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47-01 QUEENS BLVD, STE 205

CONTRACTS
QUEENS, NY 11104
TEL: (718) 383-9566 COMMITTEES

FAX: (718) 383-9076 CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION

FINANCE
THE COUNCIL
CITY HALL OFFICE OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
OF
250 BROADWAY, SUITE 1833
THE CITY OF NEW YORK PUBLIC HOUSING
NEW YORK, NY 10007
TECHNOLOGY
TEL: (212) 788-7370
FAX: (212) 513-7195
JULIE WON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

COUNCIL MEMBER
26 DISTRICT, QUEENS
TH

E-MAIL: district26@council.nyc.gov

March 8th, 2022

Sent Via Email

To Tracy Capune Jay Martin, and Jamison Divoll of Kaufman Bedrock Astoria I LLC,

It is our understanding that Innovation Queens intends to certify their rezoning

application with the City Planning Commission to begin a Uniform Land Use Review
Procedure (ULURP) in the coming weeks. The Innovation Queens project is an
unprecedented rezoning, the first of its kind, redeveloping a portion of five (5) city
blocks, including almost 3,000 apartments and 18 towers, ranging from 9-27 stories from
Northern Boulevard to 37th street bounded by 35th and 36th avenues. This area is
currently a mix of small warehouses, residential apartments, commercial and retail
buildings, parks, and a movie theater.

This project has been in the works since 2020 and claims to have done extensive
outreach in the community. Community Board 1, local residents, and housing
organizations have all expressed concern about a lack of adequate community outreach
especially in Spanish and Bangla. The last two years, due to the unforeseen
circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, this project has had limited in-person
outreach to residents in the impacted area, many of whom are not fluent English language
speakers. Thus far, the amount of community engagement is insufficient for a project of
this scale that will deeply impact not only those in the immediate vicinity, but also will
have lasting impacts on the neighborhood as a whole.

Community Board 1 has made numerous requests for preliminary information

relating to the environmental impact of the project and has been rebuffed. The documents
requested have been provided without incident by countless other applications in other
rezonings. A request this consequential should come with deep community partnerships
that empower current residents to meaningfully engage. Withholding information that
both our Community Board and City Planning partners have assured us is typical to share
prior to certification is not acceptable in any project, let alone one that is so massive and
impactful to my constituents.

As the Council Member of this district, in support of the community, ask that the
following requirements be met before certification can even be considered for this
project:
 1. Robust outreach must be conducted in-person, in multiple languages including in
Bangla and Spanish. In-person town halls and workshops in multiple languages
must be held to ensure that neighbors have a chance to express their concerns,
provide direct input on community needs, and have their questions answered by
your organizations directly.
2. Reasonable preliminary Environmental Impact Statement information must be
provided to the community board for their review, and meetings must be held to
hear their concerns. We have attached the request to this letter.
3. A full Neighborhood Impact Study must be completed including a Racial Impact
Study in addition to the preliminary Environmental Impact Statement. The
impacts on long-term residents and immigrant communities along with the small
businesses on the Steinway Corridor must be made clear at the outset and must
inform all future discussions on the project.

To initiate a ULURP before addressing the community’s concerns satisfactorily

would demonstrate a lack of serious consideration for these critical issues facing Astoria
and the impact on the broader community. It would also demonstrate a disregard of
Astoria's community priorities in how it evaluates proposals that will bring long-term
impacts to our neighborhood. We look forward to hearing your response and the actions
taken to provide adequate information and analysis for the neighborhood, racial impact,
and the environment.

Warmly,

Council Member Julie Won

26th District
New York City Council

Cc:
Florence Koulouris Queens Community Board 1
Victoria Garvey Queens Borough President's Office
Alexis Wheeler City Planning
Raju Mann City Council Land Use
Brian Paul City Council Land Use
James Cottone City Council Land Use
Gianna Frederique Silverstein Properties
Hal Rosenbluth Kaufman Astoria
Marty Burger Silverstein Properties
Brian Collins Silverstein Properties
Chuck Berman Bedrock LLC
Tracey Appelbaum Bedrock LLC
Bishop Taylor Inside Track PR

2
Bethany Goldszer Inside Track PR
Victoria Kammer Inside Track PR
Jesse Masyr Fox Rothschild
Omar Toro-Vaca Bedrock LLC
Alex Malescio Bedrock LLC