies.
Sounds like Borat Gardens for Norwood Gardens.
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