‘Court’ing disaster before Qns.-garage teardown

A fourstory municipal garage in Kew Gardens near Queens Supreme Court, used by judges, court officers, jurors and the public, is in such disrepair that it will be closed on Oct. 1 — yet the city is keeping it open until then, The Post has learned.

Experts alerted the De partment of Transportation months ago that immediate structural attention was required at the garage, where there are still about 250 spaces for which the city has no alternative.

“The already deteriorated conditions . . . have become significantly worse,” according to an NYC Depart ment of Design and Construction report. “All these conditions are structural in nature, affect safety and require immediate attention.”

In a letter to DOT in June, DDC also warned that “allowing public use of many areas of the garage exposes the city to claims of damages to property and/or injury.”

The lack of alternative parking “will create major chaos in the courthouse,” said Dennis Quirk, president of the New York State Court Officers Association.

“The city and DOT should be embarrassed for letting the garage get to this point. They let it get to the point where whoever uses it puts their lives in jeopardy.”

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown and Borough President Melinda Katz sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio seeking help, saying adequate parking is needed for the court community and the neighborhood. Larry Celona

and Rebecca Harshbarger