No GOPer running in SD11 Senate race

From the Times Ledger:

September’s Democratic primary between state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and former city Comptroller John Liu will be for all the marbles since there will be no Republican contender on the ballot.

For the first time in more than four decades, Queens Republicans have failed to amass enough petition signatures to get a candidate on the ballot in District 11, according to the city Board of Elections.

The GOP collected a mere 788 signatures for its candidate, Elio Forcina, far short of the 1,000 required to get on the ballot.

“It’s a huge disappointment to see the Queens Republican organization is just so incompetent that we can’t even get a candidate in a district in which Republicans can win,” said John Watch, the former president of the North East Queens Republican Club, who still serves on the group’s board. “It’s a joke.”

Of the signatures gathered in the district, only 545 were valid, the BOE said.

Community board concerned about plan for Richmond Hill Republican Club

From the Queens Chronicle:

The owners of the landmarked Richmond Hill Republican Club presented their plans for the century-old building to Community Board 9 Tuesday night, and the board is now tasked with deciding if a desired renovation of the landmark structure is worth approving a license many community boards loathe to support.

The owners, a group called Siberian Ice, want to use the building at 86-15 Lefferts Blvd., between Jamaica and Hillside avenues, as a catering hall, but they also plan to put another facility in the basement of the structure that will require them to get a cabaret license. Some community boards opt to never give out cabaret licenses and most, including CB 9, require more extensive information than usual in order to approve one.

Siberian Ice is seeking a change in usage according to section 74-711 of the city’s zoning regulations, which would allow them to restore the building to close to what it was, while using it as a catering hall.

“One of the uses they are proposing for this building is not permitted for this zoning district,” said Sylvia Hack, chairwoman of CB 9’s land use committee. “So they will need to come back and get a special license from the city to allow a cabaret in the basement.”

Hack said CB 9 favors a “better” rather than a “mediocre” restoration of the building, which has been vacant for two decades, and that may require the board to approve the cabaret license at a later date. While Siberian Ice is not required to apply for a 74-711, it is willing to, but only if the cabaret license is approved. Because only the faÁade of the building is landmarked, Siberian Ice is only required to maintain the front and not the entire building.

“They are not prepared to do this higher restoration unless they do get approval for the cabaret license,” Hack added.

CB 9 Chairman Jim Cocovillo said the cabaret license issue puts the board in a bind because, while most members want the building to have the best restoration possible, many may have reservations about a dancing license.

Richmond Hill Republican Club to become catering hall

From the Queens Chronicle:

The Richmond Hill Republican Club at 86-15 Lefferts Blvd. hasn’t hosted the political party in two decades, but the vacant building looks to be headed to a future of hosting parties of a different kind.

Ivan Mrakovcic, vice chairman of Community Board 9 and president of the Richmond Hill Historical Society, said a group called Siberian Ice, LLC bought the property several years ago and is planning on reopening the building as a catering hall. Their plans for the building will be presented to CB 9 at its Oct. 8 meeting and the board’s executive committee got a sneak peek at the plans Tuesday night during a meeting at Borough Hall. The presentation is required because the owners are opting to file for a special permit under Section 74-711 of the city’s zoning regulations that allows the catering hall to operate at the site that includes the landmarked facade.

CB 9 Chairman Jim Cocovillo said the board was pleased with the plans for the building.

Good luck with that...

From the Daily News:

The Queens Republican Party is looking to expand into Forest Hills, an area historically dominated by Democrats and a rival GOP faction.

The new American Eagle Republican Club of Forest Hills is hosting its first meeting Tuesday night at the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

The move is part of a larger plan for the party to branch out beyond its tradition base in northeastern Queens.

“After the [Bob] Turner victory, Forest Hills jumped to the top of the list,” said Robert Hornak, a spokesman for the Queens GOP.

Republicans were energized by Turner’s win of the 9th Congressional District seat long held by former Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Party officials said they are hoping that success translates into momentum for other Republican candidates in upcoming state and citywide elections.

Richmond Hill Republican Club improvements coming along

From Lost in the Ozone:

From this photo taken today, it certainly looks like positive progress is being made on the landmarked Richmond Hill Republican Club on Lefferts Blvd...

Republican Club still under renovation

Work at the Richmond Hill Republican Club continues and Lost in the Ozone has photos. When will it start looking better?