A better site for a school than Kiel Brothers?

From the Times Ledger:

Members of Auburndale community groups are puzzled by a vacant lot on Northern Boulevard that appears to be under construction but has remained unchanged for more than four years.

The boarded-up site, at the corner of Northern Boulevard and 196th Street, has some nearby residents wondering what, if anything, will take its place. The property formerly housed a gas station that was demolished in 1998 and the city Department of Buildings began issuing new building permits in 2002.

Since then, 32 permits have been issued for various types of work, including new buildings, alterations and sign construction, but no work applications have been filed since 2009.

Henry Euler, first vice president of the Auburndale Improvement Association, said the lot has been vacant for years and has been the subject of some complaints filed by various groups.

“My civic association had registered complaints because there were a lot of old things stored on the site, like garden nursery-type materials at one point,” he said. “The construction fence had been in disrepair and no permits were posted.”

Euler said the community has talked about several options for what could be built where the lot now stands empty but has no confirmation about what is really happening. One possibility mentioned by some nearby residents was to turn the lot into a school, which Euler said the community is in need of, according to the city School Construction Authority.

He said the SCA had contacted Community Board 11 about the need for a new elementary school in the Bayside-Auburndale area, and last month the City Council approved a plan to build an elementary school at 48th Avenue and 211th Street in Bayside. Residents who live near the site, now occupied by Keil Brothers Garden Center, still are strongly opposed to having the school so close the backyards of 31 homes, but the SCA is believed to be moving ahead with its plan.

Euler said he believes the lot on Northern Boulevard is large enough for a school and would satisfy those who are looking for another one in the area.

Another possibility for the property, he said, is to turn it into some type of community space.

Halloran, Vallone team up to screw Bayside

Senator Tony Avella expressed his total dismay that, despite assurance from City Council Members to the contrary, the City Council’s Land Use committee approved today the proposed construction of a 416-Seat Primary School Facility on 48th Avenue, between 210th and 211th Street, where Keil Brothers is currently located. According to the committee members, Council Member Daniel Halloran and Council Member-elect Paul Vallone both came out in support of the proposed school. The full Council will vote tomorrow on the proposal.

While a new school facility may be beneficial, the proposed site is situated in the middle of a quiet, residential neighborhood that already includes PS 31 a few blocks away. The school would be facing the backyards of 31 homes and will significantly alter the quality of life of residents. Neither Council Member Halloran nor Council Member-elect Vallone had solicited the community’s input before making a deal with the School Construction Authority to move ahead with the proposed school location.

Avella stated, “I think it is a disgrace that both the Council Member and the Council Member-elect, went behind the community’s back and made a deal to have the proposed school approved, while ignoring the will of the people who will be most affected by the new school.”

“I simply do not understand why Council Member Daniel Halloran's opinion was even taken into account in this situation, seeing as he is busy fighting disturbing corruption charges and is obviously out of touch. It is even more saddening to see a newly elected City Council member going against the local community before even taking office! I am afraid this just sets an extremely bad precedent for the duration of Paul Vallone's tenure in public office,” concluded Avella.



"...the community's voice isn't being heard, and that it's coming up for a vote in a month and we might get a school that we don't want." - Paul Vallone's lie about opposing Kiel Bros. school