The Northeastern Tower Annex. Image Credit: HPD
The building provides much needed affordable housing for seniors. On July 21, 2021, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), other City and elected officials, community leaders and others participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Northeastern Towers Annex at 161-11 132nd Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Northeastern Towers Annex is a 159 affordable-unit development for seniors. (more…)
Todd Dale speaks before the Board of Standards and Appeals. Image credit: BSA
Board noted the conversion would reduce the impact of non-conforming use on the neighborhood. On April 14, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals voted to grant 221-16 Merrick Blvd. Associates LLC a special permit to change an existing commercial building at 221-18 Merrick Boulevard in Queens to Use Group 6 retail in conjunction with redeveloping the Merrick Flea Market area. The proposal would reduce the size of the subject building from 10,600 to 8,176 square feet and replace the existing auto supply stores with retail shops.
Contextual rezoning would impact 229 blocks south of Forest Park in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill. On May 23, 2012, the City Planning Commission approved the Department of City Planning’s Woodhaven – Richmond Hill Rezoning proposal. The contextual rezoning would impact 229 blocks along Jamaica and Atlantic Avenues south of Forest Park in Queens. The portion of Woodhaven impacted by the plan is generally bounded by Park Lane South to the north, Jamaica and 91st Avenues to the south, 98th Street to the east, and Eldert Lane to the west. The portion of Richmond Hill impacted by the plan is generally bounded by Atlantic and Jamaica Avenues to the north, 103rd Avenue to the south, 121st Street and the Van Wyck Expressway to the east, and 112th and 102nd Streets to the west.
The Woodhaven and Richmond Hill neighborhoods are characterized by low-density development and are known for their one- and two-family wood-frame houses, and tree-lined streets. The blocks north of Atlantic Avenue, found largely (more…)
Contextual rezoning would impact 538 blocks in South Jamaica. On May 4, 2011, the City Council’s Land Use Committee approved a Department of City Planning proposal to rezone South Jamaica and portions of Springfield Gardens and St. Albans in southeast Queens. The 538-block rezoning area is generally bounded by Liberty Avenue and South Road to the north, North Conduit to the south, Merrick and Springfield Boulevards to the east, and the Van Wyck Expressway to the west. Planning also proposed a zoning text amendment to expand the City’s FRESH program to commercial and manufacturing districts within the rezoning area and other portions of Queens Community District 12. The FRESH program offers incentives to encourage the development of grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods.
South Jamaica is a residential neighborhood characterized by one- and two-family detached houses, with small pockets of one- and two-family semi-attached and attached houses and multi-family buildings. Approximately 97 percent of the study area is zoned R3-2 and R4. These zoning districts permit a variety of housing types at densities that are inconsistent with the neighborhood’s built character. (more…)
Opposition by Grace Episcopal Church to the landmarking of its Memorial Hall only emerged after Landmarks approved designation. On January 18, 2011, the City Council rejected Landmarks’ designation of the Grace Episcopal Church Memorial Hall at 155-24 90th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Grace Episcopal Church was founded in 1702 and is one of the country’s oldest Episcopal parishes. The church’s main building and graveyard were landmarked in 1967, and Landmarks calendared the Memorial Hall in October 2009. No one from the church testified in opposition to designation at Land marks’ February 2010 public hearing, and Landmarks designated the building as an individual City landmark in October 2010.
At the Council’s Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses Subcommittee hearing, Landmarks’ Jenny Fernandez described the agency’s outreach efforts prior to approving the designation. Fernandez testified that Landmarks first contacted the church in 2007 to discuss the possibility of designating the Memorial Hall. Landmarks mailed “several” survey letters and had a meeting with church representatives who did not express opposition. According to Fernandez, the congregation first notified Landmarks of its opposition after the designation vote. Landmarks’ staff thereafter met with the congregation to discuss the designation’s impact on the church. (more…)
