Residents List Udalls Cove Acquisition, Streetscape Project as Budget Priorities

Northeast Queens residents called for remaining parcels of Udalls Cove to be purchased by the city, a Bell Boulevard streetscape project to be completed and an upgrade to Bayside Hills’ malls as part of Community Board 11’s annual call for capital and expense budget items.

At the board’s meeting Monday night, attendees were able to voice their opinions on which local projects and upgrades should be included in the city’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget.

Walter Mugdan, president of the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee, asked the board to prioritize the acquisition of the remaining lots at the park that had not yet been purchased by the city.

“There are a few parcels that haven’t been acquired in the ravine area,” he said. “The owner of five parcels in the ravine is interested in selling those parcels. We want to prevent the park from being severed in the middle.”

Jay Koellner, of the Bayside Hills Civic Association, called on the board for upgrades to malls throughout this neighborhood that the civic presently maintains.

“There are 28 malls that we take care of every week,” he said. “The Parks Department rarely spends time there, except to take out a dead tree after we’ve made a number of complaints. We’ve also been beautifying the malls and want to continue to do so. But we don’t have the money. I’d like to see planters on every single mall and money to maintain them.”

And Lyle Sclair, executive director of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District, said he hoped the board would prioritize an incomplete streetscape project for Bell Boulevard.

“Hopefully, sometime soon we’ll start the beautification of the sidewalk,” he said. “The whole project should cost somewhere between $6 million and $8 million. The second phase of the project will give Bayside a much more village feel and include new trees and sidewalks.”

Sclair also proposed the creation of a parking garage for Bell Boulevard shoppers.

And Queens Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik presented citations of honor to several board members for their service to the board.

Joseph Solano was presented with a citation for having served 30 years.

“That’s 300 meetings and your pay has not increased since you’ve been hired,” Grodenchik said.

Gordon Keit and Frank Skala were honored for having served 10 years.

“I’m pleased to serve on the board,” Skala said. “I’ve not missed a single meeting, though some of you wish I would have.”