School Site (Photo: QueensPost)
Feb. 12, 2011 By Christian Murray
The Department of Education’s plan to build a primary school on 42nd Street is likely to become a reality.
“The Dept. of Education is moving forward with the project,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said last week, adding that the department “affirmatively likes the site.”
The public first learned about the project when the department announced in November that it was proposing to build a primary school at 45-46 42nd Street in Sunnyside. The aim, the department said at the time, was to alleviate school overcrowding at PS 199 (39-20 48th Ave.), which has been a sore point for local parents for some time.
The property, which runs from 42nd through to 43rd Street (btw. Queens Blvd and 47th Ave), is currently vacant land, and was once the site of the Sunnyside Jewish Center.
Two commercial property owners believe the site is in contract and have seen the department taking soil samples. The department did not respond to phone calls on the matter.
Van Bramer said there have been no discussions about the department purchasing residential property that is adjacent to the vacant site. “I don’t believe they are going to use eminent domain.”
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13 Comments
This is truly ridiculous. This is not a good solution to the over crowding occurring in ps 199. For one thing the school should have space for physical activities for gym or recces and the property in question clearly is not fit for that. Ms. Barbara makes very valid points that argue against the school being built. The P.S.199 problem should be solved in other manners. THey could build another addition to the school where they have the trailers. That is valuable space that is not being used to its full potential. also they should start looking for options of expanding the school vertically the main building only has 3 floors.
i am tennager with good respect and i chose that you should put a school in this place, and if we need parking and all of those things we shall make room and make everything possible.
Community Garden! Community Garden!!! That’s my vote!
…or Waldorf School
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? A SCHOOL? IT’S THE LAST THING WE NEED!!!! I THINK MY TAX DOLLARS COULD BE BETTER SPENT. WITH ALL THE SO-CALLED BUDGET CUTS AND 6,500 TEACHERS LOSING THEIR JOBS AND CLOSING SCHOOLS LEFT AND RIGHT, WHERE THE HELL IS THE CITY GETTING THE MONEY FROM? AND DON’T THINK FOR A SECOND THE CITY WON’T CLAIM IMENENT DOMAIN!!!!! THEY SNUCK IN THE AGENDA AT THE LAST MINUTE AND THE RESIDENTS OF 42ND STREET AND 42-09 47THAVE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS PLAN UNTIL AFTER THE COMMUITY BOARD MEETING!!!!! WAKE UP AND SMELL THE F**ING COFFEE. AS FAR AS PARKING IS CONCERNED IT’S A FIGHT TO THE DEATH AROUND HERE. WHERE DO THEY THINK THE SCHOOL BUSES ARE GOING TO PARK? OR THE TEACHERS CARS? AND IF THE ENTRANCE OF THE SCHOOL IS ON 42ND STREET(WHICH BY THE WAY IS A NARROW ONE WAY STREET WITH PARKING ON BOTH SIDES) NEED I SAY MORE?
5 million? Wow.
“Sunnysider,” isn’t there a garage in the Phoenix building at 41st and Queens Boulevard? Or did you want the city to use valuable land to build you a free parking lot?
I’ve got other things to dream about.
Note it appears to have been all cash there was no mortgage recorded with the deed
lAST SOLD FOR $4,950,000
TO CONDO UNITS LP
AND
JACKSON SENATE LLC
ON 11/23/2005
@Anton
A few years ago I would have agreed with you but since the Kelo decision, private property can be taken by the government under eminent domain not just for vital public infrastructure but on behalf of private enterprise to build non-essential private businesses such as a hotel, a casino etc… So basically any politically connected business can take whatever they want at whatever price they determine. For that reason, I’m relieved whenever eminent domain is not used.
Thanks for the civics lesson, Roger. I assume that you don’t drive on the interstate highway system out of principle.
I believe that the property is owned by a developer who intended to build a condominium there. Has the developer now sold it to the City, and for what price?
I’m glad they aren’t using eminent domain; it’s basically theft of private property by the government.
This is a great follow up to a story you had months ago about board of ed looking at this site originaly for a condo to be built at this site. It would solve the over crowiding issues in our town and help get our kids a better eduation by having smaller classes. Great news for our town
Now if we can find a big open space for take a guess a PARKING LOT would be a fantastic plan. Imagine just the thought of comming home to sunnyside and having a place to park our cars..I guess we can all dream about it