ELMHURST’S 23-YEAR NIGHTMARE
There is a curious thing that has been going on for more than two decades on 57th Avenue just east of 80th Street. Per Department of Buildings records, a contractor established a storage yard in the middle of a block of homes back in 2002 – and despite a complaint having been referred for an OATH hearing and to the department’s padlock unit at that time, it’s still there 23 years later.
Many moons ago, there was an empty lot at the bottom of the hill, just east of the lot in question. Local kids used to play in it. It’s a steep slope and at the time also had a mapped street through the middle of it, so it was not considered a target for development. It was finally developed with 8 homes circa 2016. Construction equipment which originally was thought to have been left over from the project has been parked in the side lot ever since, on top of what was already being stored there illegally. The bulldozer parked back there can be seen from the westbound LIE off ramp and on Google Maps.
Area representation had been lacking, but after the district lines were redrawn and that block became part of Council Member Bob Holden’s district this past January 1st, an inquiry was re-opened at the request of JPCA.
Holden’s office did contact the Department of Buildings and on February 18, Samuel Schechter of the Department of Buildings sent a response: “Members of our padlock team observed that there was what appeared to be a contractor’s yard in a Residential District. They have issued a violation to the owner and a warning letter to the owner to cease the activity.”
We’ll keep on top of this until the matter is resolved. ... See MoreSee Less
