To The Honorable Bill de Blasio, Mayor of NYC

In June of 2007, Landmark Developers of Rockaway, the owners of the property located at 93-06 Shorefront Parkway, across the street from the recently completed portion of the new boardwalk, put down a foundation upon obtaining a permit from the New York City Department of Buildings.  Landmark was going to build a seven-story condominium encompassing 54 apartments.  Despite a very vocal opposition from the community, including its elected officials and community Board #14, the permit was grand-fathered.  A change of zoning of our area to R5A was then in the works and took effect a few weeks after the foundation was set.  The Board of Standards and Appeals has since extended the work permit twice:

 ·      the first time on October 19, 2010 disregarding the numerous complaints filled with the Department of Buildings and evidence of flooding, drainage and sanitation problems at the site presented in person to by members of the community;

 ·      the second time on October 29, 2013 conveniently accepting the owner’s misrepresentation that “a complex drainage system” had been installed on the property.

 No such improvement had been performed until two weeks ago when Castle Hill’s contractor workers started drilling holes in the concrete.  At this time there is obviously no adequate drainage system in place for the property.

Landmark, unable to find funding to complete its project, finally went out of business.  The property was put up for auction in 2012.  On December 18, 2014 the new owner, Castle Hill Equities LLC, signed an agreement with the New York Department of Housing and Preservation to build 64 units of affordable housing (studio to three-bedroom).  Most recently, the Department of Planning’s NYCity Map (Pluto) indicates that the number of apartments to be built was increased to 78.

 There is a great concern for safety in our community.  We do not think that the foundation put down 8 years ago to support 54 apartments at 93-06 Shorefront Parkway is adequate for 78.    In addition to the critical drainage problems mentioned above that we have observed in the past 8 years, the foundation and surrounding walls have been seriously compromised by Hurricane Sandy.  We are all adamantly opposed to this project as it stands.  We request a stop work order from the Department of Buildings, a thorough engineering review of the site as is, as well as a review of the Department of Buildings inspectors’ reports before and after Hurricane Sandy devastated the Rockaway shore, and of the Board of Standards and Appeals rulings. 

Respectfully, 

Concerned Residents of Rockaway Beach and friends