Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Hylan Plaza Update

I wanted to share some good news with you. At our last meeting attended by representatives from Kimco Realty I mentioned the peeling paint that was falling from the protective overhang in the Hylan Plaza. .. particularly in the area of the CVS and Telco stores.

I was notified today by Josh Weinkranz of Kimco that the unhealthy situation had been corrected. He even supplied four photos to substantiate the claim. So I rode by that space this morning and can confirm that the overhang in that section of the Plaza has been cleared and repainted. Nice job Kimco. It is good to know that they are listening to us and will work to correct the situations that they can.

The Advance attended the meeting and I had hoped for more details of the Kimco-Kohl’s presentation in the Advance meeting recap on Friday… but that did not happen. Perhaps they are saving that for a larger article in the future.

What was also mentioned is that Toys-R-Us will be moving back into their store in the corner of the plaza. It is unknown at this time whether it will contain a Babies-R-Us component. But that was interesting to hear.

We need more businesses and less empty stores.

Just wanted to share this info with you.

Make sure you share with us the things you are hearing.

Contact us on this blog … via email at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com … or by snailmail to POBox 0600245 at 10314 … or by phone to 718-979-6011.

Stay in touch … and share your info.

> Joe Markowski

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Meeting Recap - Kimco, Kohl's and Elections

We had a terrific meeting on Thursday night.

First, the current slate of officers was re-elected. Congratulations and thank you to each of them for all the hard work they do on behalf of this association. Who am I talking about?

ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
THOMAS COFFEY, Executive Vice President
JOHN DONOVAN, Senior Vice President
WILLIAM BAUMWOLL, Vice President
RONALD S. COLE, Secretary
MARIE J. MARKOWSKI, Treasurer
RINA PIZZA, Assistant Treasurer
THERESA TROIANO, Corresponding Secretary
KENNETH LUND, Recording Secretary
VINCENT MARTIRE, Financial Secretary
Board of Advisors: ANN MARIE FINNERTY

Then we had a presentation plus a question and answer period involving the property on New Dorp Lane and Mill Road, formerly occupied by A&P/Waldbaums/Franks’s.

Who was there? The Project Manager Ethan Goodman, Geoff Glazer and Joshua Weinkranz from Kimco Realty and a representative from Kohl’s –Scott Berkes. They shared with us a copy of the site plan and a view of how the exterior of the building will look.

There is still a good amount of work to do and they have not yet made an official filing. And although the site plan is for a retail establishment and technically not for Kohl’s, the representation of the exterior of the building depicted the Kohl’s name and Scott Berkes answered our questions. (He flew in from Milwaukee to represent Kohl’s so draw your own conclusions.)

We will keep in touch with Kimco throughout this process. Should you have any questions please send them to me and I will work to get an answer from Kimco and Kohl’s.

Lastly I thanked Kimco and Kohl’s for coming to our meeting to share their vision and answer our questions. More companies and organizations should do that earlier in the process. It could make a lot of these proposals and projects proceed more smoothly.

Our next meeting will be Thursday September 16. Enjoy the summer. However our neighborhood remains important to us. So make sure you share what you hear with us either through this blog or email to newdropcentralcivic@yahoo.com or at 718-979-6011 or to us at PO Box 060245.

> Joe Markowski

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Kohl's, NY1, Fitness, Music and Miscellany

Just a reminder… our meeting is Thursday night and our guest speakers will be talking about the former A&P/Frank’s property and the current plans by Kimco Realty to bring in a Kohl’s Department store. Our meeting is 8pm. Kells-Grennie American Legion Post. June 17.

I hope you caught our segment on NY1 tonight on the quarter-hour about the New Dorp Lane property. Joe Malvasio of NY1 interviewed BP Jim Molinaro and Chamber of Commerce’s Linda Baran about the Kohl’s plans and both were supportive. (It will probably be replayed over the next couple of days so look for it.) Yours truly also said a few words in support of the project. We need a place to shop. We need the jobs in our community. We need the tax revenue a good store would generate.

Wednesday night – June 16 - the 122 Precinct Community Council meets at the 122 Precinct. Do you have an issue that the NYPD should be aware of? Bring your issue to that meeting. 8pm. 2320 Hylan Blvd.

Councilman Oddo informs us that the Dept of Parks and Recreation is providing free fitness classes called “Shape Up NYC” at the Greenbelt Recreation center. You can get further information at www.nyc.gov/befitnyc.

Borough President Molinaro reminds us that he will once again be providing free summer concerts in our beautiful parks. You can get more specifics at the BP’s website statenislandusa.com.

Lastly, I had asked what was happening in our neighborhood. Well, here are some of the comments we received:

- have we heard anything about the speed bumps for Rose Avenue?
- concern about the future of Cedar Grove Beach if the city has its way
- a Kitchen & Bath is opening on the Lane next to the car alarm shop
- The French Tart has closed
- rumors of a Red Lobster and/or Trader Joe’s looking for a spot in the neighborhood
- with the closing of the Sovereign Bank ATM, will they continue to support the parking lot? Or will it become expendable?
- Cedar Grove residents have been given until the end of the summer
- there will be new voting machines in November
- the New Dorp Beach athletic field has been fenced off but little work seems to be happening
- more deer sightings on Richmond Road
- and the trash cans do not appear to be getting emptied as frequently.

What have you heard? Let’s get some conversation started.

What did you hear? Let us know.

Email us at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com or call us at 718-979-6011.
And stop by our meeting Thursday night. I hope to see you there.

> Joe Markowski

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Meeting This Thursday - Find Out About the Former Frank's Property

Greetings friends and neighbors. As we near the end of the school semester, the beginning of Summer and all the wonderful things that it brings, I can’t help but be excited by the upcoming months. As you know, this will be our last meeting until September. (Summer is a special time for all.)

I must confess that the latest edition of our newsletter is short and a little late in getting out. My fault. I thought I had until this week to get this to the printer and out to you. Wrong. It should have been delivered to the printer two days earlier than it was so I’m hoping it will make it to you in time for our meeting. My apologies. This information will reach our blog at http://www.ndcca.blogspot.com but I’m not sure the newsletter will arrive in your mailbox in time. If it doesn’t, call 718-979-6011 and I will make sure I update you on our June meeting.

Why is June important? We have our elections for the Association’s officers for the next year. All the current officers are running for re-election. That’s part of it.

But much more importantly we will have a couple of special speakers at our June meeting. A representative from Kimco Realty and from Kohl’s Department Store will be at our June meeting to share with us their plans for the former A&P/Frank’s property along New Dorp Lane. Do you have questions? Concerns? Or are you happy that a large quality store will be coming to our neighborhood? Whatever your feeling, come to the meeting… listen to our speakers… ask your questions… and then form your opinion.

I want to extend a thank you to Kimberly Brown for her presentation last month about Island Shopres Senior Residence and all the enhancements that are occurring there. (And a special thanks to Tom Coffey who chaired the meeting and made sure it was an informative and enjoyable experience for all.)

Plan on attending our meeting and bring a neighbor. Can’t you give two hours a month to your community? Think about it.

Lastly, never forget that an important part of this dynamic is your feedback and participation. We need your comments, your concerns, your suggestions, your complaints. It is your neighborhood. What is on your mind?
Let us know at 718-979-6011, newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com or comment on the blog. Check us out at http://www.ndcca.blogspot.com for continuous updates.

I need you to sing aloud the need for civic involvement and invite your neighbors to join. The more voices the smoother and richer the sound. Thank you for your interest in our neighborhood. You live here. You know why it is a respected and desirable community. Be proud of it.

See you around the neighborhood.

Joe Markowski

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Ok... What's New?

Its been some time since I've been here. Sorry. Very busy at work and home.

But that doesn't mean nothing has been happening in the neighborhood!

So tell me.

What has been happening?

What have you heard?

Any good rumors lately?

Speak up... share!

> Joe Markowski