Neighbors Protest Disputed Luxury Building At Hearing: Report

REGO PARK, QUEENS — Ongoing complaints about a proposed luxury building in Rego Park came to a head at a public meeting on Wednesday, according to a new report.

At a Queens Community Board 6 committee meeting Wednesday night, many locals voiced their opposition to a plan to rezone — and demolish — a stretch of three buildings, including a historic theater-turned-synagogue and several businesses, in order to build a 15-story condo building.

“This proposed change is not just disturbing, it is devastating,” said Queens resident Carol Hagarty in written testimony to the board, according to a New York Post report.

Hagarty, who has lived in the area for over 40 years, was appalled to hear that developers plan to raze all the buildings on the triangular lot, including the historic Ohr Natan Synagogue and iconic Tower Diner clock tower.

And, she's not alone: a group of community members have long decried the proposal, arguing in a petition to stop the demolition that the buildings should be preserved. The petition has raised over 3,500 signatures from locals.

Critics also contend that construction will block light and air, increase traffic and congestion, and destroy the strip of small businesses, including the diner, a bike shop, and a liquor store.

Rudolf Abramov, of Bayside-based development group RJ Capital Holdings, however told Patch in May that the proposed luxury building will welcome back all current tenants into its ground floor once construction is complete.

He told Patch that he hopes to break ground mid-2022, but since RJ Capital Holdings' plan requires zoning changes, the construction timeline actually depends on how the city's lengthy land use review process — known as ULURP — goes.

Wednesday's public hearing was the first step of this process, but the community board's recommendation is not binding: the recommendation will then be reviewed by the Queens Borough President, who will issue another recommendation before the city's Planning Commission and City Council make the final decision.

A final decision is usually made seven months after plans are certified by the city, which in the case of the 98-81 Queens Boulevard rezoning happened in mid Oct.

Related Article: Demolition Permit Filed For Disputed Luxury Building In Rego Park