Residents eager to help decide the fate of the reconstructed Bruson Building crowded into the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights Thursday evening, causing the town hall’s organizers to add extra chairs and bump out the back wall to make room.
The meeting, spearheaded by state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst), was organized to gather community input regarding the fate of the Bruson Building, which burned down in a five-alarm fire last April, displacing tenants such as Plaza College, which has a new campus in Forest Hills, Armondo’s Italian Restaurant, which will reopen in February on Northern Boulevard and Frank’s Pharmacy, which reopened three blocks away in October.
Suggestions from residents, many of which were written on pieces of paper and read by Peralta, included a Jewish deli, a bakery, an American-style restaurant, a medical facility, an interfaith center, a bookstore, a Hallmark store, a pediatric urgent care center, health facility, a Housing Works Thrift Shop and a Wells Fargo bank.
Many were averse to the idea of more 99-cent stores, or more ethnic eateries or shops. Many were also against a fast food chain coming into the building.
A popular idea, which was brought up again and again throughout the meeting, was to have a Trader Joe’s. But, some residents were concerned the grocery store would bring more people into the already-congested neighborhood.
Resident Jimmy Wohl brought up another suggestion that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd: A co-working space to attract area entrepreneurs and thought-leaders, similar to what exist throughout Manhattan and other parts of Western Queens.
7 comments:
Trader Joes would never consider that location. There is no room for their huge trailer trucks to make deliveries.
How about a homeless shelter
Armondo's restaurant was, to me, a staple of the neighborhood. I am glad they are relocating rather than shutting down. They always had good food at reasonable prices. My mom and dad (both gone now) ate there regularly, and always got excellent service (maybe because they were regulars). I hope the people who attended that meeting are listened to....
That's the second major fire along 37th avenue in the last few years. Makes you wonder whether arson is behind it all.
It does not matter what the residents want. Money talks and their opinions will amount to a fart in a windstorm. These pols hold meetings to make them look like they care at election time.
Where did all the Americans come from? Where they bussed in for the meeting?
It shouldn't matter what the residents want. They don't own the building. The owners can and should do whatever they think is best.
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