By Celia Bernhardt | cbernhardt@queensledger.com

After doing the rounds at the film festival circuit, Tyrel Hunt’s new film, “The Sound of Southside,” is available for all back at home to watch online.

“I wanted to show a different side of Queens that maybe a lot of people haven’t heard of,” said Hunt of the project.

A tribute to jazz in Jamaica, Queens, the film follows a young man named Maliki finding his path after coming home to the neighborhood as a college grad. Maliki, played by James Ross, embarks on a journey to reopen his late father’s jazz club. Along the way he falls in love with an aspiring actress named Afeni, played by Hunt’s wife Amanda Hunt.  

Hunt, who grew up in Rosedale and now resides in Jamaica, was never much of a jazz kid himself growing up. But working as the director of marketing and communications at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, he was continually exposed to the genre through the organization’s programming. It inspired him to dig into the history and presence of jazz in the neighborhood.

“I wanted to highlight that the community has such a rich jazz history. And I wanted to make this movie because I wanted to make sure that didn’t get displaced,” Hunt said. “And [so] when people look at the community years from now, they’ll still be able to remember that so many great jazz legends have lived in the borough.”

Centering that message in Jamaica, particularly, is important to Hunt, who says that the region is underrepresented in pop culture. “I think it’s a shame because so many great people have come from the community. But I think a lot of times when you see Queens on TV, and in film…it’s the more commercial part of Queens. And when you do see Southeast Queens, it’s usually connected to hip hop.”

Always lurking in the background of the film, driving the plot forward, is the issue of gentrification in Jamaica — something Hunt feels day-in and day-out in the neighborhood.

“A lot of community hotspots that people found value in…just aren’t here anymore, or are leaving,” Hunt said. “One example of that is the Jamaica Multiplex, the movie theater on the corner. Just places like that are staples in the community.

“I think along with that comes people being displaced,” Hunt continued. “People not having anything productive to do, or places to go, or seeing their culture and things like that represented in the community. So that was all a concern for me.” 

Though his primary medium is film, Hunt first wrote the story as a novel during the Covid lockdowns. 

“I had to figure out a way to stay creative,” he explained. “I didn’t think [writing it as a book] would work, because it’s hard to write how music sounds…but I had a lot of time on my hands. And it was really cool. I think the best thing about writing a book is there’s no limitations— compared to film, where you have to think about personnel and budget, all of those things. With the book, I was able to really write a more expansive version of the story.”

But Hunt had always envisioned the story in film; in 2021, he was finally able to make it a reality. 

Hunt shot the film over the course of just two weeks. Every step of the way, the process was a community effort. 

“That was due in part to the fact that we didn’t have any permits,” Hunt said. 

The team still shot a good deal of footage in public spaces, and sometimes in spaces that businesses or organizations lent out in support of the film. “Sound of Southside” characters can be seen making their way down a bustling Jamaica Avenue, walking through Rufus King Park for a peaceful respite, or shopping at the legendary VP Records. 

“It felt very collaborative,” Hunt said. “I think that the rhythm of the film is something that we share with the community.”

As far as casting, Hunt said, “There were a lot of actual jazz musicians who were basically playing themselves in the movie. These are people I’ve met working at JCAL, doing these jazz events, and just kind of being in the community.” 

One particularly momentous scene near the end of the film, depicting a performance and a room packed with listeners, was shot in one of JCAL’s own spaces. The audience in the scene, meanwhile, was composed entirely of people Hunt knew from his own community. 

“They were family, friends,” Hunt said. “It was like a mini-reunion.” 

Even before his professional pursuits, Hunt says he was always exposed to the arts in Rosedale and Jamaica. 

“I was always writing short stories, poetry and all of that stuff. And it was always shaped by my community and my experiences. So I’m grateful for Rosedale and the community for helping me become who I am—and living in Jamaica is kind of an extension of that right now.”

Both Hunt’s film and novel are available to purchase on Amazon Prime. 

 

By Athena Dawson | news@queensledger.com

The office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. released a press release on Jan.10th  that details Richard’s recommendations for a conditional approval of  Phase II of the Willets Point redevelopment plan. The release comes a month after the borough president’s office’s Dec. 13 public hearing, where Richards and local residents brought forth questions to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and Queens Development Group.

Willets Point is a notoriously underdeveloped industrial neighborhood located within Corona Queens. The Willets Point redevelopment was first announced to the public in Nov. 2022 by Mayor Eric Adams. The EDC.nyc website details the plan including the creation of 2,500 new affordable homes, and boasts the project is “the largest 100-percent affordable, new construction housing project in New York City in 40 years.” 

Richards outlined in the press release the break down of Phase II of the redevelopment plan which “includes 1,400 units of affordable housing, a 25,000-seat soccer stadium to be used by Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club, a 250-room hotel, 80,000 square feet of commercial retail space, nearly three  acres of public open space and more.”  The plan would bring a projected 1,500 permanent and 14,200 construction jobs and generate a revenue of   $6.1 billion over the next 30 years.

The press release specifically highlighted to the development team a need for a written commitment to having more than half of the 1,400 units “be available at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).” The applicant team would also need to pledge to put together a list of community benefits . 

In addition to advocating for an AMI commitment, Richards recommended the applicant team put a level of commitment towards initiatives he highlighted in categories of local hiring, community partnerships and area infrastructure improvement. Some of the recommendations put forth include an emphasis on hiring minority and women owned businesses, the creation of a community advisory board, and applicant partnerships with NYC Department of  Parks and NYC Transit to upgrade green areas and improve transit to Willets Point. 

 Mayor Adams and other elected officials broke ground on 880 new affordable homes as part of Phase 1 of the redevelopment program on Dec. 20th, 2023. The event marked the start of construction on the project, which is occurring over a year ahead of schedule.  The Queens Ledger previously covered some of the controversy surrounding the project in July after carpenter union members rallied at City Hall. Union workers slammed the commitment to designate the prospective jobs to unionized construction workers as a false promise after they discovered the contractor hired by the city did not have an apprenticeship program.

By Celia Bernhardt | cbernhardt@queensledger.com

Neir’s Tavern, Woodhaven’s historic and beloved local haunt, celebrated four years since the day it was saved from shutting down. 

Crowds packed the cozy space in the evening on Jan. 10 to hear owner Loycent Gordon speak about the history of the tavern’s place in the Woodhaven community, how the business has given back to the neighborhood in recent years, how it was almost lost, and how he hopes to save it—this time, permanently. 

Neir’s Tavern, under one name or another, has been in business for 194 years since its start as a local watering hole near to the Union Race Course horse-racing track. The spot has had many lives as a speakeasy, a ballroom, a bowling alley, and more. Its claims to faim include being the place where Mae West got her start, and featuring prominently in the movie Goodfellas. 

Gordon, who lives in St. Albans, bought the spot in 2009 after hearing it was set to close down. 

“Most people don’t realize restaurants don’t make money,” Gordon said plainly. “It’s a passion-driven business. It’s more passion than profit.”

In January 2020, struggling under soaring rents, Neir’s seemed to be at the end of the line—until Gordon called into an “ask the mayor” segment on WNYC and seized the attention of then-mayor Bill DeBlasio. The former mayor, along with his commissioner of Small Business Services, pressured the landlord to sit down with electeds and Gordon and strike a deal that would keep the business afloat. The two-hour meeting led to a lease extension to keep the doors open until Neir’s 200th year in business.

“Every year, we’re reminded of the things that we almost lost, and we still have an opportunity to do something about it,” Gordon said, reflecting on the night. “We have a second chance.”

Gordon’s plan to take advantage of that second chance, as he explained to the audience, is called the “Road to 200” fund: a multi-pronged effort to bring in revenue and acquire the property once and for all. 

“Neir’s Tavern needs to find a way to actually acquire the building, put it in a foundation, so it’s not profit-driven but more preservation-driven,” Gordon explained. “And that involves a series of people working together with the landlord and Neir’s and preservationists to make that happen before we hit 200 years, because that’s when our lease will expire.

“Essentially, it’s creating opportunities for revenue to come into Neir’s Tavern outside of selling burgers and beer,” Gordon continued. “We’re launching an ambassadors club, which is a premium membership program. And we’re also [selling] merchandise, and we have paid tours that we’re going to offer, and a book that we’re going to release.”

Gordon told the crowd that it was time for the community to work to save Neir’s themselves. “No one is coming,” he said. “What happened on Jan. 10, four years ago today, was because you guys chose yourself and what was important to you.”

Patrons packed the tavern as Gordon spoke, chowing down on burgers, beers, and more. 

Richie Salmon, 69, grew up in Glendale and now lives in Howard Beach. He found Neir’s Tavern by accident on his way home one day, and never stopped coming by. He’s been a regular for years now, and says the place treats him like family. 

“It’s a hometown bar,” Salmon said. “Growing up, this is what I was used to. A place where they embraced you, you got a hug, you got a smile, they knew you, they knew your family’s name.”

Also among the guests was State Senator Joseph Addabbo. 

“This is unique,” Addabbo said. “I mean, we do a lot of stops as elected officials—this is a highlight. Because whenever you get to acknowledge a business like Neir’s and the work that goes into it…this is a special night.”

Gordon said that not all nights are so busy. 

“I just wish it was like this every night,” he said. “But I’m happy that it’s packed tonight because it’s just a testament that, you know, people still do care. They haven’t forgotten. I’m happy about that.”