Thursday, May 12, 2011

Developer wants Garden World out

46-01 Francis Lewis Blvd Bayside NY -Rev Ideal Pharmacy
Hi Queens Crapper,

You probably already know about this but in case you don't...

Yesterday a realtor I know told me about a conversation he had with a developer about the piece of land that Waldbaums (formerly A&P) and Astoria Fed. Bank and Garden World all share on Francis Lewis Blvd in Flushing/Auburndale. The dev. told him that they were looking to get rid of all those businesses and put up more houses. I grew up in this area, my parents still live there, and i'm at Garden World with them all the time. That place is always jammed. Frankly, most of those businesses are.

I saw a sign on the fence facing Franny Lou last night and looked up the company - First Development Corp out on LI. Please see attached. It seems they're only interested in getting rid of Garden World which would be such a major loss for that area. It's been there since 1947. UGH. i know progress is necessary but come on ANOTHER pharmacy? Blech.

Next time I get to Garden World I'm going to ask around and see if anyone knows anything. Depending on what info I get, I'll contact the Auburndale Association and/or Tony Avella, etc. This kind of stuff can be stopped if people get loud enough (I hope).

Keep up the great work. Love your blog.

Anonymous

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

It can't be stopped! Next time you go to vote..throw out the incumbent councilman in your district and put another bum in there. Insist on term limits for all Community Board Members and sign the petition in Queens Crap!

Anonymous said...

A nice open space which thrives will just be obliterated for more row houses. Tis a shame

Gina said...

I've been going there since I was a kid. Many springtime memories (and even more great front and back yard gardens) got made there. Let us know what happens and what can be done. One source to tap into would be the Garden World "bloomers" rewards program-they take email addresses so Garden World itself has a data based from which to contact customers and get them directly involved .

Anonymous said...

This is "underutilized" land.

Which means that in the eyes of any greedy developer...it's sitting out there, all alone, with a big set of tits and a nice juicy ass...just waiting to be raped!

It's already gone!

Only the purchase price is up for negotiation.

Anonymous said...

To me it looks like most of Garden World could be staying.

Am I wrong?

Maybe the remaining frontage and back lot (to the north) is being sold off.

They could be scaling down their operation like Keil Bros. did when they sold off their property adjacent to the LIE years ago to a Korean church.

This is a bad economy and I don't think GW has been doing that well for a few years now.

Anonymous said...

this issue was the spearhead for the re-organizing of the fledgling civic group,AUBURNDALE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, in 1970, by Jack and Yolanda Norris (R.I.P.).

we won the battle,but we were a very activist group and community. we did not leave the community's problems for other home owners to solve.

the next meeting is on May 17,Tue. at 7:30 at St.Kevins Parish Center on 195 st./45th Avenue.

BE THERE.
Claudia Filomena,Queens director of Mayor Bloomberg's community affairs unit will" attempt to spin "your complaints.
it should be a fun city meeting!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Claudia Filomena,Queens director of Mayor Bloomberg's community affairs unit will" attempt to spin "your complaints.
it should be a fun city meeting!!!!!!
---

Bring your cameras and send the video to Crappy.

Anonymous said...

Does Garden World own the property? If they do then they have every right to sell part or all of it as they see fit. That's part of business.

Queens Crapper said...

Marmon Enterprises owns the bank, the supermarket and Garden World. Part of Garden World is owned by Sutter Homes, Inc. It seems to me that the empty lot in the rear of Garden World is what is being advertised here, but I am not sure.

Anonymous said...

Does Garden World own the property? If they do then they have every right to sell part or all of it as they see fit. That's part of business.

Howowners have every right to fight for their community and their property values - and to insist that their taxes be spent for services for themselves, and not to enrich some developer or to benefit future residents who have contributed not a nickel.

Anonymous said...

The only way to stop this is if everyone comes together to fight it. I would hate to lose Garden World, it is a nice place. We have enough houses we don't need anymore.

Anonymous said...

Does Garden World own the property? If they do they have every right to sell it if fits the owners best interest. If the owners of GW want to downsize or cash out of their property, no fight can change that. And if they do not own the property, then the landlord has the right to do with it what they feel is in their best interest.

Anonymous said...

To put it another way, the developer can not "get rid" of Garden World. This is not eminent domain abuse like Willets Point. The developer can make an offer for the land, and if it is enough to persuade a sale, then it is done. This is a fundamental concept of our free enterprise economy. Why people think they can successfully protest the sale or redevelopment of private property is beyond me.

Queens Crapper said...

Because sometimes it works.

Anonymous said...

Maybe it does. Can you provide some examples?
This story reminds me of the closing of the Key Food on Roosevelt Ave in Flushing, which was protested by the old time area residents. These are business decisions, not political decisions. People are free to protest as much as they want, but in the end they are powerless. What are they going to do, boycott the business that sold out? With rare exception, money talks. Everyone else is an afterthought.

Queens Crapper said...

How about the de facto park in Woodside on which the owner was in the process of building a new house and then the community protested and he agreed to sell it to the city instead?

Anonymous said...

Yes, but he still sold it. It seems that people want a business to remain open where the owner, for whatever reason, may have decided it's time to pack up and move on. The situation is somewhat different. But like they say in the lotto commercials; hey, you never know.
Keep us updated on the story please.

Seth Fiddle, President said...

As a part owner of Garden World, I can assure all of those discussing the property and our future that we have a lease which runs until 2020. The sign and the ad posted here are strictly pertaining to the north parcel which we gave up a few years ago. It still sits empty and it's future development is uncertain. Thank you for your support, but we aren't going anywhere.