It seems like only
yesterday that the summer began, but the long days of summer have been replaced
with the changing of the leaves and soon the crisp days of winter. However,
the work of the volunteers of the Little Neck Pines Civic Association continues
throughout all seasons. We want to
touch base with all of our members and briefly inform you of some events in and
around our community. August 31st
was the close of our fiscal calendar year.
We ask that each of you renew your membership and ask that you encourage
your neighbors to join as well.
Update on Church
(“Community Facility”) on 249th Street.
Many of us came together
in May 2000 to address two issues which we believe would affect our community:
the building of a community facility on 249th Street and the closure
of Grand Union. Over the last year
and a half we have addressed both issues, with diverse resolutions.
Stop & Shop is opening. However,
the Community Facility on 249th Street is going to be built and at
this point, with minimal architectural changes from the original plans.
Over the last year and a half, we have worked vigorously to draw the
attention of our local officials, the building department and the department of
transportation to your concerns. We
focused on the anxieties that we have heard vocalized by many of you; that is,
the impact of the traffic on the neighborhood, and the subsequent parking
problems that this will create in the surrounding streets of our neighborhood.
We have had obstacles placed in our way.
In many instances we’ve received little or no response from the
department of transportation and encountered a bureaucratic nightmare as to the
operations of our local government. However,
this has led to an increased awareness on our part that in order to contain the
impact on our neighborhoods we, the community, must band together. We must place
pressure on our politicians to revisit the “As of Right” portion of the
zoning law. Yes, the
Community Facility is going to be built but let’s pull together ----- we
should have a legitimate say as to the changes in our neighborhood.
Let’s attempt to stabilize the number of community facilities being
built within this area. You
may be wondering how can you help. Please
read below for details as to our “letter writing” campaign.
Meeting at Louis
Pasteur (M.S.67)
In May, the Little Neck
Pines hosted a meeting at M.S.67 with guest speakers from surrounding areas.
The primary focus of the meeting was to address “As of Right” issues
in the City of New York. For
those of you who were not able to attend, the meeting dealt with a letter
writing campaign to our elected officials, addressing our concerns regarding
“As of Right”. We believe that
the issue is important enough to repeat a segment of our last newsletter.
The “As of Right”
portion of the zoning law exempts any medical facility, civic center, house of
worship, etc. from standard zoning regulations.
Basically “As of Right” means that any home can be purchased and
turned into a community facility. It
can be the house next door, down the block or across the street. This is an issue that we perceive is not in the best
interests of the Little Neck and Douglaston communities, as well as other areas
of the city.
At the May meeting, Sean
Walsh, President of the Queens
Civic Congress, clearly explained that we must convey to our elected officials
our concerns, one of which is that the approval for building permits should not
be granted until it is brought before a public forum. As Sean explained, each civic association, in not only Queens
but all 5 boroughs, must demand the attention of our elected officials.
We cannot shy away from any action or process that we perceive will
affect our quality of life. We are
asking you to take some time from your busy schedules and write to your elected
officials. The addresses of your
local officials are on the back of this newsletter. We ask that each one of you speak up and be heard.
The attendance at this meeting was not as high as we anticipated.
We can only speculate as to the reason.
However, you the community, can only make a change.
We cannot say it enough. Be
heard, write your local officials. If
we all take a look around us we would recognize that this is only the tip of the
iceberg. We all must be vigilant as
to other “community facilities” being built or “rumors” of property
being sold and community facilities being built.
Let us know and we will address it.
Stop and Shop
We are confident that many
of you have noticed the activity in the “Grand Union” location. The
September 6th meeting that we held last year, obviously swayed the
Management of Stop & Shop. Stop
and Shop is renovating the building and as noted in the Ledger, the store should
be opened around November, perhaps even for our Thanksgiving shopping. Our voice was heard.
In and Around our
Town
Changes in a community
take place gradually not overnight but over time.
The changes are at first small, and in time neighborhoods can change.
Take a walk, open your eyes and bring to our attention any changes that
you would like your neighbors to be aware of.
If you have a chance, take a walk by the baseball field at M.S. 67.
The field has been named Firefighter’s Field after three firemen with
ties to the Little Neck/Douglaston community.
Harry Ford (1951-2001), who died in the “Father’s Day” fire, James
Corrigan (1941-2001) and Thomas Holohan (1962-2001) who both perished at the
World Trade Center. There was a
commemoration in July attended by members of the fire department, family and
friends.
It was sad to learn that Awnings
by Dee closed after a long business relationship in Little Neck. We all wish
the family well in their future endeavors. An Antique store has opened in its place and we look forward
to a long relationship with them.
Little Neck History
We have reprinted “The
History of Little Neck”. The book
is being offered for a contribution of $10 (this includes postage and handling).
It is a history of Little Neck and a cherished addition to every family
who currently lives in Little Neck or who grew up in Little Neck.
Please send a check for $10 to the Little Neck Pines Civic Association,
P.O. Box 331, Little Neck, NY 11363.
Volunteers and
Association Dues
The Little Neck Pines
Civic Association is comprised of volunteers from the community who have a
united interest and concern in not only our community but also in the
surrounding areas. We do not get
paid for our services but volunteer because we care about our community.
We cannot help you unless you help us. Volunteer.
Volunteers are always needed You may want to work on a committee, or
perhaps to distribute flyers or to talk with some of your neighbors on the “As
of Right” issue. You may only be
able to give one hour a month ---- whatever you can do to help is important to
all of us. Have you ever considered
becoming a Board member? Not only
are volunteers needed but dues are also essential. Impact studies are needed to
provide proper information to the residential community on community facilities
revealing the impact of the facility on the residential area. Mailings, copies of materials, maintenance of the website,
rent for meeting space all cost money.
We ask for your help with both participation and with payment of your
dues. Please complete the form
below and mail your dues in the self-addressed envelope to Little Neck Pines
Civic Association, P.O. Box 331, Little Neck, NY
11363. Let us remember that
one year ago, Little Neck did not have a grocery food store.
However, with the voice of Little Neck Pines, in partnership with our
surrounding Associations, we are able to bring Stop & Shop to our community.
Be Heard, write to your
elected officials:
Mayor
The Honorable Michael Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, New York 10007
Borough
President
The Honorable Helen Marshall
120-55 Queens Boulevard
Kew Gardens, New York 11424
Chair
of the NYC Planning Commission
The Honorable Amanda Burden
22 Read Street
New York, New York 10007
District
23 City Councilman
[South of Northern Boulevard]
The Honorable David Weprin
205-07 Hillside Avenue, Suite 16
Hollis, New York 11423
Speaker
of the City Council
The Honorable Gifford Miller
336 East 73rd Street, Suite C
New York, New York 10021
District
19 City Councilman
[North of Northern Boulevard]
The Honorable Tony Avella
38-50 Bell Boulevard, Suite C
Bayside, New York 11361
Chairman
of Land Use Committee
The Honorable Melinda Katz
104-01 Metropolitan Avenue
Forest Hills, New York 11375
Dues are $20
yearly.
Contributions
over and above your membership fee are greatly appreciated and will be wisely
used. It is often necessary to seek
professional advice, i.e. architectural or legal, when working on issues such as
community facilities, as-of-right and zoning.
While some professionals are willing to work without a fee in such cases,
there are times when we have to pay for their services.
|
Make your check or money order payable to: LITTLE NECK PINES
ASSOCIATION, INC. |
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