Concern has been expressed by residents about a large number of boxes fashioned into a shelter by a homeless person behind Stop and Shop on Grand Avenue.  The structure is near the railroad tracks, is unsafe and a fire hazard.  The inhabitant of this structure also has placed several crosses on the ground, giving the illusion of graves.  COMET suggests you do not enter the alley alongside to attempt to view this scene.  It can safely be viewed from the roof parking lot of the store if curiosity gets the better of you.  Deputy Inspector Green of the 104th Precinct has assured COMET that the situation will be dealt with this week. 

This photo and story comes courtesy of the Times Newsweekly:

Elected officials vented at a press conference in Maspeth last Friday, Mar. 5, against the continued use of Grand and Flushing avenues as a commercial “through truck route” citing the damaging effects of exposure to diesel fumes to the community.

City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley was joined by Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Anthony Weiner, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and a host of community leaders in decrying the air pollution resulting from trucks that routinely use the connecting roadways to avoid traveling on the Long Island Expressway.

The public servants called on the Department of Transportation to alleviate the burden of vehicle congestion by turning the Grand Avenue-Flushing Avenue thorough- fare into a “local” route as part of a Maspeth Truck Bypass plan that was the brainchild of local civic leaders. The plan is currently the focus of a study being conducted by the DOT.

Council Member Crowley claimed that Queens is the only place where a route terminates at a borough boundary, causing trucks to clog up Maspeth’s primary shopping district.

“Neighborhood residents are thrilled that the study for the Maspeth Bypass Plan is underway,” added Rosemarie Daraio, president of the Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) civic association. “COMET is anxious to work with our elected officials and DOT to ensure that the study addresses the community's concerns and that it is completed as quickly as possible. Hopefully NYC DOT will consider installing signage as a preliminary step. We look forward to a safer and more environmentally friendly Grand Avenue.”

NY1 VIDEO: City officials said Tuesday they hope to have a plan in place by fall to eliminate truck traffic along a heavily congested section of Grand Avenue in Maspeth.

Click here to watch story.

Senator Addabbo will host a community discussion in Maspeth tomorrow evening, February 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Maspeth Town Hall, 53-37 72nd St. Addabbo says the visit is “for residents in the northern portion of my district” who can’t easily meet with him at his Howard Beach district office. Topics of discussion will be “whatever issues that concerns people the most”. He expects those will include jobs, transportation, education, public safety, sanitation, the new voting machines, the 2010-2011 budget, the 2010 census and seniors and veterans matters.

Residents of Maspeth met with DOT officials on January 26 at Martin Luther High School to discuss concerns about truck traffic in the area and to hear about progress of the Maspeth Bypass and Intersection Normalization Study.

The study is being conducted in two phases.  Data is being collected about alternative truck routes and dangerous intersections and the DOT will have an update on the study in September.  The ultimate goal is to get trucks off our local streets and onto more appropriate routes.  For information about the study, check the website: www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/maspeth.shtml

Residents of Maspeth worried over the number of trucks in the neighborhood have their chance to speak up next week when the Department of Transportation (DOT) holds a public discussion on the Maspeth Bypass and Intersection Normalization Study.

DOT is conducting a two-phase study to explore alternative truck routes in the area. The study is also investigating problem intersections, road configurations and the impact of commercial traffic on local streets, according to the transportation department.

The public discussion will take place on Tuesday, January 26 at 7 p.m. at Martin Luther High School, which is located at 60-02 Maspeth Avenue. For additional information contact DOT at 718-286-0886. - Queens Ledger

The Newtown Historical Society is proud to present our first exhibit, “A Walk Down Flushing Avenue, 1929” at Maspeth Federal Savings, located at 58-15 69th Street in Maspeth, Queens starting Monday, December 21st, 2009. This photo series is presented to create awareness and foster appreciation of the history of western Queens communities. The exhibit will be displayed in the windows of the recently renovated and upgraded bank building through the end of February and will be viewable from the street.

The photos represent a snapshot of life in Maspeth and Ridgewood on November 1, 1929, just days after the “Black Tuesday” stock market crash that many associate with the beginning of the Great Depression. Several of the buildings featured in the series are still standing, with different uses today. The photos also offer a fascinating glimpse into how people from our communities went about their daily activities 80 years ago.

“Maspeth Federal Savings is pleased to host this photo series highlighting the history of Flushing Avenue and we look forward to working with the Newtown Historical Society to bring more educational exhibits to the public in the future,” said David Daraio, Assistant Vice President of Maspeth Federal Savings.

The Newtown Historical Society will be presenting more photo exhibits, as well as slideshows, lectures and walking tours throughout the upcoming year. Winter 2010 slideshows will include topics such as the development of western Queens neighborhoods, the story of the Newtown Pippin apple and the history of the Ridgewood Reservoir.

For more information about the Flushing Avenue photo exhibit or to join the Newtown Historical Society, please visit www.newtownhistorical.org or call 718-366-3715.

From the Forum West:

Residents of a quiet residential block in Maspeth have been terrorized for several years by an emotionally disturbed man who they say regularly harasses neighbors and has turned his home into a crack house.

While residents of 66th Street will have some temporary relief after the individual, Hani Nasser, was recently jailed on assault charges, they worry about the condition of his house at 52-45 66th Street, which is unsecured and could attract squatters and junkies.

Civic leader Roe Daraio, president of Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together, has been working with 66th Street residents in hopes of forcing the city to take action. “It’s not really progress, but the guy is in jail right now,” she said. Adjacent residents were affected when a pipe in the house burst last year and are concerned that the house will be left to deteriorate, added Daraio.

Neighbors have informed Daraio that Nasser, 25, is enrolled in an out-patient drug treatment program at Elmhurst Hospital Center and blew up a garage behind the home while getting high several years ago. “He gets confrontational with neighbors, invites teens over there, and meanwhile the house has gone into serious decay,” said Daraio, echoing the laundry list of complaints she has heard from neighbors. “He’s in jail now, but that’s not solving the problem. For six months, they’ll be fine, but it’s a Band-Aid effect.”

Daraio has reached out to local elected officials for assistance, but thinks the city needs to go after Nasser for failing to maintain the home. “Maybe if the family starts getting violations, they’ll start paying more attention,” she said, adding that Nasser lives there alone and is supported by his relatives. “To give him free reign of a private house, I don’t think is the smartest thing. It’s become the neighbor’s problem, and it shouldn’t be that way. It’s a quiet block, and everyone is friendly with one another.”

This past week, the Daily News and Times Ledger published stories that mentioned that Council Member Elizabeth Crowley and Borough President Helen Marshall have applied for funding from the state to purchase the St. Saviour's site.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has stated that the city would be interested in acquiring the property so long as the elected officials can raise the money to pay for it.

St. Saviour's in Maspeth gaining steam to change from old church site to parkland after delays [Daily News]
City mulling acquisition of St. Saviour’s [Times Ledger]
Renewed Hope for Parkland at St. Saviour's Site [Forum West]
Pols eye salvation for St. Saviour site [Queens Tribune]
Pursing for parkland at St. Saviour's site [Queens Courier]

Despite the presence of a partial stop work order prohibiting heavy equipment from approaching the damaged retaining wall and fence at the St. Saviour's site, unsafe excavation was taking place Monday, November 2nd.  The following links contain photos and videos that show the destruction:

DOB says this is perfectly safe

St. Saviour's Saga Continues in Queens

Quick Link: Immaculate Destruction At St. Saviour’s

Historic Queens church site home to alleged illegal activity

Avalanche of Criticism at Fight Over Historic Queens Church