An unsightly eyesore in Howard Beach behind the Cross Bay Boulevard Starbucks is no longer in disarray. Photo by Phil Corso
A Howard Beach eyesore received a much-needed pick-me-up this week after the once littered site was thrown into the spotlight.
The vacant corner of the parking lot behind Starbucks on Cross Bay Boulevard was in shambles one week ago. Litter, old clothing and fast food drink containers were magnets to masses of flies and other unwanted pests around an unmarked green bin.
But one week later, after pressure from an elected official and a cover story in The Forum, the owners of the property have stepped up the cleanup efforts. Another pile of debris just on the other side of the bin’s bordering green fence was also cleaned up, making the open lot between Starbucks and CVS a bit more slightly.
State Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) publicly denounced the eyesore in a statement last week, calling on the owners of the vacant lot on Cross Bay Boulevard to eradicate the situation promptly. He released photos of the piles of garbage and said the summertime was no time for such conditions.
“Our families deserve to live in a community where they can comfortably enjoy the summer weather outdoors without being surrounded by unsightly garbage,” he said at the time.
The property under the microscope used to be rented by “The Sausage King,” Goldfeder said, but has since been listed for sale by Howard Beach Realty. Goldfeder said he penned a letter to the realtors last week in regards to the eyesore and urged them to take whatever steps necessary to prevent anymore dumping there.
The realty company then relayed the message over to the owners of the property, who sprung into action. This week, the assemblyman said he was glad to see the problem taken care of.
“We spoke with the owners of the property, who said they were going to address it immediately,” Goldfeder said. “It’s a victory. I’ll take them when we can get them.”
In a statement Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association President Joann Ariola said her group has made it a priority to keep a close watch on the local streets in the community. The civic commended Goldfeder last week for his efforts in stepping up to plate in the summer months.
“The Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic has made a commitment to cleaning up local eyesores,” she said in a statement when the littered spot was thrown into the public eye. “We appreciate Assemblyman Goldfeder for being a true partner and tackling the more offense quality-of-life issues that face our community every day.”
The Forum received a letter from one reader, identified only as HBrown, reacting to the Howard Beach eyesore last week. In that letter, the writer called out yet another unsightly spot in the community, zeroing in on the northbound side of the A train on 159th Avenue.
“What must tourists think when they see all those ugly planks of wood plastics and other debris that have been in the marsh area since Sandy washed them up?” the letter read. “How about getting the elected officials to go after the agency responsible for this property and make it presentable once again?”
By Phil Corso
