SECOND TRY AT ATLAS PK.

R.J. Ryan (standing) of Macerich, the mall operator that now owns The Shops at Atlas Park, sought ideas for the Glendale shopping center’s rejuvenation from members of the Glendale Property Owners Association (GPOA) at their June 2 meeting. Shown seated at the dais (from left to right) are GPOA Executive Secretary Chris Kurre, President Brian Dooley, First Vice President Robert Koslowski, Second Vice President Howard Jaeger and Sergeant at-arms Norbert Giesse. (photo: Robert Pozarycki) Still trying to determine what to do with The Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale, a representative of the shopping center’s new owner came to the Glendale Property Owners Association’s (GPOA) June 2 meeting looking for ideas from residents on the kinds of businesses they want at the complex.

R.J. Ryan, senior manager of property management for Macerich, told residents during last Thursday’s session at St. Pancras Pfeifer Hall that the company—which acquired the fledgling mall in February through an auction—is currently “evaluating what direction to take” Atlas Park. Macerich is one of the nation’s largest owners and developers of shopping centers across the country, including the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst.

In determining the future of Atlas Park, the company is examining what brings customers to the shopping center and what is keeping other consumers away, Ryan said. Through polling of shoppers and residents in the area, he noted, the firm found that many people living outside of a onemile radius of Atlas Park had no idea it even existed.

He informed attendees that the company is not looking to “make any rash decisions” regarding Atlas Park and wants to come up with a formula that will allow it to live up to its full potential.

While gathering data and feedback from the public, Ryan told residents, Macerich is in the process of recruiting and negotiating with potential long-term retail tenants at Atlas Park. Since discussions are ongoing, he would not disclose the names of specific businesses with whom the company is dealing.

The process of securing “permanent tenants” at Atlas Park generally takes between 12 and 18 months to complete since each retail business must not only hammer out a lease agreement, but also design and make renovations to its space, he stated. In the meantime, Macerich is working with several “temporary” businesses which do not need time to make extensive renovations and can open up shop within weeks of agreeing to a lease.

“We have multiple parallel paths on how to make it work,” he said, including plans that allow for the opening of new retail businesses and offices. Ryan went on to note that Atlas Park “will be getting a couple of permanent stores this year, but you will see a thrust of change” in 2012.

“You don’t want Atlas Park to miss twice. We can’t afford it to miss twice,” Ryan said.

Asked by Howard Jaeger, GPOA second vice president, about the potential for a “big box” store such as a Target at Atlas Park, Ryan dismissed the idea, stating that there are currently “a number of restrictions” with regards to the size of businesses that can open on site.

Reaction

Several residents expressed some skepticism that Macerich would follow through on promises that it would work with the community in revamping Atlas Park. Dori Capace told Ryan that the original developers of what was billed as a “lifestyle center”—the Hemmerdinger family, owners of Atlas Terminals—reached out to the community in planning the project, but ultimately failed in meeting the community’s demands.

“We were promised that we wouldn’t have a moviehouse, but here it is,” she said, noting that the multiplex theater lures hundreds of teenagers each weekend. The youngsters, she claimed, loiter around the mall until closing time during the evening, then move to residential streets in the surrounding area.

Capace called for the creation of a “community task force” to work with Macerich in creating a new business plan for Atlas Park, adding that “we want to see economic development, but we want to see things that we can enjoy.”

“No one is as motivated as we are in ensuring that it’s a safe shopping center,” Ryan said in response to concerns about loitering youths at Atlas Park, adding that management is working on a strategy to resolve the problem. “It’s not the first shopping center where we’ve had a juvenile problem.”

Chris Kurre, GPOA executive secretary, observed that many businesses at Atlas Park had failed due to exorbitant rents. While not commenting on the specifics regarding its lease agreements, Ryan assured her that Macerich is “not motivated to make rents so high that everybody fails.”

Another resident, Roberta Maureau, stated that Atlas Park would bring in new customers simply by adding stores which aren’t “high end” but address community needs, such as a greeting cards store or a bakery.

“Simple things would be a big help,” she said. “There are things that we need more than just want.”

Echoing those sentiments was GPOA President Brian Dooley, who stated that the community would welcome such stores as well as a bowling alley. He also noted that the civic group will need to continue a dialogue with Macerich in the months and years to come as more stores open at Atlas Park and traffic increases around the center.

Several residents also called for the new owners to eliminate parking charges on the site; currently, drivers must pay $3 to park in Atlas Park’s garages for up to six hours. Ryan stated that the company would not eliminate fees but would make changes to the pricing formula.

“It’s not going to be free all the time, but there are things that we are exploring,” he said.

Memorial plans for 9/11

Members of two organizations that are planning 10th anniversary tributes to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks made a public appeal for donations.

Harold Mecabe of the American Day Parade Committee noted that the organization is seeking “less than $1,000” for its memorial ceremony scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11, at the 9/11 memorial at Dry Harbor Playground, located on Myrtle Avenue near 80th Street. He asked donors to submit their offering to the GPOA, which will then pass them on to the committee.

Lynda Metzger of the 9/11 Candlelight Vigil Committee of Queens also announced that the group is seeking $20,000 in funds for the creation of a memorial garden near the site of its annual memorial ceremony at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village. The garden, which has been approved by the Parks Department, will be located near the flagpole overlooking football fields in the vicinity of Juniper Boulevard South and 78th Street.

The donations, Metzger said, will be used to pay for landscaping and the installation of a memorial marker honoring all those killed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and on United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. To make a donation or for more information, visit their website, www.911vigil.org.

Lawmakers report

With the budget deadline less than a month away, City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley told residents that she and her colleagues are working to fight a series of budget cuts proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg that would result in the elimination of more than 6,000 teacher positions and 20 Fire Department units.

“Mayor Bloomberg closed seven firehouses in 2003, and he’s capable of doing it again,” said Crowley, who chairs the Council’s Fire and Criminal Justice Committee. Though no fire companies in Glendale are on the chopping block, several units which are “second due” and respond to large scale fires and emergencies in the neighborhood are in danger of being closed, including Engine Co. 294 in Richmond Hill and three units in Brooklyn—Engine companies 206, 218 and 233.

“If you close even one fire company, response times will go up,” she said. “Our Fire Department is our first line of defense in the event of a terrorist attack. ... I hope that the budget we pass in June saves all the fire companies.”

Regarding the proposed teacher layoffs, Crowley charged that the mayor was threatening the layoffs as a tool to “collectively bargain” the city’s labor contract with the United Federation of Teachers “through the media.” She stated that any teacher layoffs would drive up class sizes and negatively impact the quality of education New York City public school students receive.

Assemblyman Mike Miller informed residents that lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have reached a tentative deal on an ethics reform bill. One of the provisions in the legislation would strip any lawmaker convicted of a felony of their pension.

“Let’s just hope that nothing falls apart,” he said regarding the deal.

The Glendale Property Owners Association has not scheduled meetings in July and August. Their next meeting is scheduled to take place in September at a date and time to be announced.