Development forums in QV pushed back Civics still want housing as focus

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Two forums were expected this fall for the public to express how it would like dilapidated buildings on the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village to be transformed, but with the advent of asylum seekers within a tent shelter on the campus, action on the redevelopment plans has slowed to a halt.

The Chronicle reached out for updates on the project from Empire State Development, New York’s business promotion agency, which took the lead on the community engagement workshops for the project from February through April and then went on recess from May to June, with plans to come back after the summer.

The agency appears to be waiting until next year to share details surrounding the old structures at the center.

“ESD will be releasing in the coming months the Creedmoor Master Plan, informed by a robust community engagement and public workshop process,” said ESD spokeswoman Emily Mijatovic. “The Plan will identify new opportunities for open space, community spaces, and housing, laying out the next steps which include environmental review and subsequent RFPs and opportunities for continued community input.”

The office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, which was working in conjunction with the agency, declined to comment.

Siena Trocchia, Coach Isaac Ortiz, Valentina Coppola, Allison Prosser, Kaitlyn Ortiz, Alex Carrion, Mena Basile, Bessiana Pace and Coach Bryan Ortiz.

The boys team is: Coach Fabian Cortes, left, Jace Joseph, Kaitlyn Ortiz (subbing in!), Liam Brookes, Christian Gazza, Jayden Romero, Salvatore Cirone, Nolan Lacey and Antonio LoFaso.

— Kristen Guglielmo

Mijatovic said the ESD will engage the community throughout the upcoming steps of the Creedmoor Master Plan.

“Maybe they need more time to look at options on their end, but the community believes strongly on how we feel,” said CB 13 Chairman Bryan Block, who told the Chronicle that a group of civic associations, community boards and other stakeholders remain steadfast on their goals for the area. “I guess they want to re-evaluate to come back with another plan.”

“As you know, CB 13 works with the local civics ,” he continued. “We adopted a plan with our civics to create housing that would enable our seniors and young adults to stay in the neighborhood. We believe in low density.”

Many families moved into Queens Village and other surrounding neighborhoods by Creedmoor 20 to 30 years ago, but seniors are finding difficult to stay within Eastern Queens and young adults are struggling to afford to buy or rent homes in the region they grew up in, Block said.

The CB 13 chairman said that the people want one- to two-story housing complexes that fits the character of Eastern Queens.

“The community is adamant that it wants low-density housing, because once you start increasing the density our seniors will not be able to afford to stay in this community and our young folks may have to move out,” Block said.

Carlene Thorbs, chairwoman of Community Board 12, told the Chronicle that while CB 12 advocates for a region farther south of where the redevelopment site is, there will be an impact on the Southeast Queens community no matter what ultimately goes there. She was also not shocked that any future meetings will be pushed to next year, citing the migrant situation, but hopes that Community Board 13, whose area encompasses Creedmoor, will stay on top of the project.

Mo Ishmael, president of the Queens Village Civic Association, was upset about the delay for the Creedmoor meetings.

“It will be very disappointing that New York Empire State Development might be postponing their planned outreach ...,” Ishmael said. “It is unfortunate that the presence of the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on the Creedmoor Campus might be impacting the development plans.

“The Queens Village Civic and the neighboring Civics will continue advocating for housing compatible with the surrounding communities, especially for seniors and for an affordable intergenerational recreational center with a pool.” Q