Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein (D-Bayside) and Senator Tony Avella stood with the Bay Terrace Community Alliance, and almost 200 hundred residents to protest a proposed development in their community. A number of other civic associations from Northeast Queens joined in the protest: Northwest Bayside Civic Association, We Love Whitestone, Holly Civic Association and the Bayside Hills Civic Association.

The property/homes, formerly two, two-family homes at 15-10/12 215th Street, have already been demolished and the developer/owner submitted an application to the Department of Buildings (DOB) for a four-story, 18-unit structure with a daycare on the lower level, with underground parking.

The multiple unit development would be significantly more density than the existing two family homes on this quiet residential block. The addition of a day care center would dramatically alter the quality of life and given the already dangerous traffic conditions on this one-way street, put the clients/children of the day center in jeopardy.

This property is currently under a stop work order from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for not filing an asbestos report with the agency.

Assemblyman Braunstein said, “This proposed building is completely out of character with the surrounding neighborhood and if allowed to move forward, it will not only negatively impact the quality of life for nearby residents, but will also set a dangerous precedent for future development in Bay Terrace. At this rally an overwhelming number of residents came out to tell the developer that just because you can do something legally, does not mean that it is the right thing to do. We urge him to abandon the current proposal and consider new options that can be both profitable and contextually appropriate at the same time. Moving forward, we must continue an aggressive effort to downzone the Bay Terrace area to prohibit the construction of developments like this in the future.”

“It’s no secret that a daycare would be utilized in this area; but it should be located in a commercial area with sufficient space for parking and drop off and pickup of the children of the street. Additionally, a multiple family structure like this would create a quality of life issue for neighbors on this block,” said Senator Avella. The Mayor, DOB and the Department of City Planning need to realize that this and other low density middle class neighborhoods need to be protected from overdevelopment.”

Matt Silverstein, President of the Bay Terrace Community Alliance said, “This sends a clear message to the owner that this is out of character for the neighborhood and we will continue to fight to prevent it from happening.”

Jena Lanzetta, President of the Northwest Bayside Civic Association said, “I am proud of my neighbors, showing up here to show the owner that we mean it when we say it does not belong here and that it is an inappropriate location.”

Alfredo Centola, President of We Love Whitestone Civic said, “We support the Senator and Assembly Member 1000%. We need to keep the pressure on the City to let them know we all care about this issue.”