UPDATES

AGENDA FOR February 21, 2023

Public meeting

1. Hochul and Adams

“Affordable Housing" Plans:

the Myth

Governor Kathy Hochul is again proposing radical legislation that would override local single-family zoning and lead to massive increases in density in Queens and Nassau, including here in Douglaston. This letter to Hochul (also copied below) from our sister civic the Westmoreland Association in Little Neck details what's wrong with her plan. Mayor Adams is also getting into the mix with a plan to "Get Stuff Built."

We must act now before our communities are sold off by the real estate interests. Come hear the truth. No neighborhood is safe. We have invited our state legislative representatives Senator Toby Stavisky and Assemblyman Ed Braunstein to demand their support for their constituents in the fight against Hochul's community-destroying proposals.

2. 111th Pct. Report

3. Homeless Shelter Update

4. Sand Hill Road

5. Nomination of Sheri Roman to

fill a Board vacancy

July , 2021

City Council Plan to End Single Family Housing

NY City Council Speaker Corey Johnson's proposal to amend the zoning code to phase out single-family homes (they're "racist," of course!) met with strong opposition from civics throughout the city and has been tabled for now. We expect it to pop up again before the summer is over; therefore, write, email, call all public officials and candidates running for office and voice your opposition.

Background Summary:

There is a proposal by N.Y. City Council Speaker Johnson to establish long term planning process in a report called Planning Together: A New Comprehensive Planning Framework for NYC. The plan is extremely negative to single family homes in our communities, especially single family zones such as ours. The thrust of the plan is to say that single family zoning is “racist.” I find that hard to accept when I look at Southeast Queens or Corona as examples of a communities of color living in single family housing.

This will be a topic of the upcoming Mayoral and City Council races. In my reviewing construction permits I have found that the Department of Buildings has designated on the construction or demo permits the lots to be R-3 not the proper legal designation of R1-2. R-3 permits two family occupancy. When I have pressed DoB on why they are doing this, I am stone walled. When I ask our elected officials, they say they have not received an answer. It is obvious that City Hall is openly hostile to communities like us. Please light a fire under our electeds today.

Read and print the petition to get the word out and oppose City Council Speaker Johnson's "Planning Together" report and companion bill.

Paving Over Alley Pond Park

As you can see the Alley Pond Environmental Center is under construction. Board members Carol McCarthy & Bruce Stuart are monitoring the City’s plans to pave over trails for bikers and open a concession stand. Your thoughts? Board member Bernie Haber is still working on getting funding to move the bike lanes on Northern Blvd. Maybe with our next Mayor.

GET INVOLVED!

October, 2021 letter to Community Board 11 and District Manager from

DCA President, Sean Walsh

Dear CB 11 Chairman and District Manager,

The Douglaston Civic Association brings to your attention and the various agencies of the city a dangerous and life threatening condition. I have previously informed you and sent you pictures of the site in question. The hill behind the former Douglaston Macy store Douglaston Plaza under the city’s golf course has progressively showed signs of an exponential eroding potentially leading to a collapse. There is a history of this hill being unstable with a high water table. The area to the south did collapse and buried homes some years ago.

The hill needs to be stabilized immediately. CB11 needs to bring the necessary public and private parties together to act before something terrible happens.

Sean M Walsh

President

February 15, 2022

New Douglaston LN Public

Library

Click here for detailed plans

December , 2021

Homeless Shelter

Homeless Shelter at 243-02 Northern Blvd. the site of the former Pride of Judea is slated to house 74 people dormitory style with only one bathroom per ten occupants. The DCA countered with a proposal for 12 efficacy apartments of permanent housing for homeless women but without any response from DHS or our local electeds. Therefore, DCA has engaged a law firm to fight and prevent this inhumane treatment of the homeless. DCA has obtained a Temporary Restraining Order from a Supreme Court Judge stopping the city & the owner of the property from continuing while we litigate the various code and safety and zoning issues involved. This is a tremendous victory! Our fund rising drive has been instrumental in temporally stopping this proposal. For those who have said “it’s a done deal” well it isn’t.” We urgently ask you to make a donation today to finish this Fight.

July 14, 2021

We have engaged experts who are working with our lawyers to file a lawsuit. This NY Times article below is a good summary of the homeless issues. We hope that the city will change course and adopt the DCA proposal for permanent and limited homeless population. We will keep you posted.

Enjoy summer.

N.Y.C.’s Plan to Move Homeless People From Hotels Is Blocked

by a Judge

A federal judge ruled that the city was transferring homeless people to group shelters without adequate consideration for their health.

Click here to read article by Andy Newman

Click here to read letter sent by DCA President Sean Walsh to NY Times

Please contact by phone, and email, and letters all your city elected officials and object to the city’s plans for the site. We have posted on our web site the contact information for our electeds. (Click on CONTACT INFO on the Navigation Bar) Make clear that this is an election issue, they need to know they are either with us or against us, speak up.

Douglaston Parkway

Retaining Wall

You may have noticed that the retaining wall along the east side of Douglaston Parkway between Alameda Ave. and Rushmore Ave. has been deteriorating over the past few years. This winter its deterioration escalated when parts fell into the path of traffic. DCA contacted DOT to effect repairs. DOT has inspected the wall and has drawn plans to replace the wall, and they are stating the week of May 11th.

Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • douglaston.civic.association@gmail.com • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363