At the Village of Great Neck October Planning Meeting, there was great concern over an application for a new house being built, as to a dry well placement being too near a tree, which would remain on the property. The concern was that the root might be damaged. It was resolved with no damage to the tree.
The next application was King’s Point Gate. The owner planned to tear down the Academy Gardens and build a 68-room luxury apartment building. This has been on going for the past two years. [Village of Great Neck] Mayor Krietzman and the board of trustees spent many hours listening to the concern of Academy Gardens residents.
I was shocked that the owner stated, “The new apartments would be for the young, well to do, with significant income and won’t be a burden to our village.”
Academy Gardens is a rent controlled complex, with only 29 families left, the remaining apartments have been purposefully left empty by the owner. The 29 families are black, hispanic and middle class. They are residents who work in our community and pay taxes. How can they be burden?
One part of the applicants presentation was to remove the old trees along the property line and replace them with new, beautiful Leyland Cyprus (their words). Interestingly, there was concern not to damage a tree on Devonshire, but we can cut the root of 29 families since the seventies on up.
Before any more decisions are made for approvals on this project, a black and white contract (no gray) must be given to the planning board and Mr. Fred Pollack – the lawyer representing Academy Gardens residents – stating that the families would be able to return under the same size and rent control guidelines, as required by New York state laws, once the building is ready for occupancy.
Jean Pierce
Great Neck
