BROAD CHANNEL CIVIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER (January 2016)

BROAD CHANNEL CIVIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING
***** VFW Hall – Shad Creek Road – 7:00 PM *****

President’s Message
This month's Civic meeting will be held on Thursday, January 28th at 7 pm at the VFW Hall. Come down and get caught up on what is going on in your neighborhood!

Hope everyone had a great holiday and a Happy New Year!! The town Christmas lights once again were the envy of our neighbors as so many people from Rockaway, Breezy Point and Howard Beach who drove through were asking how Broad Channel manages to get these lights up that really set off the town so nicely? Stephanie Wagner deserves a big hand for once again running this operation including all of the fund raisers and online donation efforts that it requires. In addition, it is amazing the trouble that many of our homeowners go to in decorating their homes. So many of the houses were outstanding this year and it really entertains the children and adults alike during the December days when darkness seems to really intensify. Great job to all who went the extra mile!!

Vacant Lots on West 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Roads are currently being transferred to NYC Parks Department from Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). This has been a decade's long battle that the Civic has fought to protect these open spaces and to keep them from being developed or utilized by those who would use them for storage of construction equipment. Both concerns nearly happened over the years as DCAS attempted to sell the lots to developers and then lease them to a construction firm. The Civic fought to have them adopted by Parks where they would then be protected as "forever wild" which means as Park land they stay there for good. In order for Parks to take them over, DCAS has been instructed by Parks to clear them of all items stored there. Notices have been placed on all items and notices have been placed in all mailboxes of residents on those blocks. At this time DCAS has notified the Civic that they will begin carting off all items that are on those lots and if any residents have belongings that they have stored on those lots they are advised to remove them immediately or risk losing them. DCAS normally fences off such properties before transferring them to another City agency (in this case, Parks), and they usually put up cyclone fencing. The Civic has objected to this type of fencing and Councilman Ulrich has brokered a meeting where DCAS agreed to forego the cyclone fencing and instead put up a low guardrail fence that would both provide access and not obstruct views. The Councilman has been a tremendous help in the efforts to protect these open spaces which are something that makes this town so unique. 


Sunset Cove Park design plans are moving along well and it is expected that by the end of this summer we will see construction start on the wetlands, forest, and protective dunes that will be created there. The plans for the boardwalk are moving along as well with a final design which will allow visitors to walk out across a boardwalk over the wetlands to a beautiful viewing platform which will provide views of the park landscape and that of Jamaica Bay with the Manhattan skyline as a dramatic backdrop. A separate portion of that boardwalk will allow for shoreline access for research groups, including local school children, to observe the oysters that will be placed out in the cove in cages for study. The project costs were coming in and exceeding what was available from the NY rising funds, and I am happy to report that Assemblyman Goldfeder has committed an extra $125,000 from his discretionary spending which will be a huge help. In addition both Borough President Melinda Katz and State Senator Addabbo are looking into the possibility of providing funding for this exciting project. When completed there will be no comparable park in the region that provides this type of experience and it will be another great asset to this town and to the area. 

The Civic Recording Secretary Kathy Lawless has been doing an outstanding job of not only recording the minutes of the meetings but also of transcribing them to electronic format so we can post them online. Each month they are posted to the Civic Facebook page at "Broad Channel Civic". If you are not connected to the Facebook page submit a friend request and we will connect you. Likewise our Newsletter Editor Natalie Grant continues to do a fantastic job publishing our newsletter and in addition runs the town website at Broadchannelcivic.org. Log-on as we begin to expand the site. Any info you would like to have her post to either the newsletter or the website you can send to najomawi@gmail.com.
 
Build it Back Executive director Rudy Giuliani will be present to give an update on the program and take questions. At this time applicants in the elevation process should have been assigned to a CYOC (Choose Your Own Contractor), Designated Builder ABTS Arverne By the Sea (they are associated with IBTS design firm) or to the Tishman Group for a design and then out to group bid for actual lift.
 
Quote of the Month -“Life's most persistent and urgent question is--, 'What are you doing for others?'--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Respectfully submitted, 
Dan Mundy Jr.