BY KYLIE VOLAVONGSA | news@queensledger.com
FOREST HILLS — After a two-month break, Queens Community Board 6’s monthly meetings are back in session.
Of note at the September 17 meeting, was a report from the Land Use, Housing, and Landmark Committee regarding a ULURP application to rezone a portion of Yellowstone Boulevard from a R4/C1-2 designation to a R7X/C2-4 — with a final vote for approval from the board.
The request comes from property owner Joseph Friedman of 6040 F.P. FOOD LLC to facilitate construction of a 12-story, mixed-use development at 68-72 and 71-74 Yellowstone Blvd.
Prior to the vote, it faced criticism from Forest Hills residents both online and at the meeting. In January, Jeremy Avilez posted a petition to stop the rezoning application, citing the displacement of small businesses, increased costs of living, and preservation of the neighborhood’s character.
“Residents should look beyond the humble presentation being made for killing six different businesses on Yellowstone Blvd,” Avilez added at the meeting. Those businesses include Vitelio’s Marketplace, Champions Martial Arts, J&D Pharmacy, and Neighborhood Laundry & Cleaner.
According to Friedman’s attorney, Richard Lobel, these concerns — among others — have been taken into consideration.
“Joe has been a great steward of the site, really charges below-market in terms of the rent, and the proof is in the pudding: these businesses have been there, in many cases, for decades,” Lobel said. “In fact, his son owns the cleaner at the site.”
And after a September 10 hearing with the Land Use Committee, the plan was revised to become a 9-story development. It would still house its originally proposed 151 units, 38 of them MIH, within about 119,600 square feet.
“This redesign of the building is something that does not often happen when developers come to us, so I do want to thank the team for actually listening to my committee members, taking that seriously, and reworking your plans to meet some of our concerns,” Peter Beadle, co-chair of the Land Use Committee, said.
Beadle also praised the proposal for not including automobile parking, explaining that, by induced demand, the decision would alleviate traffic in the area by deterring additional car owners from moving into the area.
The vote ultimately passed by a large majority, with a motion introduced by former CB 6 Chair, Heather Beers-Dimitriadis, that the proposal would add more bicycle parking, first right of refusal for existing businesses on the property, and the percentage of MIH units shifted from 25% to 31%.
Still, Elizabeth Shieldkret of Rego Park took issue with the process. She says she’s lived six blocks from the site for over 20 years, and began to follow the proposal when a neighbor sent her Avilez’s petition earlier this year.
“The developers proposed something on a much larger scale than what they intended so that they could scale it back after the hearing,” Shieldkret told the Ledger. “So, the Community Board was irresponsible and out of touch for thanking the developers. Meanwhile, the public only gets two minutes to comment, while they have unlimited time and back and forth questions.”
A recording of the CB 6 meeting and earlier hearing is available on the board’s YouTube channel. Its next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 14.
In the meantime, the rezone is still subject to review by Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., the City Planning Commission, and City Council.
