Tommy Huang appeals Mia Drive BSA decision

Well folks, here we go.

It's not Tommy's fault that someone at the Queens Topographic Bureau "mistakenly" stated that his Mia Drive property was a through lot when it really wasn't. Therefore, BSA should allow him to build.

Rumor has it that Queens Borough President Helen Marshall will support his appeal, although CB11 is not expected to when it votes later this month.

Mia Drive Variance Application
Mia Drive site plan

Here are previous stories about the property:

BSA helps Huang

Board decides Huang created his own hardship

Huang stalls out in Bayside

Bayside's had enough of Huang

Board decides Huang created his own hardship

From the Times Ledger:

Community Board 11 voted unanimously to oppose the completion of several homes that were constructed in Bayside more than five years ago by controversial developer Tommy Huang.

The board voted 37-0 against allowing Huang to finish the project, which has drawn numerous complaints, violations and stop-work orders since the developer acquired the property in 2002 and began constructing four homes at the site.

The developer could not be reached for comment. The four buildings are located at 39-39 223rd St. and along Mia Drive near the Cross Island Parkway in Bayside.

The site’s lot had previously held one lot.

The homes had mostly been completed several years ago, but Huang’s application to CB 11 asked the board to allow him to complete the project on the grounds that he had incurred considerable financial expenditures.

But Christine Haider, the board’s first vice chairman, said CB 11’s zoning committee believed “it was a self-created hardship.”

Huang has been attempting to obtain certificates of occupancy for the homes.

Why not vote "yes", but "with conditions", like CB7? Oh that's right, CB11 members didn't just fall off the turnip truck.

Squatters invade unfinished Huang houses

From the Queens Chronicle:

Pat Martin’s troubles began 12 years ago and they’ve only gotten worse.

The Bayside homeowner has the bad luck of living next door to a Tommy Huang building project gone wrong, and despite pleas to the city for help, there’s little she can do about it.

Huang is a Flushing developer who with his wife and son was banned last year by the state from real estate construction or sales for five years over various offenses in Queens. They pleaded guilty to felony securities fraud.

In 2012, Huang purchased a single-family ranch house at 39-39 223 St., next door to Martin. He tore it down and replaced it with one house on 223rd Street and three on the side of the property, along with a new access road that was given the name Mia Drive.

According to several neighbors in the pricey neighborhood and area elected officials, they have never seen a building project done in such a shoddy manner. The street overlooks Little Neck Bay.

Workmen excavated too close to Martin’s property, causing a retaining wall to collapse. Her property lost 3 feet of land, fencing, lighting and the irrigation system. A court case was recently settled, which Martin could not discuss, but it was drawn out for years and legal fees mounted.

There has been a stop-work order on the property since 2007 and Huang cannot get certificates of occupancy for the houses.

The first-floor windows are boarded up but that hasn’t stopped vandals from ransacking one of the houses and holding parties in others, Martin said. She believes people are living in the houses from time to time and there is power because she sees lights on at night.

Last Friday, however, was the last straw for the beleaguered Baysider. Police were called to the site by a neighbor who saw activity on the property. Martin said several partygoers ran onto her property to escape. She screamed and they took off.

Bayside caught in Huang man's noose

"Just the facts:

Project Description: One-lot development built on a “so-called” “through-lot” with front house facing 223rd Street and three other houses facing Mia Drive . FDNY and NYS DOT approval presumably required for the “private road”. Homeowners’ Association and easements presumably necessary? Approximate lot size: 100 ft. X 230 ft. Previously contained one 1-family home.

Development vehemently protested from the inception. Owner of record: Huang (no matter how you slice it). Architect of record: Angelo Costa of Costa Design. Is he still working on the project?

Some post gas main photos. This is how the site appears today. Shutdown. No apparent activity. Gate wide open. No required construction sign for which they just received a violation. You have a good shot of the “Private Road” now called Mia Drive. One of the pieces of equipment owned by First Class Wrecking remains on the scene. They removed the piledriver a few days ago. Piles evident. Debris and garbage all over. Drywells dangerously stacked up. Door on 4th house wide open. Supplies on front lawn. Unsitely. Safety issue. No apparent reason for this condition. Blatant disregard of neighbors and their homes. A real estate sign still visible on the construction fence. No certificates of occupancy issued to date. Marketing of houses has been constant for a few years.

Property purchased end of 2002. Foundations started early 2004. A total of more than 100 warranted complaints for all 4 houses. In actuality, there should have been more. Zoning changed 4-12-04. Two years and approximately two months have passed and no certificates of occupancy for any of the homes. Construction permits lapsed since March 2006. Nonetheless, plumbing permits issued to correct drywell audit.

DOB: Project and developer on the radar screen. Owner’s application to renew permits being reviewed.

DOB continues to suggest that the project is an as-of-right project and that it has been audited more than once."

CB11 says no to Huang variance

From Bayside Patch:

Community Board 11 unanimously voted down a variance Monday night for a controversial development in Bayside.

Controversial developer Tommy Huang had asked the board to grant a variance that would allow him to complete four homes being built in Bayside.

One of the homes is located at 39-39 223rd St., while the other three are at 39-01, 39-15 and 39-19 Mia Drive. Huang, who was convicted in 1999 of creating an oil spill in the basement of the historical RKO Keith’s Theatre in Flushing, did not attend the hearing.

The board unanimously voted to not grant the variance.

CB11 to vote on Huang project

From the Times Ledger:

Community Board 11 will vote during its November meeting on whether or not a controversial developer can finish four homes currently being constructed in Bayside, the board said.

According to CB 11 officials, the board will vote Nov. 5 following a public on whether or not to grant a variance to Tommy Huang, ultimately allowing him to complete properties being built at 39-39 223rd St. and 39-01, 39-15 and 39-19 Mia Drive near the Cross Island Parkway in Bayside.

The properties have been mostly finished and the developer has asked for a variance to complete the work.

The community board’s East Flushing/North Bayside Committee, chaired by Christine Haider, has advised against the variance’s approval, citing violations at the property, according to District Manager Susan Seinfeld.

In past discussions with the developer concerning the Bayside properties, CB 11 officials have spoken out against Huang, citing his history as reasons why he should not be building in the community.

The violations date as far back as 2004 and stem from accusations of unsafe working conditions, according to the DOB.

Huang stalls out in Bayside

Dear Crappy: HELP

The Huang project that has been stalled for a few years and without permits is a dangerous site.

If you pass by (39-39 223rd Street) that danger can be visibly seen. Once again, the fences are down exposing local children to danger. Perhaps you could do and article with photos and send it to the STALLED PROJECT TEAM of the DOB?

The Huangs, for some obvious reasons, have not applied to the BSA for any consideration for their project in the past. The project is seemingly DEAD IN THE WATER. It is hard to tell with NYC, the DOB, FDNY and other relevant agencies, if this will ever be permitted to be completed. Emergency vehicle access is a prime concern to the neighborhood now and in the future. It clearly did not have the required approvals for all pertinent agencies to even begin this project.

In actuality the road called Mia Drive, I was told by and inspector, should not even be closed off by a construction fence. Due to the condition of the road and the surrounding areas of the project, they have let the fence stay up for so called Safety Reasons. Unfortunately, the fence has never been constructed according to code and constantly falls down. The Huangs have never had the property enclosed by a construction fence as required by the DOB Code.

How long does a neighborhood have to live with a project such as this? No one seems to care. Even though the surrounding neighbors hate the situation, they fail to ban together to try to get the City to take action against the Huangs. The local politicians forgot about us, the East Bayside Homeowners Association, the Community Board and the CIty Agencies have left us to live with this horrible project.

Stalled Project Program: What happens to projects that don't qualify? Is there a remedy to get them torn down?

Congratulations and thank you for your good work.

Will it ever end?

The never ending saga. Tommy Huang’s project at 39-39 223rd Street and Mia Drive is far from complete. Construction began at the beginning of 2003. Here it is March 2008 and it appears to be in shambles. His construction permits expired a long time ago. In addition, the neighborhood was downzoned back in 2005. Unquestionably, there must be some serious DOB objections that need to be addressed. They still remain a secret to the public. It was said back in August 2007 that Mr. Huang would take the issues up at the BSA. It seems that he has not exercised that option yet.

The project has long been an eyesore. Lately, it appears that the property has fallen prey to vandals and graffiti artists which is visible from the Cross Island Expressway. The private road/mapped street is still not structured.

Even thought the permits have been revoked and the project is on “hold”, the DOB now sees fit to issue a Rescind of the Stop Work Order in effect to allow a PARTIAL LIFTING OF THE ORDER to enable the developer to fix the fences and make the site safe. The fences and site have been unsafe from day one. It seems that the DOB believes that the developer is warranted a month to accomplish this. As buildings are falling down around us, it is surprising that the DOB has concerns about the safety issues here.

Will the developer seize the opportunity to remove all the graffiti from the house facing the Cross Island Parkway? Will the developer clean up the entire project to ready it for Spring marketing while he’s at it? Good Choice Realty who is marketing the Klein Farm is also featuring one of these houses for $1,390,000.

The developer created this unsafe situation and the DOB enabled it. Will the DOB make sure that the proper insurances are in place? Will the DOB see to it that no additional work (not covered by this partial lift) will take place?

- anonymous

Happy Valentine's Day from Tommy Huang

From today's BSA calendar:

252-12-BZ
Akerman Senterfitt, LLP
39-39 223rd Street & 223-01/15/19 Mia Drive, Queens
Variance (§72-21) to legalize four single family homes which do not comply with the rear yard requirements, ZR §23-47. R1-2 zoning district. Community Board #11Q

You can read the entire backstory on these houses here.