A bridge grows in Kew Gardens...

Patch

 The newly-constructed eastbound Union Turnpike bridge crossing the Grand Central Parkway will open Friday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The completed bridge will debut at midnight, barring any inclement weather that could cause transportation officials to reschedule its opening.

The overpass, located near the entrance ramp to the eastbound Grand Central Parkway, will allow the state transportation department to demolish the existing bridge, which is just west of the new one.

NYS DOT Kew Gardens Interchange and Urban Forest Denuding in Progress

Greetings Assemblywoman Rozic,

During a drive-by on Friday 1 March 2019 of the Phase 3 NYS DOT Kew Gardens interchange Project  I was absolutely shocked and appalled of what is viewed as the most egregious denuding and wholesale logging operation of recent years in central Queens by NYS DOT of our invaluable urban trees.   The actions of NYS DOT planners and engineers and that of their contractor Halmar is the deliberate elimination from the landscape of hundreds of invaluable large urban trees that have served as a vital buffer between the highly traveled and congested Union Tpke and the Grand Central Parkway (GCP) from the neighboring residents and community- now lost.  More removals of large trees are targeted in forthcoming weeks, eliminating the term "parkway" from the GCP.  I am sure you find this action by DOT similarly shocking.  And you should be shocked, if for anything but for the full range of human health and environmental benefits that these trees once provided and with significant ecological and monetary returns delivered for nearly a century.   

 

 What has occurred here is unacceptable especially at a time that so much is known about the urban tree organism as they exist in densely populated urban areas.  Current tree science has revealed that urban trees are vital to healthy living, improve and enhances quality of life, sequesters vast tonnage of carbon annually, captures harmful particulate matter (PM2.5) from vehicle exhaust etc.  That trees directly deliver these benefits to people, the environment and as habitat and to have been ignored by key players from NYS DOT is a testament that nothing has changed about environmental awareness, sustainability and resiliency in the City of NY or by the State for the Boro of Queens. It is business as usual.  

 

It is hard to imagine that an Environmental Impact and Analysis Statement by Region 11 NYS DOT that would have been required for this project for Queens did not set off alarms about the consequences by the loss of such massive volume of important tree canopy. But classic in its methodology and by indifference NYS DOT has fully ignored the importance of our urban trees, and instead has chosen to plundered what is our only important living natural resource across our urban space.  

A kind request that you inquire with NYS DOT for a copy of their project Environmental Impact Statement specific to the wholesale elimination of all of these public trees within the project footprint and pursue a halt to the ongoing denuding so that alternative design plans are able to reflect effective tree preservation rather than wholesale logging.  There is also legitimate purpose to pursue on behalf of the constituency and their "public trees", a restitution of the full value of the individual trees now removed along with the quantifiable dollar amount of the future benefits and services that those trees are no longer able to deliver.    

Bear in mind, that these large veteran trees can never ever be replaced..

Thank you and I await your reply.  

Carsten W Glaeser Ph.D. 

Union Turnpike medians need some work

From CBS 2:

A deteriorating median running down the middle of one of the busiest streets in Queens is in need of recovery, and residents say they’re getting concerned.

Community Activist Louis LaPolla says the four and a half mile stretch of Union Turnpike, with lifeless trees and crumbling curbs, has been that way for nearly six years.

CBS2 requested an on-camera interview with the parks department, but it would only say that since it’s not a safety issue it’s at the bottom of the priority list.

Barnes and Noble in Fresh Meadows to close

From the Daily News:

Barnes & Noble is closing one of its three Queens stores by the end of the year, officials said.

The book megastore, located near St. John’s University in Fresh Meadows, could not negotiate a new lease for its Union Turnpike digs.

“We had discussions with the property owner to try to structure a lease extension but were not able to come to an agreement,” said David Deason, Barnes & Noble vice president of development.

The big-box store opened 10 years ago. Local residents have heard rumors the site will be transformed into a T.J. Maxx clothing store.

Parking Avenger spots illegal DA office parking

Hi Crapper,

How about that long block of Union Turnpike between Austin Street and Queens Boulevard. That's where the Queens DA staffers usually park between 7am and 7pm. They are only entitled to park in a No Parking zone. But here's a taxpayer-funded staffer who parked in a No Standing zone.

I guarantee that if this were you or me, there would be a ticket slapped on our dashboard instantly.

-Parking Avenger

Motor Parkway restoration gains steam

From the Times Ledger:

Hundreds of petitioners have joined forces with a campaign calling for the Motor Parkway bike and pedestrian trail in Bellerose to be upgraded.

The campaign was started by Joby Jacob and Jana Suchtova, two Queens residents who say they use the historic path regularly but are unhappy with its abrupt end once it reaches Winchester Boulevard and Union Turnpike. Instead of continuing along the street, the Motor Parkway stops and those traveling on bike or foot must walk along the boulevard with no sidewalk or road shoulder to protect them from the cars.

The original parkway, built in the early 1900s, was a private road that stretched from Fresh Meadows out to Suffolk County. The city Parks Department maintains the 2.5-mile portion of the parkway in Alley Pond and Cunningham parks.

For bicyclists who ride eastbound on the section between Horace Harding and Winchester boulevards, the lack of road beyond Union Turnpike creates a safety issue, Jacob said.

As of the beginning of the month, more than 250 have signed an online petition agreeing with him.

Jacob said he has been in contact with City Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) and state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), because all the roads and properties that would be involved in any changes are owned by either the city or the state. Though no suggestions are set in stone, Avella said he was in favor of the idea and would support Jacob and Suchtova along the way.

“The idea is great. We just need to make sure there aren’t any structures in line that could present a problem” said Avella. “I think it’s doable and we’ll see where it goes.”

Jacob said he is not necessarily asking for a pedestrian bridge to be built across Winchester Boulevard, but the idea could be revisited later if sufficient funds could be raised. For now, he said the only costs he anticipates being involved with the project are to move the Creedmoor building’s fence, put down the sidewalk and plant some shrubs.

Union Turnpike won't get a pyramid

From the Queens Courier:

A split community board narrowly approved a proposal last week to rezone a portion of Union Turnpike.

The controversial rezoning plan would allow developer Sam Zirkiev build a four-story residential and retail structure at 158-15 Union Turnpike. It barely cleared Community Board 8 last Wednesday, with a nail-biting 17-14 vote.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Zirkiev said. “In the end, I’m happy with the outcome. Hopefully, it’ll get some more business and shopping in the area and more tax revenue. I’m hoping it’ll be an asset to the community.”

Under current zoning rules, developers can build a 10-story community facility building, shaped like a pyramid, within 70,500 square feet of the site. However, its height would be capped at 35 feet if residential units are planned, Lobel said.

Zirkiev reiterated his lack of interest in building the pyramid-like structure that would likely house medical offices — but he said he could, if rezoning plans are rejected.

Board member Kevin Forrestal said this was a “scare tactic” used to sway the board.

“We’re making more and more problems for ourselves, and we’re not addressing the infrastructure,” Forrestal said.

Pyramid proposed for Hillcrest site

From the Queens Chronicle:

A proposal to build a four-story building on Union Turnpike near Parsons Boulevard is looking more appealing to some community members when the alternative is a 10-story pyramid-shaped structure.

But not all agree concerning the site at 158-15 Union Turnpike, which is up for rezoning and will be voted on by Community Board 8 at its next meeting, set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Hillcrest Jewish Center, 183-02 Union Turnpike.

The lot is now vacant. It originally was part of the St. Joseph’s Hospital property and housed trailers used for equipment and office space. The hospital closed in 2004 and is now leased by Cornerstone Medical Arts for use as a detox center.

The trailer site was subdivided off and sold to Sam Zirk, who wants to develop it.

The proposal to rezone asks for a change from R3-2, which allows for low-rise attached houses and small residences, to R5D, which features moderate density and multifamily housing.

According to Zirk’s attorney, Richard Lobel, the area is now partially covered by a C1-2 designation. The proposal would take in the entire area with a C1-3 designation and permit ground-floor commercial use.

At a CB 8 hearing last month, Zoning Committee members voted down the plan 6-1. Therefore, the recommendation at the Nov. 13 meeting will be to reject the plan.

Lobel said at the hearing that the developer wants to erect a four-story residential building with retail on the ground floor. The 39 units are expected to be rentals and plans call for 71 parking spaces in the cellar.

Board members were concerned that the building would put too much pressure on the area’s infrastructure, including sewers, traffic, parking and schools.

Lobel told the Chronicle on Monday that if the proposal is rejected, the developer can erect a 10-story structure as of right. “He [Zirk] doesn’t want to do the pyramid, but if it’s not rezoned, the site will be redeveloped,” the lawyer said.

The Pink Elephant of Union Turnpike

This aerial shot is of 76-84 176th Street in 1996. You can see what looks like a small 1-family house on an irregular corner lot. Cue the bulldozers!


Whoa, this is one interesting piece of architecture. We're squeezing some kind of restaurant in this space. Why? Because we can!

This building was allegedly completed in 2008, but has been sitting vacant since that time. Why? Well, I can't think of another time when I saw "TOO MANY OBJECTIONS TO LIST" on an application on the DOB's website. No C of O. What a surprise.

How would you like this thing pressed up against your house?

Better keep a boat handy

From Eyewitness News:

A house in Fresh Meadows is covered in dirt and grime. The water line is about 3.5 feet high all the way around the kitchen, and the refrigerator is tipped over.

From the driveway, you can see just how it happened.

The water made its way down and instantly filled up the house. However, it is not just homeowners who experienced the sudden rainfall. Mid-afternoon drivers were also caught off guard. Flash flooding on the Grand Central Parkway near Union Turnpike forced drivers to brave the deep waters.

Eventually drivers gave up and came to a virtual standstill.

Police directed people to turn around and head back the other way.

Major clusterfuck coming soon!

From the Queens Chronicle:

In February, the second phase of the Kew Gardens Interchange project will get underway. It is a massive reconstruction and renovation plan affecting a complex web of thoroughfares — the Van Wyck Expressway, Grand Central Parkway, Queens Boulevard and Union Turnpike — which are used by half a million vehicles each day.

The first phase of the four-part project, which aims to correct structural problems and operational deficiencies, is already in progress.

The engineers overseeing the project from the Manhattan-based firm of Hardesty and Hanover gave a presentation about the status of the project at a Community Board 8 meeting last Thursday.

It will include the ramp to the northbound Van Wyck, originating from the eastbound Union Turnpike and eastbound Jackie Robinson Parkway; replacing the northbound Van Wyck viaduct, and construction on the eastbound Union Turnpike over the connection between the Grand Central, Van Wyck and merge bridge.