Glendale Gears Up

Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano provided details of a number of local construction projects that may occur in the very near future at the latest Glendale Property Owners Association meeting. Those at the Thursday, Sept. 4 Glendale Property Owners Association members meeting received a comprehensive rundown of upcoming construction projects in their community during the session at the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council.

Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano divulged a list of project requests included among Fiscal Year 2009 Capital Budget priorities.

Obtaining a detailed study of the local sewer system from the Department of Environmental Protection remains the top priority for Board 5, said Giordano, in light of last year's August floodings that wreaked havoc on Glendale, Middle Village and parts of Maspeth.

The study is planned to serve as a precursor to the eventual redesign and reconstruction of the sewer system in the most flood-prone areas of Community Board 5.

"I don't know how good DEP's records are as to them knowing what's built where," said the district manager. "I think they're improving. We would like to see them get closer to what is realistically built in the streets."

Last year's deluge of storm water delivered an estimated three to four inches of rain to the area in 45 minutes.

Although the community has been "very lucky" since then in terms of the amount of rain that Glendale and other neighboring localities have endured, Giordano maintained that problems continue to persist, even in the absence of massive rainstorms over the past year.

In recent months, he added, numerous civic leaders have been "pushing along" the city agency to present and act upon their proposed solutions.

Trees and street resurfacing

On the subject of street trees, Giordano claimed that Board 5 has been responsible for more plantings than any other local region within the five boroughs.

He issued kudos to various civic leaders for their contributions in bringing in trees, such as Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association President Paul Kerzner and the late Vito Maranzano, who served on Community Board 5 as well as other civic boards.

Regarding the recent resurfacing of Myrtle Avenue (from Woodhaven Boulevard to Fresh Pond Road), Giordano credited GPOA President Brian Dooley for being the first to request street renovations along that area at last year's budget hearing.

Very few complaints were reportedly made about the project taking place at night.

"It had to be done at night. For us to have Myrtle Avenue closed during the day would've been bad for business and not good for all of you getting around using automobiles," said Giordano.

Glendale side-street resurfacings currently taking place, or scheduled to begin, include work on 70th Street, 72nd Place, 70th Street and 60th Lane.

Those in attendance were told that 60th Lane (near the railroad tracks on Cooper Avenue) was in dire need of new pavement due to existing crater-like potholes created by large trucks passing through.

Library improvements

The Ridgewood native also added his thoughts on the rehabilitation of the Glendale branch of the Queens Library, located at 7860 73rd Pl., noting how "amazed" he was that an elevator has yet to be installed at the location.

A number of police precincts, he added, are facing a similar problem.

Library renovations at the Glendale branch ranked fifth on Board 5's list of FY 2009 Capital Budget priorities.

Dry Harbor Playground

Giordano didn't make any promises on phase two of the reconstruction of Glendale's Dry Harbor Playground, located at Myrtle Avenue and 80th Street.

"I would say that's iffy. There was supposed to be money there and I can tell you that a lot of projects we have to try to shepherd them through because in the city's current financial situation, I would say too much would be a risk as far as the capital budget goes," he stated.

Mafera Park

Resident complaints about late night noise continuing from Mafera Park, located along the area of 65th Place and Shaler Avenue in Ridgewood, were addressed by the district manager, who maintained that monies set aside by former City Council Member Dennis Gallagher will be used to build taller fencing.

In the meantime, Giordano advised the Parks Department to close all the fences around the park area in order to make it much more difficult for teenagers to climb into the playground.

MTA/NY and Atlantic Railway

A recent incident in which a young woman was hit by a falling tree limb on Myrtle Avenue and Fresh Pond Road was touched upon by the speaker.

Giordano told the audience that he's been "all over" New York and Atlantic Railway and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority regarding the inspection of tress in the area, which is situated adjacent to a rail overpass.

"The MTA has divorced themselves of responsibility, saying that they've leased it to New York and Atlantic Railway," he said.

Giordano was also dissatisfied with how NYA has failed to properly seal trash-laden train cars, which are spreading a pungent odor throughout the Mafera Park area.

Previously, NYA garbage cars were reportedly stationed near the Metropolitan Avenue subway station in Middle Village.

Graffiti and other issues

During his president's report, Dooley apprised attendees of a meeting that he had earlier this summer with City Council Member Anthony Como.

Dooley told Como about a myriad of quality-of-life concerns plaguing Glendale with graffiti heading the list.

The recently-elected Council member was on hand to discuss the matter, and assured civic members that many cleanups have already taken place, with more on the way.

Como further mentioned a sum of $2.2 million that has recently been distributed to almost every school in the district, including parochial institutions.

Residents at the session also learned of an upcoming meeting between Como and a representative from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office in which the Council member will walk the city official through parts of Glendale that are most vulnerable to sewer floodings, such as the area of 77th Street, 85th Avenue and other adjoining areas.

City Council candidate Elizabeth Crowley, who was in the audience, was invited to attend the conference along with GPOA board members.

When asked about the possibility of adding a walkway along a stretch of Union Turnpike leading to a local Stop and Shop on the Glendale/Forest Hills border, Como said he's working with the Department of Transportation on getting the project initiated.

Addabbo introduces himself City Council Member Joseph Addabbo introduced himself to the Glendale crowd and advised them of his bid for State Sen. Serphin Maltese's seat in the 15th Senatorial District.

Addabbo spoke about his long battle to get ferry service from the Rockaways into Manhattan, and how he finally accomplished his goal after six years of "fighting the mayor's office" on the matter.

As a state senator, he promised to continue operating his 24-hour help line, allowing residents to speak with a live operator to report emergencies, such as blackouts and floods.

In relation to negative mailings that have recently been distributed about him, Addabbo said he would rather have his opponents attack his record rather than his character.

"Let's talk about issues," he said. "I'm going to stay positive."

The Glendale Property Owner's Association meeting regularly takes place on the first Thursday of the month at the Ridgewood Youth Council, located at 62-02 Myrtle Ave.