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From the
Queens Courier:
The former site of the Keil Brothers gardening center in Bayside Hills isn’t a place for timber anymore.
Five city-owned trees and about 40 shrubs saw the buzzer last week, resulting in complaints from residents and fines from the Parks Department.
The trees were cut by the current owner, 48 Garden Realty LLC, according to Community Board 11 leaders who told The Courier that the Parks Department informed the board it has issued fines to the firm. The owner has begun a process to turn the lot into residential homes, according to the board.
“He probably took down the trees thinking he is going to make driveways,” Community Board 11 District Manager Susan Seinfeld said.
From the
Queens Courier:
The owners of Keil Bros Garden Center and Nursery have struck a deal with the city to sell their entire Bayside property, including a home next to the store, for an undisclosed amount.
Ronald Keil, vice president of the family-run business, cited “the changing nature of the retail world” and “increasing costs of doing business” as reasons for the sale.
“Basically, it’s an uncertain economy,” he said.
Residents said the 416-seat school would destroy their quality of life, worsen parking and traffic congestion and lead to dangerous crossing conditions for students.
There are 21 elementary schools in the district and 12 within CB 11’s jurisdiction, according to Susan Seinfeld, district manager of Community Board 11.
Local educators said the majority of them are heavily congested, with registration growing every year.
At least three schools have had to put classrooms in space originally meant for libraries or music, Seinfeld said.
No designs for a new school have been laid out yet, according to School Construction Authority officials. The site selection process began in 2008 and honed in on the disputed site last month.
According to Keil, the city approached his 83-year-old business within the last two years. He said he and his brother are exploring options to continue the store in another part of Queens.
From
Bayside Patch:
State Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, has blasted a proposal to construct a new school along 48th Avenue in Bayside.
Avella said the proposed site is situated in the middle of a residential neighborhood that already includes P.S. 31 a few blocks away.
“Frankly, this proposal makes no sense,” the senator said. “The school will literally be facing the backyards of homes. This is a quiet residential neighborhood that already has an elementary school a few blocks from this site. A school at this location will significant alter the quality of life of residents, including creating considerable traffic and parking concerns.”
Community Board 11 voted down the proposal on Monday night following a presentation by the School Construction Authority. But the City Council will ultimately have the final say on whether the school is built at the site.
