By Cefaan Kim:
For commuters in Elmhurst who may be fed up with their transit options, there’s some good news: the LIRR may once again be making a stop in their neighborhood.
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Category Archives: EconomicDevelopment
Streetsblog: Unlocking the Potential of the New Jackson Heights Plaza
From Streetsblog: By Ben Fried
Earlier this month you might have noticed a few press accounts about merchants in Jackson Heights who think a new public plaza on one short block of 37th Road is crimping their bottom line. The plaza is actually part of a much broader plan to improve street safety, speed bus trips, and reduce traffic congestion in Jackson Heights, which neighborhood groups and NYC DOT have been working on for years without receiving much media attention. Now that there’s a tinge of conflict, the press is all over it — an innovative and community-driven transportation project has turned into a story about shopkeepers upset over the removal of 20 parking spaces.
The plaza reclaimed the block of 37th Road between 73rd Street and 74th Street. Before the plaza, traffic on that block degraded the neighborhood street network. Drivers turning left onto 37th Road used to cause traffic to back up on 73rd Street and beyond, causing epic fits of horn-honking. Buses routed onto the block more than a decade ago to make way for the construction of the 74th Street transit hub had to make a series of zigzagging turns, slowing down more than 10,000 bus riders every weekday. When the proposal to re-route the buses and take traffic off the block came before the local community board, the vote in favor was unanimous.
“The objective was to get that traffic to move more smoothly and reduce that honking,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, who has championed the changes and shepherded the project through to completion. NowQ47 and Q49 buses make one turn instead of three, and Dromm says bus drivers have told him they save seven minutes on each trip compared to the old route.
Merchants knew about the changes well in advance and most of the neighborhood’s business groups were supportive, said Dromm. After the plaza installation last fall, complaints began to surface about the loss of parking. But the parking loss — 20 spaces, according to one plaza opponent — is insignificant compared to the foot traffic that could be drawn to a well-run public space. Not only is Jackson Heights compact, walkable, and full of pedestrian traffic, but it has the least amount of park space per capita of any neighborhood in the city. The plaza is also right next to the 74th Street subway station, which sees more than 40,000 boardings on a typical weekday.
Some local merchants apparently don’t see the value of having a public plaza on their doorstep. “Our customers come to do shopping, not to sit,” said Mohammed Pier, president of the Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association.
But it’s clear that the overwhelming majority of people who come to Jackson Heights don’t drive there. According to DOT’s 2010 neighborhood travel survey, 94 percent of interview subjects didn’t drive cars to get to Jackson Heights:
Other merchants believe that the benefits of the plaza outweigh the effects of having less parking. “Right now the business is slow because of the economy,” said Vasantrai Gandhi, who owns a shop called the New York Gold Company and used to chair Community Board 3. “Nobody can judge how much this affects business. One thing is sure. Now there is no accidents, no horn honking, no pollution, no fumes. Some areas benefit and some areas are at a disadvantage, but what’s important is safety.”
I spoke to some residents familiar with the project who think any loss in foot traffic is probably due to the re-routing of buses, not the plaza. They also speculated that the plaza would have received a better welcome if it had opened during the warmer months and started drawing crowds immediately. (Although even in the fall and winter, the space attracts people.)
The missing ingredient, more than great sunny weather, is vision and leadership from the businesses around the plaza, said Afzal Hussein, who opened Espresso77 on nearby 77th Street in 2007. “77th Street never used to have foot traffic,” he said. “Since I opened it people walk here.”
Hussein sees the potential of the plaza to become a destination, and he says he’d be glad to help make it work. “In the summer you can have art exhibits or performance,” he said. “You need a community working together, it’s no one person’s job. They need a leader. It’s a lot of potential there but nobody’s thinking that way.”
Without a merchant group taking ownership of the plaza, Dromm’s office has been coordinating events and maintenance. So far, he said, several community organizations have asked to use the plaza for events, including the Bangladeshi Youth Congress, Queens Community House, and Sindhu USA.
“We’re really working hard to make this successful and I’m calling on the business community to do the same thing,” said Dromm. “We want to help them, but it may require a little different thinking than they’ve had in the past.”
The Queens Gazette: Crowley, Dromm Call On LIRR To Reopen Elmhurst Station
From The Queens Gazette:
Congressmember Joe Crowley and Councilmember Daniel Dromm called on the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to reopen the Elmhurst Station, a move that will help to further revitalize Elmhurst and the surrounding area. The station, which was closed in 1985, is located on Broadway between Cornish and Whitney Avenues.
“Reopening the Elmhurst Station will go a long way toward revitalizing the Elmhurst community and growing Queens’ economy,” said Crowley. “This is more than an investment in improving residents’ commutes; it’s about making Elmhurst a destination for all New Yorkers and visitors. Councilman Dromm and I are joining forces in calling on the LIRR to join us in making this idea a reality. The truth is Elmhurst residents already endure the noise and inconvenience of a train running through their neighborhood, why shouldn’t they enjoy the benefits of it becoming an integral part of the neighborhood?”
The Elmhurst Station, which sits on the Port Washington Branch commuter rail line, helped the communities of Elmhurst and East Elmhurst grow and thrive by opening up access to Midtown Manhattan. The station was closed due to a reported decrease in ridership following significant changes to train schedules that made the station unattractive to commuters. Since the station’s closure, Elmhurst’s growing population has suffered from a lack of efficient public transit into Manhattan. Reopening the Elmhurst Station will increase residents’ access to Midtown, help create jobs in the community, and provide an economic boost to the many small businesses in the area.
“Restoring service to Elmhurst on the Long Island Railroad is vitally important for the development of Elmhurst and the surrounding areas here in Queens,” said Dromm. “By linking its residents to Manhattan, we are effectively spurring the job creation and economic growth necessary for communities like Elmhurst to flourish. The reopening of this station is something that will be a boon to all New Yorkers as it would burst open the doors to one of the world’s most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods.”
The Queens Courier: Jackson Heights pigeon poop a persistent problem
From The Queens Courier: By Michael Pantelidis
A Jackson Heights politician is fed-up with the foul fowl feces that shroud the face of the neighborhood’s premier subway station.
Councilmember Daniel Dromm says he is perturbed by the pigeon poop problem casting a shadow over the 74th Street station on Roosevelt Avenue, which hosts the No. 7, “E,” “F,” “R” and “M” trains.
“The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has neglected its legal responsibility to clean the pigeon poop,” said the councilmember, who called the MTA’s behavior a disgrace. “We have complained about it and they still haven’t come out to clean it. They promised they would [on] Monday, November 28, but they didn’t. This is a serious case of neglect and abuse of the Jackson Heights community. They have been a bad neighbor. One has to wonder why they continue to ignore Jackson Heights when it is one of the busiest stations in the whole transit system.”
According to an MTA spokesperson, the authority is aware of the problem and examining a variety of different solutions, including placing jagged spikes on the structure, making it less conducive for squatting.
“There is no way for us to place nets above the area, and we are limited in what we can do to solve the pigeon problem, but we do try and clean the area regularly,” said the spokesperson. “We do clean it, but the pigeons come right back. This is one of the difficult situations that we don’t have a solution to. From what I’ve heard it is pretty awful. It is disgusting, but we do have a pigeon problem throughout the city and we try different things in different place. We will just have to keep trying until we find a solution.”
The station receives regular cleaning every other week, including on the night of the December 6, according to the spokesperson.
Dromm claims his constituents have “continuously complained about the lack of maintenance to the 74th Street station,” including the pigeon excrements covering it, garbage left on the sidewalks in front of it and vacant stores surrounding it. The councilmember also plans to test the paint chipping away from the subway tracks above Roosevelt Avenue for dangerous chemicals.
Dromm, who says he has attempted to attain a regular maintenance schedule for years, to no avail, believes the MTA’s negligence has also hurt the community financially.
“The MTA is the biggest impediment to economic development in Jackson Heights, because that station is the entrance to the neighborhood,” he said. “You have vacant stores around a pigeon poop covered, paint peeling and garbage strewn subway station. People come out from the subway, and the first thing they want to do is turn around and go home. [The pigeon poop] makes the entrance to Jackson Heights undesirable.”
During the daily bustle of rush hour, some Jackson Heights residents admit they don’t bother to look up and perceive the problem. “I’ve never even noticed it before,” said one resident as he hurried to work.
Others agree with Dromm and believe the station has become a blight on the community.
“This is the MTA’s property, and they should clean it up,” said David Barrionuevo, who uses the 74th Street station daily. “It shows they don’t care. They probably took a lot of money from the city to build this, so the least they can do is upkeep. The pigeon poop gives the station a gritty look, and if you look at some of the other stations, especially some of the bigger ones, they look nicer than this. This station is relatively new also, which means the MTA hasn’t been taking care of it at all. It looks like there is years’ worth of [feces] here.”
The Queens Gazette: U.S. Treasurer Meets Unity Team And Latino Leaders
From the Queens Gazette:
Congressmember Joseph Crowley convened a meeting with U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios (c.) and members of the Queens Unity Team with (l. to r.) State Senator Jose Peralta, Councilmember Daniel Dromm, Councilmember Julissa Ferreras and Assemblymember Francisco Moya. Crowley invited the elected officials and local Latino business leaders to meet with Rios to discuss a series of initiatives that the Obama administration is proposing through its American Jobs Act. The leaders had the opportunity to ask Rios questions about the implementation of this new legislation. Rios’ signature can be found on all paper money minted in the United States.
NY1: Jackson Heights Restaurants Look To Boost Business With Deals
The Queens Tribune: Local Restaurant Week Returns To Jackson Hts
From The Queens Tribune
The second annual “June in Jackson Heights” initiative, sponsored by Councilman Danny Dromm, is in full swing with art shows, performances, films and historic tours. Now, residents and visitors will be able to sample cuisine from around the world during Jackson Heights Restaurant Week, Monday, June 20, through Saturday, June 25. This year, more than 20 restaurants will offer specially priced menus during the week-long event.
Many restaurants were happy to be included again, including Natives Restaurant (82-22 Northern Blvd.), which offers a shell salad filled with grilled chicken, shrimp or salmon and a glass of wine for only $15. Also participating once again is La Pequeña Colombia (83-27 Roosevelt Ave.), offering a choice of appetizer and a selected entree with soda or juice for $20.
Delicious entrees from Nepal can be found at Mustang Thakali Kitchen (74-14 37th Ave.) where a 10 percent discount off anything on the menu is available for the entire week and Desi Chinese newcomer Himalayan Hut (75-18 37th Ave.) has a grand deal for two: soup and one special entrée with rice and tea for just $14.95.
Delhi Heights (37-66 74th St.) which has received an outstanding Michelin rating, offers a fresh and authentic home-style Indian cuisine with a buffet that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for only $10 or 15 percent off their delectable dinner menu. Mehfil (76-05 37th Ave.) is also on the list again where a vegetable samosa, an a la carte entrée, naan, rice and soda will cost $20.
City Coffee (77-17 37th Ave.) will offer a small Greek salad with moussaka for $10 while at Espresso 77 (35-57 77th St.) an entrée and a glass of wine for two will run $20 and an entrée and a glass of wine for one will cost $10. Ricky’s Café (75-02 37th Ave.), a local favorite, has a great lunch special for just $7.
Japanese Restaurant, Tomo (86-12 37th Ave.), will provide any three regular rolls for $10 and a la carte sushi and sashimi for $1 apiece. Happy Kitchen (80-12 37th Ave.) meanwhile, is offering the aptly named Jackson Heights Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and California Roll for $10.
For Italian cuisine, head over to Armondo’s Italian Restaurant (74-27 37th Ave.), which will offer 10 percent off. Head to El Coyote (80-16 Northern Blvd.) for Mexican done right at $20 for three courses. For Greek food, Plaka (75-61 31st Ave.) is an excellent choice with a great menu at 20 percent off.
If you like steak, restaurants that hail from countries in South America like La Porteña, La Boina Roja, Novo and Cafe La Nueva, have the best cuts at the best prices. Of course, we cannot forget American dining. For a Texas BBQ walk over to Legends (71-04 35th Ave.) with a “buy one get one free” signature BBQ sandwich.
To promote the event, organizers have created a website, juneinjacksonheights.com, containing a full list of all the June activities, as well as all of the restaurants participating in Jackson Heights Restaurant Week. Additionally, local web sites like jacksonheightslife.com will be working to promote June in Jackson Heights throughout the month.
Queens Courier: Jackson Heights Restaurant Week
From the Queens Courier
The second annual “June in Jackson Heights” week, sponsored by Councilmember Daniel Dromm, is in full swing with art shows, performances, films and historic tours. This year, 20 restaurants, representing a world of food, will again be offering specially priced menus for residents and visitors Monday, June 20 through Saturday, June 25.
Dromm’s outreach last year increased awareness of the international cuisine in the neighborhood and helped the sagging economy. Participating again is Colombian establishment Natives Restaurant (82-22 Northern Boulevard), with a Shell Salad filled with grilled chicken or shrimp or salmon and a glass of wine for only $15; additionally Consuelo Quintero has announced she has ample space for performances, parties, films and events in the revamped theatre and the upstairs lounge.
Also new this year are delicious entrees from Nepali at Mustang Thakali Kitchen (74-14 37th Avenue) where a 10 percent discount off anything on the menu is available for the entire week, or visit next door: Kebab House and get 15 percent off. Visit El Coyote (80-16 Northern Boulevard) for Mexican done right at $20 for three courses or their delectable Greek neighbor Plaka (75-61 31st Avenue) which offers a great menu with 20 percent off too!
For good old Texas BBQ go to Legends ( 71-04 35th Avenue) for buy one get one free signature sandwiches of pulled pork as well as their Traditional Tuesday Pasta Night – with dessert & coffee sweetened with a discount of 20 percent.
Please visit www.juneinjacksonheights.com for more info.
NY1: Dromm Applauds MTA’s Move to Lease Vacant Property at Transit Hub
The Queens Chronicle: MTA does right by Western Queens?
The Queens Chronicle: By Elizabeth Daley
It may not last long, but western Queens politicians this week are expressing satisfaction with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
First, the agency joined with Citigroup to open a long-completed internal transfer point at the Court Square station in Long Island City on Friday. Then, the MTA decided to lease long-vacant retail space at the Jackson Heights Transit Hub at Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street on Monday.
Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) had been asking the MTA to lease its vacant properties since 2009. He said it would help the community and enable the struggling agency to raise money.
“The MTA had neglected the gateway to our community for far too long,” said Dromm. “I am delighted the MTA has finally taken steps towards leasing the empty storefronts at the 74th Street/Roosevelt Avenue station.”
Since the station was refurbished in 2005, the agency had “inexplicably missed out on a significant source of income,” according to Dromm’s office.
A lease agreement was signed with Famiglia-DeBartolo, LLC for the operation of a 24-hour Famous Famiglia pizzeria and Italian restaurant at one of the street level spaces.
In Long Island City, passengers had been complaining that an internal transfer linking the G train at Long Island City-Court Square with with Court Square Station on the 7 line and the Court Square-23rd Street station on the E and M lines had been completed for months but wasn’t open.
In April, passenger Michael Charney contacted the Queens Chronicle to express his great concern that commuters often missed their trains after having to walk an extra foot-ball field’s worth of distance, sometimes in inclement weather.
At the time, a spokesman for the MTA said the agency was in talks with Citigroup to reach a memorandum of understanding since the transfer was built on their land.
After two articles in the Queens Chronicle, the agency opened the $47.6 million transfer on Friday to the delight of straphangers and politicians.
“This new transfer station will help commuters travel more conveniently in and out of Long Island City,” said state Sen. MikeGianaris (D- Astoria). “The public-private partnership between the MTA and Citi should serve as a model for future projects during these difficult budget times. I am thankful to everyone who played a part in making this announcement a reality.”
The transfer will serve an estimated to 20,000 customers each weekday and features two escalators, three elevators in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a transfer stairway.
The project was a mandatory requirement under the zoning code for the development of the second phase of the 15-story Citi bank office building. Construction began in 2009, according to the MTA. Citigroup footed the majority of the bill, while NYC Transit paid $13.9 million.
These two projects are not all the MTA has planned for western Queens. NYC Transit announced it will be undertaking a capital project scheduled for award later this month to make platforms on the 7 line ADA compliant.
The work will include full platform replacement, platform windscreen replacement and the installation of ADA boarding areas, tactile warning strips and signage. A spokeswoman for the MTA said she is not sure how the construction would impact commutes as the project is still in preliminary stages.