Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363
Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363
Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363
Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363
Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363
UPDATES
Homeless Shelter
The Mayor in an effort to save money is warehousing the homeless throughout the city in “slumlike” inhumane structures.
The Mayor is opening a homeless shelter for 72 women in what was the Pride of Judea building on Northern Blvd. At our upcoming meeting. We will discuss what legal and political actions we can take on February 9th.
Meantime, please contact by phone, and email, and letters all your city elected officials and object to the city’s plans for the site. I 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. Also, I have put my letter and that of others on the Website as a model for you to use. They plan to have nine women in a multiple rooms of cots with one bathroom for every ten women. There is no outdoor recreation space. The city plans to have women stay at this location up to a year, this is in violation of the zoning that says the length of stay cannot be more than thirty days. Prisoners in our jails have better accommodations than these women.
We are also taking a close look at the entanglements of the purchase and service contract of the parties involved at this and other similar sites throughout the city. Put pressure on your electeds and those now running for City council.
For more information
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!
City Council Plan to End Single Family Housing
Latest update:
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.
Northern Blvd. & Douglaston
Parkway Construction
Latest Update:
The DCA is still in NY State Appellate Court fighting the two apartment houses proposed for Douglaston Parkway and Northern Blvd; we are awaiting the city’s response. The commencement of construction while the matter is still in court is outrageous.
Little Neck Bay
Good News: DCA and Congressman Tom Suozzi jointly initiated a meeting with all the stakeholders involved in preserving and protecting and cleaning up the LI Sound including our own Little Neck Bay.
The purpose was to reintroduce all the stake holders and develop a joint united plan with priorities for cleaning up the LI Sound of which Little Neck Bay is a part. This will enable the group to present to Congressman Suozzi coordinated requests for funding. Board member Cecilia Venosta organized the effort and will coordinate this joint effort into the future. DCA will host on its Web site information from all these groups and as well as a discussion room.
Thank you Congressman Suozzi for all your past and future efforts in saving the Sound. Our May / June membership meeting will have the LI sound as a topic.
The New York LANDMARKS
Conservancy
We Can't Let the City Destroy
This Incredible Oasis That
Serves All New Yorkers
The City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises hearing on the proposed development of the south side of Governors Island is this coming Monday, April 5.
The City wants to allow buildings 20-25 stories tall, turning half the island into another overscale real estate development. Additional concessions could erase open park space. We should be better than this.
Please email the following Council Members and tell them: “VOTE NO on Governors Island development plan.”
Council Speaker Corey Johnson
SpeakerJohnson@council.nyc.gov
Land Use Chair Rafael Salamanca Jr.
Subcommittee Chair Francisco Moya
Council Member Margaret Chin
For more information about our programs, visit nylandmarks.org. If you have questions, you can find all the staff email contacts there as well.
Peg Breen, President
The New York Landmarks Conservancy
Douglaston Civic Association • 917-862-3286 • • PO Box 630222, Douglaston, NY 11363