From the Times Ledger:
After part of a block was rezoned over the summer to accommodate the expansion of the White House restaurant in Whitestone, plans submitted to the city for the new eatery showed the maximum occupancy would be twice as large as the developer had told the community.
One of those documents showed the maximum capacity would increase from 562 to 705.
But during a hearing by the Council Committee on Zoning and Franchises, Jessica Loeser, a lawyer representing Franco, said the new certificate of occupancy would not “come anywhere close” to exceeding the 562 in the previous certificate, according to transcripts from the hearing.
In addition, a lawyer for Franco had said the occupancy of the new restaurant would be around 300 people when he presented the plans to Community Board 7, according to minutes from the meeting. Franco’s representatives told the City Planning Department the capacity would remain unchanged at about 300 people, according to a report.
The inconsistencies do not represent any illegality, Nevertheless, Brian Garry, who lives next door, said it shows how Franco pulled a fast one on the neighborhood.
In another inconsistency, Garry did not want his home and property to be commercially zoned along with the restaurant.
But in-between the final public hearing and the final vote, the commercial overlay was extended to include a 5-foot strip of Garry’s property along the border of the White House without an explanation.
Garry said it was zoned that way to circumvent a requirement of an 8-foot buffer between a residential property and a commercial property. This was confirmed by a spokesman for Halloran.
So a mobster and a council member can gang up on a homeowner and force a rezoning on him in order to take advantage of a loophole that benefits the mobster? How un-libertarian.
33 comments:
is not the street on both sides of the restaurant and garry home, filled with commercial buildings and stores with second floor apartments,bank building, shopping mall ?all the way to the tropicana plant ?
why was 154 street considered solely residential initially. some one in the zoning planning years ago screwed up.
There goes gramps fronting for the gop again.
It comes down to this fact:
Money talks.
Republicans listen.
While the Fed's are poking around in Liu's affairs, they should throw-in Halloran's "connections" and patrons.
It's so typical that an extremely shitty restaurant is expanding in Whitestone!
The food here is so incredibly unhealthy and grease-laden. It doesn't in any way feel as though it's prepared on the premises - more like nuked SYSCO - prison/public school fare.
Why do people tolerate such sub-par offerings?
Why is sinacori staying silent while framcos personal councilman keeps talking for him?
There were no plans for the parking fracno promised. Gee what a surpise there. I'm sure the old Whitestone Farms property that Dennis Ring is involved in will make a great parking lot, just give Halloran time, he can only do so much without good old Frank, Padavan that is, at the Senate level.
But in-between the final public hearing and the final vote, the commercial overlay was extended to include a 5-foot strip of Garry’s property along the border of the White House without an explanation.
So why was it still approved by the CB? and the Councilman?
Franco’s representatives told the City Planning Department the capacity would remain unchanged at about 300 people
One of those documents showed the maximum capacity would increase from 562 to 705.
CONFUSED, IF IT WAS "ABOUT 300" WHERE DID 562 COME FROM AND HOW DID IT GET TO 705?
Councilman Halloran's actions don't make any sense. He's supposed to represent the residents and voters of his district FIRST. Seems to me that he's representing them LAST, and instead helping his campaign contributors, like Mr. Franco, at the community's expense. Is that what we hired him to do? If so, we are all in serious trouble.
- Anonymous Resident
I see you are still at it counciman, now you speak for Franco while he and his attorney have declined to comment. We truly are in serious trouble.
Where is Al Centola on this one? Why hasn't he come out on this issue?
After reading the comments, It looks like this is an issue that will sink Halloran's political aspiration. Buh bye Dan. You've been nothing but a disappointment to the community you were elected to serve. F A I L ! ! !
Where is Al Centola on this one? Why hasn't he come out on this issue?
I think the community needs to have an open dialogue with our councilman, assemblyman, and senator, in order to come to terms with what will get built in OUR community. I think a restaurant there would be a good idea, a catering hall holding 200 plus? I dont think its the right place for it.
Franco ran a good restaurant and I'm sure will do a good job there. The sight has potential and he can do something the community can appreciate.
I do not feel the block is "blighted" and find the use of the term disturbing.
I would like to see Avella, Halloran, Braunstein, and Stavisky come together and do what is right for the neighborhood.
Sorry , meant to sign that last comment. Didn't realize I clicked annonymous.
Alfredo C.
if the food,service, and prices are excellent and better than the competition,the business will prosper.if not,the diners will go elsewhere.
a survey should solve the homeowners problem. was the commercial restaurant or private home built first years ago ? what was the original zoning ?
that is the capitalist way. a free market even allows one to now buy a 100 watt bulb for $0.65 cents again in 2012.thank the g.o.p. house of representatives, led by the 61 TEA PARTY MEMBERS.
#2, "money talks ,republicans listen" .have you read the news lately ?
media reports that all of the political thieves of tax dollars ,recently, have been democrats,except the rino/g.o.p. )bloomberg/haggerty crime of stealing bloomberg's PERSONAL money.
will you detail these democrat thieves or will you abstain ?
Where is Al Centola on this one? Why hasn't he come out on this issue?
I think the community needs to have an open dialogue with our councilman, assemblyman, and senator, in order to come to terms with what will get built in OUR community. I think a restaurant there would be a good idea, a catering hall holding 200 plus? I dont think its the right place for it.
Franco ran a good restaurant and I'm sure will do a good job there. The sight has potential and he can do something the community can appreciate.
I do not feel the block is "blighted" and find the use of the term disturbing.
I would like to see Avella, Halloran, Braunstein, and Stavisky come together and do what is right for the neighborhood.
Just in case
a survey should solve the homeowners problem. was the commercial restaurant or private home built first years ago ? what was the original zoning ?
a survey was done albiet by halloran and company while some alleged residents got the survey many residents knew nothing about the alleged survey it was a sham done by franco himself sorry meant his councilman halloran and the new business resident civic association that seems to support all of hallorans decisions
no it was not the original zoning thats why he asked for a varience
The home was there first.
The responsible and respectable thing for Franco to do would be to keep the 8 foot buffer that the residential property owners were entitled to before Halloran took it away.
Anon No. 13:
In other words, you don't have a good answer, so you're changing the subject.
I don't think Franco is going to get the amount of customers he had before.
Look what happened to Cooking with Jazz - you couldn't get better - and that didn't last.
Franco should have moved his business to Long Island.
A mega-catering hall in the nab is one of the worst things that could happen there. Too many people in transit - drunks, parking problems.
Franco should cut his losses and move.
the residential property owners were entitled to before Halloran took it away.
Al Centola for next city council election
Cooking with Jazz is OPEN on Union Turnpike and has been for a while!!
in 1957 Mike Birch owned the pub on the east side of of 154 street,across from the farm store property.
he sponsored our senior basketball team in the Long Island Star - Journal league. we were unbeaten in the east queens section.
we lost the championship game to the New York Nationals,at the L.I.C.,Y.M.C.A.,in a close ,very physical game.
their coach was well known Howie Garfinkle,future partner of Rick Pitino in the"FIVE STAR SUMMER CAMP ".
Mike was very generous to the team ,while we celebrated our victories with a brew ,in Whitestone.
Mike was very generous to the team ,while we celebrated our victories with a brew ,in Whitestone.
So what are you trying to say? That a business owner should be mindful and respectful to the community?
Ha, not when our pols let them do what ever they want.
Mr. Centola it sounds like your talking in circles. The idea behind Franco's Mega restaurant is to do what he did near the Throg's Neck. The current site is too small, too close to an elementary school and smack in a residential neighborhood. All of them you speak of, Councilman Halloran and the rest know what's being put over on them, it's time everyone spoke up and spoke the truth!
a smart salesman or business owner will always be diplomatic and "CATER" to his client/diner/community.
the objective is a happy ,satisfied ,client ,so that he will refer your next client to your product /service.
that is called CAPITALISM, and it has worked in America all my life.the street has been commercial/residential for at least 70 years.
for those who forget this ,they will be bankrupt and fail.
btw: years ago when a female asian and italian diner,at Cafe on the Green , got into a fist fight John Liu and the queens politicians publicly made a media incident of the controversy following. shortly after the very successful restaurant lost it's n.y.c. franchise.
one wonders if the new owners are earning more or less for the taxpayers ?
did you know that of the three QUEENS HALL OF HAME BASKETBALL players, Bob Cousy (A. Jackson H.S.),TRICKY DICK McGuire(Rockaway resident-St. John's U). Bobby McDermott,Flushing H.S. was from College Pt./Whitestone.(1935). he played with the Zollner Pistons, which became the Detroit franchise in the national pro-league. he also was a member of the ORIGINAL CELTICS.
i met him in 1957 at Mc Griskins on Bowne St.being from Manhattan,i was not familiar with his Queens legendary B/B skills. i hope that the locals will remember him. see B/B Hall of fame .com
"Mr. Centola it sounds like your talking in circles. The idea behind Franco's Mega restaurant is to do what he did near the Throg's Neck. The current site is too small, too close to an elementary school and smack in a residential neighborhood. All of them you speak of, Councilman Halloran and the rest know what's being put over on them, it's time everyone spoke up and spoke the truth!"
You are 100% correct.
Speak the truth, now would that me nice.
I'm not sure I understand where exactly I'm speaking in circles?
Here is what I said, and it appears to me at least that we are in agreement;
I think the community needs to have an open dialogue with our councilman, assemblyman, and senator, in order to come to terms with what will get built in OUR community.
I think a restaurant there would be a good idea, a catering hall holding 200 plus? I dont think its the right place for it.
Franco ran a good restaurant and I'm sure will do a good job there. The sight has potential and he can do something the community can appreciate.
I do not feel the block is "blighted" and find the use of the term disturbing.
I would like to see Avella, Halloran, Braunstein, and Stavisky come together and do what is right for the neighborhood.
First I must say that when reading this lenthy and nearly ridiculous blog it seems awflly suspect that the vast majority of posts are Anonymous. Why is that people who would like to be percived as passionate about a subjbject not sign their names to their own opinions and comments?
I have returned to this blog from time to time and have concluded that there seems to be more hyperbole than anything here.Whith the clear intent of trying to postpone what could be potentially one of the greatest additions the Whitestone area has seen in many,many years.
If just half the energy that is being spent on opposing this project was spent on stopping the City bus from running on 10th ave the residents might have been successful in stopping it. Or geting speed bumps put in on 10th ave to stop the drag raceing thats been going on for years, or perhaps getting the dozen or so car enthusiests under controll that gather every week in Walbaumbs parking lot,that like to wake everyone up and set car alarms off with their teenage antics at 12 am.
But no, instead the majority has chosen to fight with a buisness man. Someone that has chosen our town to to bring to life his vision of what he hopes to be a Destination Restaurant and Event Venue.Are the people of whitestone so oposed to change that they don't see the oportunitys that come with what will certinly be a multi million dollar investment.Jobs,Tax revenue,and Tourism alone are reasons to be working with rather than against this project.
Trying to work with local Goverment is hard enough but then to have to fight with what you hope to be not only your future guests but also your neighbors is disheartening at best.
If local officials are not doing as we wish there is a simlpe fix to that, vote them out. But I gaurentee if you keep fighting at every turn someone that is trying to invest in our comunity, at some point they will walk away.And Whitestone will be left with exactly what it started with,a half empty Restaurant (as all the others are from lack of comunity support)with a mortgage and taxes, or rent so high it has no choice but to hire a Chef and kitchen staff with little or no expierence,and to purchess foods that are at best second rate along with a Dinning staff that wouldn't pass muster at the local Denny's . When that happens, and it will. you certinly won't have to worry about parking then, as we didn't when it was the Whitehouse because you simply don't need that many spaces when a Restaurant is only doing 45 % of it's ability. And when the name keeps changeing every 2 years everyone will be scratching their heads wondering why.WAKE UP WHITESTONE,don't look a gift horse in the mouth!!
I for one truely hope that Mr. Franco will keep his vision and passion for what he knows will be a successful Restaurant alive and not allow himself to be worn down by every bitter critic with a key board and mouse.
James Kelly
People are anonymous here to protect themselves and their families from attacks by politicians and those with financial interest in ruining Queens.
As for your litany of other issues, they have been addressed on this blog when they have been brought to my attention. Just because someone has money doesn't mean you have to allow him to do whatever the hell he pleases.
WAKE UP WHITESTONE,don't look a gift horse in the mouth!!
A gift horse in the mouth??
You have to be kidding!
Do you see the neighborhood around you? Aside from the little row semi attached houses across the street from 193, people are spending millions building homes,not commercial spaces, and you know what? We do not want nor need a catering hall, thank you very much! We will take our parties where they have plenty of parking, and easy access.
You are correct about the neighborhood getting together to stop the ridiculous bus route on your block. However, ask yourself where were your neighbors? Where were Halloran and Avella? What happened to GWTCA and WTW?
About Waldbaums, why not start a boycott of all the stores in that center until they clear that gargage out? Where are the 109 cops? Why dont they enforce the trespassing that is going on? Why isnt hallorans 109 community council person on this issue?
I"m not sure how or even if I should respond to both of your coments , but I will.
I have no idea what you or anyone else could do or say to an Elected Official to warrant protection for you and your family,but if there is any truth to it you might think of publishing what you are afraid of and who, and get them ousted. Instead of publishing constant finger pointing,diparaging comments and innuendo. Or perhaps a call to the 109 if you have a real fear of being attacked.
As for the next "Anonymous' bloger I can see why you sign anonymous, you clearly have an issue with the people that live in"The row semi- attached homes" in Whitestone. I wonder why that is ,do you feel that they and their homes have no place in Whitestone? Or do feel that the people that live in "row semi- Attached" homes are beneth you? Beacause that is exactly how your comment reads.
As for your comment 'WE do not want or need a catering hall" who is "We" I never took part in any serveys or polls, either by phone or by mail or any other type, nor have I ever heard of one. As a matter of fact I have never even heard a converation positive or negative about this project, not in a grocery store ,bank,barber shop ,Church,or beauty salon nor has anyone in my family,not at any social event, or book club meeting to weekly meetings at the Armory, not so much as a neighbor has mentioned it and I live within a block of the site.
To say "We will take our parties where they have plenty of parking and easy access" is just a stupid comment, THE PLACE ISN'T EVEN BUILT YET!!! But you have decided already, that it is not accesable.
You realy feel that it will be less accesable after a complete renovation? Clearly you have a hidden agenda and it has less to do with a Restaurant than it does with Holloran and Avella and some sort of perceived relationship with this project. Reastaurant renovations and openings are fantastic ways to improve neighborhoods and Towns in general.
And I doubt very much you speak for the masess in Whitestone.My guess is that the 'We" you refer to is as i said before a relatively small group of bitter people with a keyboard and mouse, and too much time on their hands.
meeting to weekly meetings at the Armory
attend any greater whitestone taxpayers meeting lately? fyi the long time president was forced to resign because he supported this issue
again those meetings are held at the armory
who said beneath me? that came from you a little insecure? come on mr. kelly is this really you? or is someone writing for you?
our neighborhood is being sold out from under and we need to help preserve it
no one ever said franco shouldnt build his restaurant all that was said is that he respect the existing community
you dont feel he tried to pull a fast one putting in plans with NO parking and DOUBLE what he had promised? do you really think the 2nd flr will be used only for "storage" or once its built he files for a varience saying he needs it for business and as a banquet room?
come on.
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