Attendees at CB4 meeting in March
June 12, 2018 By Tara Law
Council Member Francisco Moya’s decision to support a developer’s application to rezone a site on 82nd Street has put him in the crosshairs of anti-gentrification activists.
Next Monday, two activist groups are hosting a town hall meeting in Jackson Heights to let Moya know that the are upset that he is supporting a rezoning that would allow a developer to build a 13-story, 120-unit building at 40-31 82nd St. where the Jackson Heights Cinema once stood.
Moya said last month that he would back the controversial rezoning since the developers–Sun Equity Partners and Heskel Group–have agreed to designate 42 of the 120 units as “affordable” for tenants with low incomes.
The town hall, billed as “Community to Council Member Moya- NO REZONING,” is scheduled to take place at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights, located at 37-06 77th St., at 6:30 p.m. on June 18.
The event is being spearheaded by Queens Neighborhoods United and the Queens branch of the pro-immigrant coalition Hate Free Zones. The organizations argue that the development would drive up housing prices and create more traffic in the neighborhood. They also claim that Target–which has signed a lease to move into the ground floor–will drive small stores out of business.
Moya’s endorsement of the rezoning almost guarantees that it will be approved, as the City Council typically bows to the opinion of the local council member when it votes to approve a rezoning.
Moya said that he is in support of the rezoning because the developers, Heskel Group and Sun Equity Housing, have agreed to lower the income levels for units designated “affordable” and to add more low-income units.
Tania Mattos, co-founder of Queens Neighborhoods United, said that Queens Neighborhoods United invited Moya to the event so he could explain why he is endorsing the plan.
“If he doesn’t show up, that’s very telling,” Mattos said. “We think we deserve the same amount of attention as the developers.”
Moya spokesperson Ryan Sit said that the council member will be unable to attend but is open to having a meeting with the organizers where they can present their concerns.
“The door is always open if they want to talk,” Sit said.
Sit said that Queens Neighborhoods United knew before they organized the event that Moya had another engagement on June 18.
Despite Moya’s absence, the town hall will provide residents with a chance to air their concerns about the project and learn more about its potential impact, Mattos said.
The town hall will include presentations from the grassroots groups about the impact of the development on the community, as well as the ULURP rezoning process.
After the presentations, members of the community will be given the floor to ask questions.
“We want to explain to the community what is happening with the rezoning, and what is changing in the community,” said Mattos. “We want the community to understand why this rezoning is important to their lives.”
The event is intended to galvanize support for future protests and anti-gentrification actions, Mattos said.
Rendering
Featured Events
16 Comments
Also in favor of this new development. This new building will spur improvement to a run down looking block.
Looking forward to a Starbucks, sushi shop, a yoga center, etc.
This headline is misleading. There are all kinds of people opposed to this development, homeowners, business owners, residents, parents, older people, younger people,immigrants and Native New Yorkers.
This project creates grave concerns regarding traffic, rents and increased stress on public services such as our public schools, garbage collection and street cleaning. Since this project has been supported there has been a significant increase in police presence. I am a home owner across from the project and anyone in the neighborhood should be concerned about the ramifications of this building and zoning in our neighborhood. In the end, everyone will come for aid from these activists as they have the foresight that this is how communities are ruined for the people who currently live and work here.
I support the project! Go Moya! But we need more parking garages in the area. A large garage should be included in the plans and public roof top garden for the whole community to enjoy.
We need a parking garage 100 ft from a Subway stop?
Any new building over
8 stories ?
Require roof gardens
that are open to the Public
… separate elevator
to the roof
Open 12noon to 8pm
Rent out to private
parties
Win … Win
Richie V
The Rabid Activist
of J Hts
This is a typical example of socialism…Forcing their demands upon other people’s property. If you want a public roof garden, build it in YOUR property
These protesters are anti development socialists/communist radicals that want to keep the community looking like a third world hell hole. They don’t represent the community, they represent their own mediocrity and want to drag the community with them. Jackson Heights will continue developing, growing, and prospering whether they like it or not. And hopefully these radicals move to places like the South Bronx where they belong
Jacksonian – you call people that want to speak their mind “socialist” / “communist radicals” ? ? you’re a silly little person , you should move to the BX.
LET’S GO METS !!!
I’m not calling them Socialist/Communists…THEY ARE Socialists/Communists… I’ve have seen them in the train stations handing out socialist/communist propaganda, and trying to recruit people in the community with their distorted ideology. They are just a bunch of losers that want to drag the community down with their mediocrity. Their motto is: “Since I’m a loser, everybody should be a loser”
Jacksonian – have you read “Jackson Heights a Garden in the City” ?
Pouring concrete all over the neighborhood does not make it pretty. They should plant trees in that lot
Have you walked along Roosevelt Avenue? Is that a reflection of a “Garden City” or a Third World hell hole? Giving more importance to trees instead of more housing and commercial space for people is preposterous
I enjoy those churros & Tamales . There is nothing wrong with trying to earn some money or do you prefer seeing those guys asking for a dollar on the corner ? .
bunch of lazy bums
It seems to me that these activist group are a bunch of people who have nothing else to do but to oppose everything. They like run down buildings , avoid BID, and promote more of sidewalk empanadas, rotten fruit stands, churro and paletas.
Blame the landlords for the run down buildings, Jackson Heights has plenty of beautiful building along 37 , 35 & 34 avenue. Packing in more building will just make the streets, public transportation, schools more crowded.
Jackson Heights needs more space not more buildings.
Run down buildings have to be demolished an rebuilt. Unfortunately in NYC is very difficult (and costly) to do, and it is a long process, and on top of that we have these radical anti development groups creating more obstacles.
School is crowded because people are stacking up more people in one apartment. Have you ever wonder?