Development plans for 48th and Greenpoint Ave.
Sept. 8, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
Anti-gentrification forces are gathering in Sunnyside.
Nearly a dozen New York City-based organizations working to stave off gentrification will gather to discuss problems and possible solutions at a panel at 1 p.m. on September 18 at the Queen of Angels Parish Hall in Sunnyside.
The panel, called “Jobs, Homes & Hood,” will focus on the issues surrounding displacement and gentrification, and will push to pass the Small Business Jobs Survival Act that its advocates say would help local businesses renegotiate fairer leases.
Representatives from organizations including the Queens Anti-Gentrification Project, TakeBackNYC, the Artist Studio Affordability Project, and many others will discuss how they see gentrification impacting current residents of Western Queens.
Pat Dorfman
“They keep building stuff instead of planning,” said event organizer Patricia Dorfman, who also is the Executive Director of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce. “It seems as though the city is concentrating more on pleasing the big landlords and bringing in more people and buildings in areas that don’t have the infrastructure, the sewers, the transportation, the parks, the schools to handle it,” she said.
Dorfman explained that in her opinion, the biggest thing to help keep local businesses alive would be to pass the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which has been bounced around the City Council in some format since the 1980s, though it picked up some steam last fall when several local politicians endorsed it.
The act would ensure longer and more secure leases for small businesses, and give the business owners some negotiating tools, but has not seen much progress in City Council. “We want small businesses to flourish, not be replaced by large corporate developments,” Dorfman said.
Author of the SBJSA Steve Null will be one of the speakers on the panel, and will speak to how it could help protect citizens and business owners from being pushed out of an
area.
Dorfman cited the controversial Phipps Housing development on Barnett Avenue as emblematic of problematic gentrification. “When they proposed this building it was hideous, too big, there was no infrastructure to support the nearly 1,000 people it would bring in, and how are they going to get to work?” she posed, citing the major 7 train track and signal issues. “It was called affordable housing, but most out of reach for almost everybody.”
If the Phipps development moves forward, Dorfman said she believes it would change the entire culture of the neighborhood and open the door for more luxury developments in the area.
“It’s all for the big developers, and as far as I can see there’s nothing in it that’s good for Queens,” Dorfman said.
Dorfman hopes the meeting will be both informative and will incite action. She aims to bring together many of the different groups that want to fight off big projects like Phipps at this meeting she said. She explained that everyone from old-timers who have lived in the neighborhood for their entire lives, to small up and coming business owners, to union laborers who would not be hired to build the new luxury buildings have spoken out against gentrification, and she hopes to unify them at the meeting.
The full meeting schedule is:
- Displacement and Gentrification—Michael Forest and Manny Gomez
- Pass Small Business Jobs Survival Act to Sustain NYC Neighborhoods—Kirsten Theodos
- Keeping Queens Affordable: Tenant Organizers and Small Business advocates
- Why a $2.5 Billion BQX Streetcar?—Sam Stein
- Jackson Heights-Corona: Queens Neighborhood United vs. BID Expansion—Tania Mattos
- Infrastructure Blues—Mitch Waxman
- Q&A—Steve Null
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61 Comments
Idiot Dorfman and old fogies who try to fight gentrification don’t understand basic economics. By fighting gentrification they are holding the local economy back and leaving the community more vulnerable to more homeless shelters and crime. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 10 years and I am gradually seeing more crime, drug addicts, dealers, and lowlifes in the neighborhood.
i think you have it backwards more gentrification means more money and more low life’s wanting to cash in, like mugging you, so they start hanging out here
you are all poor, the rich are coming… make more money if you want to hang around
And like a swarm of locusts in the fields they devoured the people.
Looks like this will be the one event in Sunnyside not accompanied by pictures of a smiling Jimmy Van Bramer shaking someone’s hand.
Agreed. Oh the old days whaaaa whaaa. I live here 30 yrs and its much better now
Change is good. Expensive but good. Did you people like the king Boulevard building that was rat infested. All the drug traffic, dealers on every corner, you actually miss that? The building is nice looking ,alot better than the eyesore that was there. Progress is good or half you people wouldnt buy a cell phone, brand new cars. Get real or get out. Southside will remain a slum if there is no change
drug dealers when was that? Ive been here 15 years…must have been before my time, or its after midnight…….but then i had a job no reason to be on greenpoint and 48th…..so fill me in as to what Ive been missing
What about all the hotels turning into homeless shelters in the surrounding area of Queens? Good for Maspeth for taking a stance, organizing protests and rallies, using fund me pages to hire lawyers, etc. They succeeded in stopping a hotel becoming a homeless shelter in their neighborhood. BRAVO!
That buildings far better than anything else we have in this neighborhood. I hope they open a proper restaurant or something that ups the neighborhood class in there.
how exactly do you “stop” gentricifcation? I believe you would have to get the govt involved to pass laws to control it so that you cannot sell anything to make a profit and everyone must smile and accept whatever they have. Dorfman and her anti-change wackos are out of touch, Scary that this viewpoint is coming directly from out chamber of commerce.
Read about the process of gentrification. Gentrification is a deliberate act by real estate forces, it is not some kind of natural phenomenon. Then you won’t make nonsensical comments like above.
please, please get rid of the OLD FARTS and other RIFF RAFF. we in the Gardens are in favor of Gentrification.
Gold plated faucets? $999 for a 1 bedroom? You’re in the wrong decade buddy.
yes you have to think outside the box…lots of people are not luxury minded, we would rather have a big bank account then piss the money on rent. so give us basic at a basic price,,,,,,no dishwasher NO washer dryer, in the apartment hauling laundry to the basement is fine with me no exercise room no $3000 viking chefs stove a $300 from sears is fine, no double sinks in bathroom 1 bathroom even for a 2 bedroom, just maybe a rooftop communal area. nothing luxury at a basic AFFORDABLE PRICE
The market rate for a beat up 1 bdrm with a 1960s kitchen is more than 1600. NYC has added more than 400,000 people since 2010. There is no greenfield anywhere. Sunnyside is 3 stops to midtown. Do the math. Space has to be made for 400k more people. That requires more and taller buildings. If the luxury glut occurs, the “gentry” that you hate will move into them and older housing stock will become more affordable. Otherwise, you just have lotteries for a handful of affordable units and the market rate for non-“luxury” units 3 stops from 59th and Lex will remain sky high.
yeah the “market” for an old apartment $1600 because there is no competition, of new 1 bedrooms for less and then the old stuff will go down a lot….AKA AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
If you want competition, you probably shouldn’t fight every new building tooth and nail. What you really want is for Sunnyside to be an undesirable neighborhood.
what an ugly building …..and all luxury apts. come on JVB and debozio offer them tax breaks to build NON luxury apartments no fancy finishes sears appliances no granite counter tops no gold plated faucets, no exercise room, plain basic 1 bedroom for say $999 2bdroom maybe $1200-1500 on opposite sides of the apartment to make it roommate friendly, it can be done but it wont be…
Gold plated faucets? $999 for a 1 bedroom? You’re in the wrong decade buddy.
Is this some sort of joke? Anti gentrification project?! This is NY and every neighborhood will be gentrified. Don’t like it? Move! Nobody cares if you were here first. It doesn’t work that way.
You must have been a foot soldier for Attila the Hun, or one of the mace-wielding Barbarians who sacked Rome. Or were you with the Spanish who slaughtered native people in South America? The Vikings that raided the coast of Ireland? That seems to be the level of civilization you have risen to.
Many human beings care. Most troglodytes don’t.
Maybe it would help when the small business’s reach out for help from Van Bramer’s office for something such as parking meters on Greenpoint Ave between 36-39 streets, they fight for us instead of siding with DOT to reject us due to the initial investment cost to the city.
Or after being chastised for a year and a half from the buildings department for one document that was needed to obtain our liquor license, once again the councilmans office got in touch with me four months after numerous requests for help.
These are just a few of the reasons why small business doesn’t last or stand a chance especially in this area.
I own a restaurant called williamsburger and am going through the parking issue for three years in this location and the first year and a half getting my liquor license.
Other neighbors with small business next to mine have already closed after six months because of the parking issue.
This city would rather see us close completely before we get any assistance from them or its elected officials.
There’s too many over paid politicians and councilman riding the gravy train and not listening to the business owners and there needs.
My restaurant is for sale because of these kinds of strong arm tactics towards the little guy we don’t stand a chance it’s all about how the city can profit off of us.
maybe your restaurant is doing poorly because the surrounding area has zero foot traffic and more warehouses than residences, and you fail to provide a decent delivery service (which is a must to get your food to the areas where people live). i ordered two times, about a month apart, and both times it took over an hour and food was well cold by the time it arrived. on top of that, the delivery person was rude and so were you when i called to say the order wasn’t even right.
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do the restaurants on skillman, QB, 43rd Ave, 48th Ave, complain about parking? they all deal with the same city agencies. sad because your burgers and fries are really very good on the rare occasion when i can make it down there.
A lot of the blocks you reference have meters. All he wants is meters. I don’t have a problem with all of Greenpoint being metered. That said, I agree nobody is going to drive down there for a burger. It’s a terrible location for foot traffic. Was it that much cheaper than 46 and Greenpoint, or 43 and 43?
do you drive well i do and parking is getting far worse with DEBOZIO making curbs bigger a intersection taking away parking, and what is that hideous monstrosity at 39th and greenpoint where massis was……what a screwup…more parking lost
and williamsburger wants to take away more…..sorry cory take your losses and go home.
parking meters on Greenpoint Ave between 36-39 streets,
why would anyone want that, you have no businesses in that stretch where people will drive cars to…its all locals who walk.
Sounds like you never walk anywhere, rikki. Why not move to Long Island and get a driveway to park in?
because i live here and PUBLIC PARKING means public parking…..not commercial parking. there are commercial zones and williamsburger is not in one of them to warrant taking away our alt side parking for his business.
cory you should have scoped the area first…its free parking for us residents for alternate side….its been like that for probably 40 years ….
you made a big mistake opening there….face it
Cory- that makes me sad, I really liked Williamsburger but the only few times I’ve been there I walked about 20 minutes from Skillman Ave. The location is really out of the way. Any chance of relocating to Skillman Ave?
I own a restaurant called williamsburger and am going through the parking issue for three years
this is offensive to me as a local resident, you want to take away our free off street parking for your business.
exactly. here we have a private business owner who chose a poor location, provides infamously bad delivery service, and is rude to his customers. but instead of taking personal responsibility for himself and his actions, he chooses to blame everyone else. the government, regulations, etc. meanwhile there are literally thousands of restaurants facing these same issues and doing OK.
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he wants to take away three whole blocks of public parking for his one business, and he wants the taxpayer to pay to install these parking meters for him. but would we see any benefit from this? not a single cent! all the profits go to him. this is what they mean by “privatizing profit and socializing risk.”
Actually, the city makes a killing on muni meters. They wouldn’t lose a dime. They’d make a profit on the meters alone. When you add in parking summons revenue, it’s a windfall.
are you familiar with this area? there are no other businesses here and few people. it is pretty much just this guy’s restaurant. there is no way the city would make money on meters here since no one would ever drive here.
cory we live here some of us dont have off street parking and you wanted to take that away from us…..you made a poor choice to locate a business there.
Why should a business demand that the city spend tax money and further restrict parking rules (already too strict) just for your benefit? There are really people here who want MORE meters, violations, and eventually vehicle seizures (unconstitutional, but who gives a shit about that anymore…)?
Im not gonna go on an anti hipster rant because i think its mad cliche but why do we need a williamsburger in sunnyside? Or a stupid cemitas el tigre, etc? We already have the best, CHEAPEST versions of any food you could get in bklyn or mahattan. Maybe thats why youre business isnt doing well.
Ps. With that said i do hate to see a small business owner strike out, i wish you the best of luck.
*your
Thank you reporter Hannah Wulcan for your quick work and diligence, and Christian Murray for giving valuable coverage to the 9/18 forum.
Some clarifications:
The new roster of speakers is not reflected. Another leader from Queens Neighborhood United is speaking, not Tania Mattos. Another Queens Anti-Gentrification representative will speak, not Michael Forest. Melissa Orlando, founder of 7 Train Blues is, from Access Queens, along with Mitch Waxman.
As I mentioned to Ms. Wulcan, although I have been designated to do local press releases, I am not the key figure, am not speaking, writing the program, nor did I have the last say in any decision we have made. The event is to inform us all on options available to us in a city that seems to be being overdeveloped without the consent of the people.
I, for one, each day become more fearful looking west as the Chrysler Building and Empire State become more hidden by construction, and as Pat O’Brien, recent past chairman of CB2 termed it, “We seem to be trying to put ten pounds of potatoes in a five pound bag.” Where is the infrastructure or planning for the massive building going on in NYC?
With the good news that seems to be happening in regard to 50-25 Barnett, and has already occurred in Inwood, it showed the city that if we can all unite and be clear to our leaders, they can do something to help our city and save our jobs, homes, and neighborhood.
We are very grateful to Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, and Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez who stood by their constituents and demonstrated leadership under no small amount of pressure from big real estate interests and the city leaders.
Our Chamber event had only scheduled Mr. Null to speak, but it was Queens Anti-Gentrification Project who suggested a group event. We need some citywide solutions and we are all in this together. Of the ten groups who are convening to present “Jobs, Homes & ‘Hoods,” many have working on this issue for many more years than we have here, and have a lot to tell us, including Jenny Dubnau of ASAP, Kirsten Theodos of TakeBackNYC, scholar Sam Stein, and Steve Null, the author of the SBJSA. Paddy Johnson of Art F City is moderating.
Some of us care deeply about affordable housing and are distressed about being labeled NIMBY when there seems to be a lot of luxury and not affordable housing. Sunnyside and Woodside are filled with lovable landlords, and this event will not disparage them. We hope this will be a positive event!
I for one am making coffee, cookies and salty snacks to sell cheaply to make up the shortfall in the costs associated with the free 9/18 event all groups are sponsoring and we all hope that local people come to hear more and ask questions!
Pearl Cream
Now it seems the gentry want to destroy the peace by building a middle school on a ridiculously small road. They are transforming my hometown to please themselves and stripping away all that we loved about it. Peace and quiet, mostly.
This is so necessary! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
“… there’s nothing in it thats good for Queens” — this one comment by Dorfman pisses me off. I am tired of these people who demand that we keep the “good ol’ days” – which is THEIR version of how things should be.
I moved here 18 years ago, bought into a co-op which gained in value (as any homeowner wants) I raised my kids here and hope to live here for the rest of my life becuase I love it. I also love to see improvements to my neighborhood and seeing younger creative people moving in and watching it continually evolve to become a more dynamic and interesting place to live.
You resist change you wither and die, I am tired of these people like Dorfman. I will fight you all the way by eating at new places like SoleLuna, Pelicana, Idas Nearabout etc and supporting people that invest in the place where I choose to call my home. I like seeing younger faces and seeing strollers along with older folks.
Get over it, neighborhoods evolve and its happening all around us.
I am on the board of my building and often interview prospective buyers and renters, I am happy they want to make their home here in Sunnyside. We are not all “Big Developers” as you say.
I hear you. I moved to the gardens about 2 years ago as my wife and I were about to become parents, and this seems like a great place to raise a family. So far I’m extremely happy with that choice. I understand that the neighborhood is going through a time of transition, and that there may be some downsides to the increased development interest in the neighborhood, such as certain storefronts staying vacant for longer than I’d like. But on the whole I am excited by the interest developers are showing, excited by the possibility of new restaurants, bars, and stores over time, and hopeful that it will result in higher property values. I am sympathetic though to folks concerns about infrastructure, particularly as a guy who rides the 7 to work every day, and to the extent that Dorfman and other folks are fighting to make sure the city invests in infrastructure to match the pace of private development bless ’em.
This is the guy that wears a baby carrier harness and thinks its ok to bring his crying brat into one one these “new hipster places”. Go to chucky cheese.
Dear APDR:
We as chamber members, business owners, professionals, artists, fillmmakers, local residents LOVE the new places, too and patronize them often and ARE the newer residents along with experienced who have kept the organization afloat since 1947. Yes! It is just those sorts of small businesses created with love and talent we need to keep our “small town in the big city.” We, too love the strollers, kids and bikes and encourage all to not roam but shop at home!
The anti-gentrification aspect refers to razing buildings to build only towers of glass with costly condos, with retail space on the ground floor that only big pharmacy chains & banks can afford. Then, as elsewhere in NYC, rents go up all around it, and soon all the entrepreneurs are priced out, as well as residents. That the city calls that an attempt at “affordable housing” is not accurate. A balance is what we seek! Yes, some new shiny buildings but we need infrastructure! There aren’t enough buses, boats and bikes to get us to work!
We also love the young, creative people! I am racing towards decrepitude, but the board of the chamber are those people, too, who have brought film, art, health, local community spirit, fight for infrastructure, coding classes for kids, running (come run tomorrow at Sunnyside Post Mile!), events, diversity, and new media with their mad labor and vision. The life you treasure, we treasure, too!
Please come to the event and speak out.
You certainly have valid arguments about infrastructure and if the MTA can handle the influx of so many. But the general vibe from the article above – in fact is STARTS with the term “anti-gentrification forces” which to me comes across as “b**ching” by out of touch people.
I would be all for it if you and the group youre leading accepted the change (as you mentiond above) and put your energy towards working for infrastructure improvements and how to help business and residents cope with the change. You seem to be looking to stop positve change. For example….
Some guy Stan Stein I see will talk about how we dont need the proposed streetcar conncting LIC with the Brooklyn waterfront, isnt this an infrastructure improvement? Will help connect neighborhoods and help businesses grow along the waterfront. Bringing jobs and new places to live.
As I said the article above comes off as whining about the loss of the good old days, these are new times. We want good places to raise our kids and these changes are the ones I want my kids to grow up with.
When I moved here in the early 1990s there was a prostitute in front of what is now Rite Aid on 43rd Ave – then I saw drugs being sold outside my window on 43rd. I want it to move in the right direction and to not halt progress. Those werent my “good old days”
Patricia Dorfman herself is on licpost posting against the new light rail.
Yes, she has the courage to post under her own name despite the cowardly sniping from people who don’t know any better.
The things you want cannot be controlled on the bigger level. Population of NYC is going up! Can’t build by creating new land..thus we have to build higher to sustain the growing population. Affortable housing is a joke. This is not the case in Sunnyside. The projects are the only affordable housing left…that’s really affordable. There isn’t much property left in Sunnyside to develop infrastructure that is needed. And regarding businesses, would you go to a small family own business to buy something that costs you 5 dollars or go to a big corporate business and get it for a cheaper price? People just want to save money when it comes to supporting small businesses. Restaurants are a whole different story here. Rent go high profit is to low. To saturated and close to each other, while prices are high for food that’s average since rent is high.
Excellent post. Not everyone is a failure in life.
Your reactionary condemnation and curt dismissal of other points of view contributes to the problem. Please join the conversation that needs to happen rather than shut your mind and heart to the people around you struggling to hold on in a period of rapid change. That is what a community does.
This is the kind of community leadership Jimmy Van Bremer should have shown. But did not. And we’ve noticed.
Finally! Someone is taking action. Thank God. I’ll be there and will bring people with me.
Are you going to wear a mask and come anonymously?
Posted this pretty quick to push the new school story further down the cue. That’s the real story here. People are going to be really ticked off about that. It needs to be the top story.
I wish meetings like this could make a difference, but there is way too much money to be made. Gentrification can’t be stopped.
Maybe not, but it can be managed.
If you are giving up already, please move out of the way so the rest of us can continue with our efforts.