Blaz-touted plan becomes Qns. eyesore
Officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed they were investigating complaints at the site at 8-01 26th Ave. in Astoria.
Ortiz and neighbors are also convinced hazardous materials are among the muck.
“They’re not following the right safety steps — and we’re all breathing this in,” Ortiz said. “We’ve got seniors here and kids playing all around — not to mention the dangers to the workers.” The state wants answers. “(We are) investigating the use of 8-01 26th Ave., Astoria, Queens, for the illegal dumping of hazardous substances and solid waste. The investigation is ongoing,” said Erica Ringewald, a spokeswoman for Environmental Conservation.
Alma Realty, principal investor of 2030 Astoria Developers, the company intending to build on the site, denied any illegal activity had occurred.
“Allegations concerning unauthorized waste handling are completely untrue,” 2030 Astoria Developers said in a statement.
Under state environmental law, anyone found guilty of dumping hazardous waste can face criminal charges and a fine of $37,500 for each day of violation and civil penalties up to $22,500.
Three years ago, the nowblighted lot was going to be the next hot waterfront development — Astoria Cove.
Renderings of the unrealized project include a tree-lined esplanade along the water. Gleaming condos look across the East River — offering wide-open views of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and the Upper East Side.
The plan was for 1,700 units in five mixed-use buildings each of them six to 32 stories high.
To be built in phases over 10 years, the project also envisioned a school and commercial spaces.
Mayor de Blasio praised it during his 2015 State of the City address — claiming its affordable housing component was a victory for his administration.
But instead of the promised housing, and jobs and community benefits, Astoria Cove brought chaos and frustration, local residents say.
Alma Realty owner Efstathios (Steve) Valiotis — who landed at No. 3 in Public Advocate Letitia James’ list of worst landlords in 2016 — pledged to use union workers for all phases of cleanup and construction at the site, according to Build Up NYC, an umbrella group of various labor organizations.
Community Board 1 actually voted against Astoria Cove in June 2014. But after the developers agreed to increase the percentage of affordable housing to above 27% — 465 units — and let locals have first crack at jobs, the project got through.
Right out of the gate, Valiotis went back on his word, said Mike Halpin, a steering committee member of Build Up NYC.
Instead of hiring union workers to do environmental cleanup at the site, he brought in a “lowroad” company called Tristate Cleaning Solutions, Halpin said.
“We’re very disappointed that the developer breached his agreement to use responsible contractors,” said Halpin. “His own environmental impact study found hazardous substances on the site and the contractor he used has no record of participating in any state-approved training on best hazardous practices.” Another snag followed. The state’s 421-a tax abatement program — which gave subsidies to developers including affordable housing in their projects — expired in the summer of 2016. Without the tax break the project was completely stalled, Astoria Cove principals maintained.
Since 2016, no meaningful work has been done on the massive waterfront construction site — but there’s a constant flow of material on and off the property, Ortiz and other concerned resi-