The KEW GARDENS HILLS REPORT is published four times a year, at P.O. Box 670085, Flushing, New York 11367. It is under the auspices of the Kew Gardens Hills Home Owners Civic Association, Inc., a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-partisan community based organization.

KGHCA has learned that the Department of City Planning is actively considering a residential zoning amendment that would protect one-family occupancy attached houses from being converted into multiple dwellings. KGH row houses are increasingly being converted into two or three family houses—resulting in overcrowded schools, displaced parking and overburdened sewers and other public services.

KGHCA has been seeking to rezone the blocks of row houses, which are the most common housing configuration in KGH from further conversion to multi-family occupancy. At present there is no zoning district that limits conversions.

KGHCA’s PROPOSED CONTEXTUAL DISTRICT

SINGLE-FAMILY OCCUPANCY (ATTACHED OR SEMI -DETACHED RESIDENCE)

This proposed new district would incorporate many features of the R-4(1) district including height, yard and front yard setback. The proposed district would allow a floor area ratio FAR of .1 (slightly larger than the current size). One parking space would be required for each dwelling unit.

Minimum lot size:

attached 18 to 22 foot width

semi-detached: 20 or 25 foot width

Maximum FAR: 1.0

Height: 35 feet maximum; 25 foot perimeter wall; any part of the building that is higher than 25 feet must be set back or under a pitched roof.

Front yard must line up with neighboring houses

KGH residents make more complaints to KGHCA about construction and building than any other issue. So, KGHCA and other Queens civic groups-along with local community boards across the city seek improvements in the Buideing Department’s (DOB) effectiveness.

Earlier this year DOB, with a push from City Hall, announced a new process for handling complaints. Under the new rules, which went into effect in July, DOB posts diagrams of new construction and major alteration projects on its website. The public will have 45 days to complain after which a permit will be issued and work can go forward. Following the 45-day period, DOB will not act on routine complaints made through 311.

The new rule puts the responsibility on the public to identify projects. In the real world, residents seldom know where or when a project is planned until the contractor arrives and starts digging—usually weeks after permits have been issued.

DOB now requires residents and civics to continuously monitor the DOB website for pending projects and to have the professional expertise to knowledgiably object to plans for a project. The new rules provide for a complex process of appeal that makes the Buildings Commissioner the final arbiter of complaints. In fact, the new rules immunize builders and developers against the valid complaints of local residents who wan to protect their own property. The Queens civic community, along with elected officials, are challenging the city’s authority to impose the new rules, which opponents charge, give developers a free ride at the expense of local communities.

During the recent election campaign, Comptroller Thompson released an audit that found DOB was unable to resolve more than 40% of complaints and was unable to complete two-thirds of its field inspections in 2008.

More recently, DOB began equipping inspectors with GPS devices in their cell phbones in order to better track these frontline employees.

In October, the Manhattan DA indicted four DOB inspectors along with twenty alleged Mafiosos.

Capital One, N.A. 75 21main street flushing, ny 11367 718 544 1414 718 575 5085 Fax lorraine.saunders@capitalonebank.com

Lorraine Saunders Vice President Branch Manager

Report your complaint to 311 first and include the tracking number with your complaint to KGHCA.

CIRCLE COMPLAINT:

CLOGGED CATCH BASIN—give location

DAMAGED SIDEWALK—give location

DAMAGED STREET-describe/location

DIRTY VACANT LOT—give exact location

OTHER: use separate sheet of paper

EXACT ADDRESS OF COMPLAINT LOCATION

_________________________________________

street between____________________________ and_____________________________________

MAIL to: KGHCA, Box 670085, Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367, Fax: (718 263-1760) or e-mail to: qvhca@nvbb.net

Don’t choose your child’s caregiver based on a flyer posted to a lamp post or bus stop pole on Main Street.

For many Kew Gardens Hills families, with both parents working, reliable, convenient and economical childcare is a necessity. Providers who care for children in their home provide the best option for many cost conscious parents who need the convenience.

But parents need to be mindful of the different kinds of care available and most important, they need to know that the person they to whom they are entrusting their child is competent.

There are two types of child care providers. A registered family day care provider cares for two to 6 children. A licensed group family day care provider cares for up to 12 children. Group family day care providers need a qualified assistant who is at least 18 years old and will be required to meet many of the same standards as the provider.

Providers must:

Complete an Application.

Attend Health and Safety Training.

Provide Medical Information.

Fingerprinting.

Child Abuse Registry Clearance.

Home Inspection.

On-going Training & License Renewals.

For more information on choosing a provider, call the Queens Childcare Network at 718 592-8255.

KGHCA has maintained the triangles on Main Street and the mall on 73 Avenue, which are designated as Greenstreets, for the past few years with funding from Senator Malcolm Smith and Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn. KGHCA is seeking funding to create a Greenstreet on 71 Road and 136 Street, which is currently a barren slab of concrete.

Should funding become available, KGHCA will work with city agencies to reconfigure the 136 Street triangle to ease traffic and make pedestrian crossing safer.

As part of PlaNYC2030 for a greener city, Mayor Bloomberg is proposing to build at least one large public plaza in every community district in the city. So that the plazas don’t become a drain on the City’s treasury, maintaining the plazas will be the responsibility of nearby property owners or local neighborhood or business associations.

Should Community Board 8’s plaza be in KGH?

Queens College opened its first residence hall in August. Classes for the dorm residents just began but KGHCA is pleased that the college’s neighbors are not reliving the experience of St John’s neighbors since St John’s opened campus housing. So far, the Queens College students are living up to the college’s reputation as a place for serious study.

Queens College is planning another major construction project for the campus: rebuilding the gym—one of the oldest buildings on campus.

The CUNY Law School is moving in 2012 to Long Island City. A CUNY official has advised KGHCA that the university plans to use the building—formerly Campbell Junior High—as an academic facility for Queens College.

That news should relieve KGH-ers who depend on the Q-74. The building will continue to be used by significant numbers of students who will use the Q-74.

Unfortunately, the parking situation around the campus remains a major burden for local residents.

72-33 Vleigh Place

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In the face of dire economic conditions, city, state and federal governments are cutting back on services to neighborhoods like Kew Gardens Hills. That means community organizations, like KGHCA, will have to fill the gaps left by government. Supporting the library, maintaining parks and green spaces, assisting senior and youth services make for a strong community—and protect the value of your homes.

In 2004, KGHCA established an independent charitable foundation, the Kew Gardens Hills Community Foundation (a 501c3 organization), which is registered with the NY State attorney-general, to support projects and services in Kew Gardens Hills—with the assurance that your donation will go directly to a Kew Gardens Hills based program.

You can add a fully tax-deductible contribution to your dues check or write a separate check to the KGH Foundation.

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