Monday, May 13, 2013

150-year old Flushing street tree endangered by construction


LOCATION: 149-17 Sanford Ave, Flushing NY

"Developers are at it again.

DOT and DOB permits approving and authorizing new building construction that irreversibly damages one the largest street trees remaining in Flushing, estimated at 150 years and with a canopy. Forestry Permit apparently absent. Perhaps the tree is not on the building design plan of the Self Certified Architect (and intentionally left off).

Months ago, Queens Forestry was alerted before damages occurred.

Current Parks policy is that Forestry has jurisdiction within 50-ft from the tree base, that covers the tree root zone now largely removed by the excavator." - anonymous

I wanted to see what was there previously. Bing supplied this:


Another example of what bad zoning can do to a nice neighborhood. The small blue house was previously on the lot.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

The "small blue house" was actually a very large near-mansion - one of the last that used to line all of Sanford Avenue.

The zoning north of Sanford Avenue is R5 which allows for large multi-family apartment buildings while the south side is mostly R3X, which allows only two-family detached houses.

As usual, the Landmarks Preservation Commission turned down a Request for Evaluation to landmark this house over a decade ago, along with the beautiful house across the street - also demolished several years ago - the Terrell House.

It is heartbreaking to see great and beautiful houses destroyed for nothing more than the continued expansion of downtown Flushing. I've made it my mission for the past 20 years to do what I can to stop it - with some success - and pledge to change the way that this business is happening should I be elected to the City Council.

Paul Graziano
Candidate for City Council
19th District

www.paulgraziano.com

Anonymous said...

Paul Graziano for City Council!

Anonymous said...

Paul... You need to step in front of the microphones on local television networks and start shouting about this crap that is going on. We need to see and hear you loud and clear. We are behind you 100%! Thanks for standing up for what is right. Keep it going. Thanks

Anonymous said...

"We no like tree".
An opinion voiced by many Asians.

Oops...
Italians and Greeks aren't that fond of big trees either.

Anonymous said...

"Forget it Jake. It's Chinatown".

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Forget it Jake. It's Chinatown".


Anyone here named Jake? You must be watching too much 2 1/2 Men!

Anonymous said...

When will the over-development stop ?
How large do you think the new Asian colony will grow ? It's getting so large I don't think the Flushing infrastructure can handle it.

Anonymous said...

The reference was from Roman Polanski's film, "Chinatown". Uh, Jack Nicholson played Jake.

Got it now, yo' big dummy?

Anonymous said...

How large do you think the Asian colony will grow?
As far as local zoning codes permit.

Over development has been well contained west of 154th Street and north of Northern Boulevard as far back as since 1961.

And with the new R 1-2A restrictions imposed...for a very, very, very long time.

Anonymous said...

Isn't this outside of Paul's district?
But that's OK. We should ALL be concerned with the loss of trees....especially old growth ones.

Unknown said...

I don't know what that Asian comment is about but I just want to go on record and state that I am of Asian descent and I love trees.