Library Update
Up to Neighborhood Discussion
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The FOGNP sent this out in a newsletter.
[quote]OUR LETTER
We noted last month that we had written a letter requesting specific information to those officials involved with the library. That letter requested the following:
1. What are the details of the agreement between Queens West, Avalon and New York City agencies (NYC Dept. of City Planning, etc.) which have allowed Avalon to abandon building plans on Parcel 8 and to add bulk to their building on Parcel 9?
2. How can we, on behalf of our community, obtain a copy of this agreement?
3. What is the status of the plan to build a library and community space on Parcel 8?
4. What are the options for land remediation for Parcel 8?
5. What is the plan for gathering of funds necessary for remediation and building of a library on Parcel 8?
6. What are the time frames for the library project?
7. If (as rumored) the cost of land remediation of Parcel 8 is cause for this library project to not proceed, does that mean that Parcel 8 may be turned over to another developer for building a profit-producing structure?
8. If a library is not to be built on Parcel 8, and if Parcel 8 will not be turned over to another developer for building, what is the plan for Parcel 8, and how will land remediation be incorporated into that plan?
9. If building the Library on Parcel 8 does not go forth, what is Avalon giving in exchange to the community in lieu of participation in the building of this Library?
We received replies from Joe Conley and Eric Gioia.
REPLY FROM JOE CONLEY, CHAIR, COMMUNITY BOARD 2
We remain focused and committed to building a stand alone Library on Parcel 8.
I spoke to Alex Federbush on Monday, June 19th. I asked for an update from our last meeting with Borough President Marshall and Assemblywomen Nolan. Avalon agreed to produce Environmental Reports and a review of 421A tax credits. Alex said the environmental data was being processed and will be submitted to DEC for review. This information should be ready in a "couple of weeks" and then we can start discussions with DEC about methodologies for remediation of Parcel 8. As I said in an earlier email, I have spoken to environmental experts who believe there are alternatives to reduce the cost of remediating Parcel 8 without compromising a clean up of the site. Remediation cost for Parcel 8 could be reduced to approximately $3 million dollars.
Alex is following up with Avalon on the 421A tax credit dollar amount if property taxes on Parcel 9 were abated for an additional ten years and using those tax credits to commit "hard money" for construction and remediation in place of the Brown Fields Program. There is a concern that the Brown Fields Program may not yield money for the Library as this is a new program with only 3 developers in the program and none have received tax rebates yet.
Please mark your calendar for July 12th. Borough President Marshall will be hosting a QueensWest community update at Citibank starting at 5:30 PM. The Borough President's office will be send a notice of the meeting and the agenda.
On another note, remediation has started at the Fila Tennis site on Vernon Boulevard. I met with DEC and the construction company about the methodology and truck route for removing soil. Fifty trucks per day for 35 work days were to leave the site and travel south down Vernon Boulevard to Borden Avenue and then east to the LIE. I told DEC that people who live and work along Vernon Blvd. had just experienced a long clean up of the Pepsi site. I asked for and DEC agreed that trucks leaving the Fila site would turn left on to 44th Drive and go right on 21st Street to Jackson Avenue to Borden to the LIE.
Should you have any questions, please email me.
I look forward to seeing you on July 12th, 5:30 PM at Citibank
THE REPLY FROM ERIC GIOIA, NYC COUNCIL MEMBER,
INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
“…I have been very happy to secure $2 million in City funding to date towards construction of this library. …I am committed to ensuring that the library be a freestanding structure. While there had been preliminary discussion of integrating the library into an Avalon Bay building on Parcel 9, objections on my part and from other concerned community leaders led to a quick end to any such discussion…..I have since received assurances from Queens West that plans continue for a library situated on Parcel 8.
….I’ve spoken to Queens West and to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall about convening a town hall to discuss issues pertaining to the library.
In addition, I hope that by the time this town hall is convened, Queens West will be able to provide us with better information as to the level of remediation required for Parcel 8, the potential methods and their impacts on the cost and timing of the library project. it is my understanding that studies are still being conducted to supply answers to these important questions.”[/quote]
Jake
[quote]OUR LETTER
We noted last month that we had written a letter requesting specific information to those officials involved with the library. That letter requested the following:
1. What are the details of the agreement between Queens West, Avalon and New York City agencies (NYC Dept. of City Planning, etc.) which have allowed Avalon to abandon building plans on Parcel 8 and to add bulk to their building on Parcel 9?
2. How can we, on behalf of our community, obtain a copy of this agreement?
3. What is the status of the plan to build a library and community space on Parcel 8?
4. What are the options for land remediation for Parcel 8?
5. What is the plan for gathering of funds necessary for remediation and building of a library on Parcel 8?
6. What are the time frames for the library project?
7. If (as rumored) the cost of land remediation of Parcel 8 is cause for this library project to not proceed, does that mean that Parcel 8 may be turned over to another developer for building a profit-producing structure?
8. If a library is not to be built on Parcel 8, and if Parcel 8 will not be turned over to another developer for building, what is the plan for Parcel 8, and how will land remediation be incorporated into that plan?
9. If building the Library on Parcel 8 does not go forth, what is Avalon giving in exchange to the community in lieu of participation in the building of this Library?
We received replies from Joe Conley and Eric Gioia.
REPLY FROM JOE CONLEY, CHAIR, COMMUNITY BOARD 2
We remain focused and committed to building a stand alone Library on Parcel 8.
I spoke to Alex Federbush on Monday, June 19th. I asked for an update from our last meeting with Borough President Marshall and Assemblywomen Nolan. Avalon agreed to produce Environmental Reports and a review of 421A tax credits. Alex said the environmental data was being processed and will be submitted to DEC for review. This information should be ready in a "couple of weeks" and then we can start discussions with DEC about methodologies for remediation of Parcel 8. As I said in an earlier email, I have spoken to environmental experts who believe there are alternatives to reduce the cost of remediating Parcel 8 without compromising a clean up of the site. Remediation cost for Parcel 8 could be reduced to approximately $3 million dollars.
Alex is following up with Avalon on the 421A tax credit dollar amount if property taxes on Parcel 9 were abated for an additional ten years and using those tax credits to commit "hard money" for construction and remediation in place of the Brown Fields Program. There is a concern that the Brown Fields Program may not yield money for the Library as this is a new program with only 3 developers in the program and none have received tax rebates yet.
Please mark your calendar for July 12th. Borough President Marshall will be hosting a QueensWest community update at Citibank starting at 5:30 PM. The Borough President's office will be send a notice of the meeting and the agenda.
On another note, remediation has started at the Fila Tennis site on Vernon Boulevard. I met with DEC and the construction company about the methodology and truck route for removing soil. Fifty trucks per day for 35 work days were to leave the site and travel south down Vernon Boulevard to Borden Avenue and then east to the LIE. I told DEC that people who live and work along Vernon Blvd. had just experienced a long clean up of the Pepsi site. I asked for and DEC agreed that trucks leaving the Fila site would turn left on to 44th Drive and go right on 21st Street to Jackson Avenue to Borden to the LIE.
Should you have any questions, please email me.
I look forward to seeing you on July 12th, 5:30 PM at Citibank
THE REPLY FROM ERIC GIOIA, NYC COUNCIL MEMBER,
INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
“…I have been very happy to secure $2 million in City funding to date towards construction of this library. …I am committed to ensuring that the library be a freestanding structure. While there had been preliminary discussion of integrating the library into an Avalon Bay building on Parcel 9, objections on my part and from other concerned community leaders led to a quick end to any such discussion…..I have since received assurances from Queens West that plans continue for a library situated on Parcel 8.
….I’ve spoken to Queens West and to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall about convening a town hall to discuss issues pertaining to the library.
In addition, I hope that by the time this town hall is convened, Queens West will be able to provide us with better information as to the level of remediation required for Parcel 8, the potential methods and their impacts on the cost and timing of the library project. it is my understanding that studies are still being conducted to supply answers to these important questions.”[/quote]
Jake
Me too. This one is looking cool. Lotsa of stuff to discuss.
And if you think they start too early for you to be able to make it, reconsider, since it says 5:30pm, but it will probably be more like 6ish...with the good stuff an hour or so into it.
---kyle
And if you think they start too early for you to be able to make it, reconsider, since it says 5:30pm, but it will probably be more like 6ish...with the good stuff an hour or so into it.
---kyle
