Jackson Heights residents want their say

From the Daily News:

A group of Jackson Heights residents are up in arms over a plan to erect a six-story building in the neighborhood's historic district where a row of one-story businesses burned down last year.

The owners of the property at 84-01 37th Ave. are to appear before the city Landmarks Preservation Commission Tuesday to respond to public concerns on the design of the neo-Georgian structure. The commission may vote on whether to approve the project at the meeting.

Katie Musselwhite-Goldsmith, 32, of Jackson Heights, collected more than 500 signatures from locals who opposed the building.

"It's going to put a lot of stress on our schools, park space, sanitation," said Musselwhite-Goldsmith, who was particularly upset with the lack of windows on the eastern side of the building.

"If we can't stop it from only being a one-story building, at least they can make their design as humane as possible," she said.

There are plenty of six-story buildings in the area — just not on that block, she said.

Since the property is located in a historic district, the commission can choose to accept the current building plans or ask for modifications at tomorrow's meeting, said agency spokeswoman Lisi de Bourbon.

"We have a say in the appearance of the building and the materials used to construct it," she said.

The facility is slated to have ground-floor stores, 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 14 underground parking spaces...

45 residential units where there were none? I'm sure the area's schools, subways, sewers, power grid, etc. can absorb the new people. Since there are a million more of them coming this is just a drop in the bucket!