MTA plans to cut Astoria's Vernon Blvd bus route

Astoria Patch

The MTA's proposal to eliminate the Q103 bus route along Vernon Boulevard has riled Astoria residents, who say the line is needed now more than ever.


Under the transportation authority's preliminary proposal to entirely redraw the Queens bus map, released Dec. 31, the Q103's north-south route along the Astoria waterfront would be cut.
As a replacement, the MTA's plan would shift those riders to a new version of the Q69 bus, which would still run along 21st Street — about 0.4 miles east of Vernon Boulevard — but continue further into Long Island City.

MTA officials working on the redesign said their proposal is only a draft and that the Q103 elimination isn't a done deal, but the mere suggestion had locals up in arms at two recent meetings on the plan.


At an MTA presentation on the redesign plan Friday in Astoria, nearly all of the 30-some attendees came to address the Q103 proposal: When one planner leading the presentation asked who had a question that wasn't about the Q103, the audience roared with laughter.

 Actually, someone should have asked if this was a way to open up the road for the BQX.

Like this woman did;

The ultimate John Ciafone property - and it's in QUEENS!

"Another Ciafone Masterpiece on Vernon Boulevard! They even took the time to give the building a great name City Skyline Water & Park Views. Huh? Sounds like a real estate description, not a building name." - anonymous

This really has everything, doesn't it? $120,000 in unpaid illegal sign fines, something resembling tin foil in the windows, and one of his famous canopies with a really ridiculous name on it. Also, the graffitied van in front is a nice touch.

Almost 300 units coming to LIC paint building

From the LIC Post:

Vernon Boulevard’s dilapidated Paragon Paint Factory building may soon be part of a huge new residential development.

Construction plans were filed Saturday for a 28-story, 296-unit building at the site; partial demolition plans for the paint factory were filed a day earlier.

According to developer Brent Carrier, the rear portion of the factory will be torn down. The remaining structure will be attached to the new tower and will hold both first-floor retail and residential space.

“We want to preserve the façade of the paint factory and combine it into the new building,” Carrier said.

Carrier declined to discuss specific design plans for the paint factory, but acknowledged that its green exterior will change.

Silvercup West proposal back for renewal

From the Queens Chronicle:

Silvercup West, the long-delayed mixed-use development next to the Queensboro Bridge, was brought before Community Board 2 on Sept. 17 to renew special permits and authorizations.

In 2006, when the project was going through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, Silvercup West was praised for providing waterfront public access, affordable housing and office space for the film and television industry — in honor of the project’s namesake, Silvercup Studios.

Within two years of CB 2 approval and City Council approval, the development was stalled for various reasons and has since remained in limbo.

Now with the special permits and authorizations about to expire, developers want to renew.

“It is important to know this project has already been approved, so your consideration should be based on the facts upon which the project was approved and whether or not those facts remain true,” Marcie Kesner, the attorney representing the Silvercup West developers, said.

The permits in question are for a Silvercup sign on the side of one of the new buildings; building setbacks, which would allow builders to pull back the height of the buildings from the proximity to the Queensboro Bridge; and 50,000 square feet of waterfront access on the East River. The special authorization would be for the construction of a 1,400-car parking garage.

Overall, board members seemed largely in favor of the plan, though the Wednesday night meeting was a public hearing.

Questions asked by members were clarifying ones to ensure the project would still provide affordable housing and build an adequate seawall.

“At the time, the community board asked for 10 percent of units to be set aside for affordable housing,” Kesner said. “The commitment that was made was for 15 percent of units in the two south towers or about 150 units will be built off-site as affordable housing and then it breaks down for low-income, etc. If the developers do not fill the north tower as an office tower, but instead build that as a residential tower, the equivalent of 20 percent of the units would be affordable.”

I like the "if/then" caveat. Stupid.

Restaurant patrons want to sit outside

From LIC Post:

A Long Island City resident has started an online petition calling on Community Board 2 to allow restaurants and bars along Vernon Blvd to use their backyard space.

The petition is in response to the Community Board 2’s almost uniform denial of Vernon Blvd restaurants from using their backyard space. The board, which tries to represent the wishes of the community, is able to keep the backyards closed by making it a requirement in order for them to get their liquor license.

Restaurants such as Alobar, Blend, Lounge 47, Corner Bistro and L’inizio are just a few that have been told that in order to get their liquor license they must keep their yards closed.

Renee Katsaitis, who put the petition together, said she is fed up hearing from business owners that they are not permitted to open their backyard space. She and her friends like going to the bars and restaurants and want to sit outside and enjoy a drink and some food.

“It angers me that the neighborhood is being held hostage by one person or one group,” Katsaitis said. “I am organizing this so people are heard,” she said. “I also want to make sure that people show up at the meetings and fight back.”

And the reason why they won't let these establishments open up their yards is because they abut residential yards and houses. No one wants to hear laughing, yelling, music, etc. and no one wants to smell smoke all day and night.