My Very Dear Queens Villagers,

          The cold and snow and ice have been merciless, but we must get into a “fair and warmer” state of mind and be optimistic about having an early spring.

          Last month’s meeting had to be canceled because of the dangerous ice and snow on our streets and sidewalks. We did our best to inform our members but we did not reach some of you. We extend our apologies to those who arrived for the meeting. We will reschedule Queens Borough President Helen Marshall to address us soon.

          The first hearing at the Bureau of Standards and Appeals concerning the proposal to build 13 two-family semi-attached homes at 94th Road and 212th Street was held in December.  The developer, who is seeking a zoning variance to build on land zoned for 9 single-family homes, stated that the reason for his proposal is that this area is depressed and in need of revitalization. What hypocrisy! Since when have developers become “knights in shining armor”
coming to the rescue of our communities?  Since when has making money not been their primary goal?  The block is vibrant and correctly zoned.  Such housing would bring increased traffic and parking problems and tax our sewer and sanitation services, all diminishing our quality of life.  The next meeting is scheduled for March 30 in the office of BSA at 40 Rector
Street in Manhattan.  We will be there to continue to voice our strong opposition, along with Community Board 13, our elected officials, and area residents.

          Tina Chan (Kew-Forest Community Association), Paul Kerzner (Ridgewood Property Owners), James Trent (Creedmoor Association), and I , all officers of the Queens Civic Congress, met with Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster on January 5.  We made the case for homeowner groups regarding illegal conversions that are not being sufficiently enforced and penalized.  The Department outlined their plans for overhauling the agency that include streamlining permit processing and reporting to the New York State Licensing Board the identities of architects and engineers who fraudulently certify alterations as legal.  DOB also pledged to meet periodically with civic groups to monitor the situation and to allow them to sit in on training sessions on how to use their computerized data bases.

          Sean Walsh, President of the Queens Civic Council, of which we are a member, will be the guest speaker at this month’s meeting. The QCC is affiliated with more than 75 Queens civic groups.

          Keep well and be good to yourself. I hope to see you on February 17.

          The Bureau of Standards and Appeals (BSA), which has the authority to grant zoning variances to developers so that they can build housing opposed by the community on quality of life issues, does not often decide in favor of the community.  So it is good news when it does so.  BSA has stopped the growth of the Saratoga Interfaith Family Inn in Springfield Gardens from 259 families to an additional 151 residential units in a new building.  A survey conducted by the Borough President’s office found a dozen homeless facilities, with the capacity for 3,000 persons, already operating within five and one-half miles from Saratoga.  Had the expansion been approved, it would have placed the first and second largest
homeless-family facilities in the City of New York within two miles of each other.  Queens Borough President Helen Marshal, Councilman In Leroy Camrie, the Queens Civic Congress, and Community Board 13 members headed the opposition.  Here in Queens Village. we are  hoping that our strong, united opposition against the protect that would build 13 two-family semi-detached homes at 94th Avenue and 212th Street on land that is zoned for 9 single-family detached homes will be supported by the Bureau of Standards and Appeals.