Just offering an update as discussions continue (Thanks Peter, this is a great idea)....not taking any sides, just adding info.......site is currently maintained by Elmhurst Hospitals Building staff-theyre the closest HHC facility in Queens, so they got tagged.....theyre spending approximately 350K annually just for basic maintenance and security......estimates vary wildly but it would almost certainly cost more than $10 million just to tear down the (inhabitable even before the storm) buildings and power plant on site. The buildings CANNOT be used for other purposes as per HHC as any repair or rehab would be almost impossible and certainly cost more than starting over. The biggest obstacle is the powerplant (and smokestack) which would be expensive to remove. Many (not all) in the immediate vicinity (just anecdotal, not an official survey) seem to favor either extending Riis Park, creating a city park, extending Neponsit to allow for market rate development within adjacent existing zoning regulations (1 family homes) or adding parking for Riis Park. They (again, not all) are not in favor of a facility that might attract additional development that is not in character with the neighborhood. Although others see this land as an opportunity for a facility (hotel, theme park, college, insert your idea here, etc.), most of these would be out of character with those plans. My understanding is that it would take an act of NY State legislators to change the existing rules allowing for health related facility only or it will revert back to parkland. I hope this helps improve the discussion.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:37:36 +0000
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