Queens West Story: Community Questions Queens West

The 49th Avenue Block Association and the Coalition write to Queens West.

Please mail your questions to: HPCC, PO Box 1276 Long Island City, NY 11101 Attn: Community Questions


The following are excerpts from a November 8th letter to Queens West. The 49th Avenue Block Association and the HPCC wrote to Queens West, calling their attention to a number of serious issues related to the ³community² park, which they have failed to address:

Objects thrown over the wall jeopardize the safety of those on private properties adjacent to the facility.

A three foot fence at the handball courts, as proposed, would be inadequate protection from trespassers and/or objects thrown over the wall.

Neither the property owners on 49th Avenue, nor the community were ever informed that this would be a 24-hour facility.

This park is not under the jurisdiction of New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Who then is responsible for its maintenance and security and what are the names and telephone numbers of those responsible parties? Are there written agreements in place?

The wall offers no barrier to the constant noise of the facility. What is being done to abate the noise at all hours of the day and night?

Because there are no bathrooms, the wall has become a urinal. What can be done?

The lighting is intrusive to the private properties and encourages night use of the park.

The back of the wall facing the yards on 49th Avenue is ugly and dangerous, with exposed bolts and wires.

During construction, damage was sustained to the 49th Avenue properties adjacent to the park site.

The design of the facility is inadequate to community needs. To be a community park, it needs to be redesigned to meet the needs of the existing community.


The following are excerpts from a November 27 response letter from Queens West:

Most of the specific items in your letter have been discussed at recent public meetings... However, it might be helpful to review those responses for you.

The community park is not a 24-hour facility, but rather as was noted on the signs we posted, closes at dusk...

Provision of security and enforcement of the noise, health and other sanitary codes is the responsibility of the NYC Police Department...

The wall has been extended to the height of six feet...

The lighting is sufficient to provide visual security within the park. During the park's planning stages there were expressions of concern within the community that if the park were too dark it might become an attractive nuisance for people to congregate in the evening...

...maintenance of the park is the responsibility of the Queens West Development Corp. and we have contracted with an outside maintenance company. The firm is one that is used by the NYC Parks Department... We are monitoring their performance...

...Queens West is looking forward to continued dialogue. We are finalizing the material regarding the current design of the waterfront park in anticipation of future meetings that are being organized by the Task Force and the Community Board. We believe forums involving all members of the community and representatives will prove the most beneficial in hearing the needs of all segments of the community. ...the Hunters Point Community Coalition will be one of the participants at those meetings.

Editorıs note
If Queens West embodied community-based planning, the above problems could have been avoided. The Coalition hopes that an improved dialogue with Queens West will eventually lead to substantial changes that will benefit our neighborhood and the waterfront development.

The Coalition will arrange a meeting to further address these issues.

For Your Information: At recent Queens West Task Force meetings, the community has offered suggestions regarding the Gantry Plaza plans. The Coalition hopes to see these changes incorporated into the project.

To contact the Hunters Point Community Coalition
Call or write:

Hunters Point Community Coalition
P.O. Box 1276
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-472-4260

Back to The View - Volume 3 Number 1
Last Update: April 15,1996