Times Ledger

Developer withdraws from 82nd Street rezoning

July 20, 2018 | by Mark Hallum

Activists were celebrating a victory over developers following the announcement Sun Equity would withdraw its rezoning application for a 13-story partial affordable housing structure in Elmhurst with Target on the ground level.

Democratic State Assembly candidate Catalina Cruz has long opposed the project because of the supposed danger it poses to patients at Elmhurst Hospital.

“As proposed, the new construction would have endangered the lives of the people in our community by blocking ambulances from getting to Elmhurst Hospital, jeopardized small businesses, and potentially raised the rent on tenants in the surrounding area,” Cruz said. “Our community remains in dire need of affordable housing, but it should never come at the expense of our safety. The developer now has the responsibility of engaging the community moving forward. We must ensure that the voices of our neighbors and small business owners are heard.”

Cruz is in the running against Assemblywoman Ari Espinal (D-Jackson Heights), who only won her seat in the Legislature in April.

source: https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2018/29/82strezoning_2018_07_20_q.html