Astoria, Community
Sep 07, 2012

Help Support Newtwon Plaza- Meeting Tuesday 9/11

Here at We Heart Astoria, we’re unabashed fans of the Newtwon Plaza, and we hope you are too.  Community Board 1 will vote Tuesday, September 11th at 7pm at Astoria World (…)

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Here at We Heart Astoria, we’re unabashed fans of the Newtwon Plaza, and we hope you are too. 

Community Board 1 will vote Tuesday, September 11th at 7pm at Astoria World Manor, 25-22 Astoria Boulevard, on whether or not to approve this plaza. We will be there, and we hope to get as many Newtown Plaza supporters there as possible.  

Please:

  • tell your friends and neighbors about the proposal;
  • contact elected officials in support;
  • come to the CB meeting on the 11th,
  • and join the “friends of” group by emailing them at friendsofnewtownplaza@gmail.com or on fan them on Facebook.

For any questions about the project, contact the DOT directly at plazas@dot.nyc.gov and learn more about it online.

In addition, you can contact the following officals and tell them you’re supporting the plaza:

Queens Community Board 1
45-02 Ditmars Boulevard
LL Suite 125
Astoria, NY 11105
718-626-1021
Email: qn01@cb.nyc.gov

Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr.
22-45 31st Street
Astoria, New York 11105
Phone: 718-274-4500

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)
Queens Borough Commissioner Maura McCarthy
120-55 Queens Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Kew Gardens, NY 11424

3 Comments

Phillip

Hey Mackenzi! Correct, there isn’t a vagrant problem (“problem” was your word, not mine) in Astoria right now, but the homeless definitely do exist in Astoria and around 30th ave to be sure . However my original point is that public spaces such as this create those situations. Longtime 30th ave resident over here, too ;-)

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that intersection at 30th and Newtown just like any other intersection? What’s so unsafe about it? I’ve never noticed any danger when crossing the avenue to the Bargain Stop or crossing Newtown to get a bagel or some fabrics etc.

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Phillip

I see this being more of a nuisance than anything else, unfortunately. Initially, converted outdoor spaces such as these are exciting, but they eventually become filled with vagrants and the homeless. This creates a bad situation, and leads to litter. Check out the Broadway green space in Manhattan as a reference. Other than German tourists, it’s all vagrants. Supporters of this proposed plaza may claim that it will be maintained well, much like Athens Park is. But Athens Park is privately owned! Supporters may also claim that it is a nice way to “take in the neighborhood”. I do agree on that point, but there is no shortage of outdoor vantage points around 30th ave….just eat at a local cafe and pump money into local businesses, we all win.

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mackenzi

Sorry you feel that way, Phillip. As a longtime 30Th Ave. resident, I don’t believe “vagrants” are a problem in Astoria what-so-ever. What I do see as a HUGE problem is the unsafe pedestrian situation created at Newton/30th Ave. and I’m happy to support solutions that make Astoria a nicer, safer place.

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