113 Residents Attended the Town Hall to Help Develop a Blueprint for the Future of Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue
November 16, 2023
Astoria – On Thursday, November 16, Council Member Julie Won and representatives from Hester Street kicked off the comprehensive community planning process for the Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue Study, the Heart of the District, at Legal Outreach. 113 residents attended the town hall and received a presentation with live interpretation in Spanish, Bangla, Tibetan, and Nepali, along with translated materials in the five languages. Attendees were grouped at tables to participate in a mapping activity, which allowed them to share their vision for crucial infrastructure investments along these two central corridors and develop a blueprint for the neighborhoods’ collective future. Feedback was collected in four key areas:
- Affordable Housing and Development
- Street Safety and Transportation
- Environment and Resilience
- Community, Commercial, and Industrial Uses
The study area encompasses multiple neighborhoods of Astoria, Sunnyside, and Woodside. The study area will focus on Roosevelt Avenue between Queens Boulevard and the BQE on one side and along Northern Boulevard between Queens Boulevard and the BQE on the other (see map included below).
The next steps in this community-driven planning process include opportunities for the public to participate in surveys, focus groups, public workshops, and future town halls. Sign up for Council Member Won’s email newsletter to receive updates on other upcoming planning meetings: https://bit.ly/d26signup.
“Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue are home to vibrant, multicultural communities that lack access to affordable housing, crucial infrastructure to prevent flooding in our small businesses, and safe streets for residents. Our comprehensive community planning process for this study area will ensure that we are engaging all of the communities, including our Himalayan, Bengali, Filipino, Latin American, and Central American neighbors, to develop a community-driven vision for our neighborhoods,” said Council Member Julie Won. “For the next eight months, we look forward to working with Hester Street and residents to grow and improve the neighborhoods we love with better opportunities for infrastructure transportation, jobs, and housing.”
“Hester Street was thrilled to host the first public town hall on November 16 for the Heart of the District, a community-driven, comprehensive planning process for the Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard corridors. Looking ahead, residents can get involved in focus groups, future town halls, and a forthcoming survey to identify needs and opportunities along these two vibrant corridors. We’re excited to hear more from residents about what will help this community continue to thrive,” said Eva Neubauer Alligood, Executive Director, Hester Street.
“We have the opportunity to prioritize the pulse of our community. This event signifies a crucial step towards shaping the future of our neighborhoods. By embracing a community-led approach, Council Member Julie Won is spearheading a much needed approach to truly represent collective effort, one that is created and led by the community. This town hall is not just an event; it’s an opportunity for residents to actively participate in shaping our collective destiny. From affordable housing and development to street safety, transportation, environmental resilience, and fostering community, commercial, and industrial vitality, every voice matters. Together, we will craft a blueprint that reflects the unique needs and aspirations of our diverse community, ensuring a future that thrives on the strength of our shared vision,” said William Jourdain, Executive Director, Woodside on the Move.
“Meaningful community engagement — not developer and real estate agendas — should be at the heart of planning for our city. For too long, the needs for deeply affordable housing, critical infrastructure improvements, small business and industrial space, public green space, and care for our most vulnerable immigrant and lower income neighbors have been neglected. It’s time to take back our City from big real estate and put the power in the people’s hands,” said Evie Hantzopoulos, Advocate, Astoria Not for Sale.
“This process presents a tremendous opportunity to transform car-centric planning into walkable, bikeable, and transit-oriented community spaces that meet the needs of our community. We look forward to working with Council Member Won and neighbors to create neighborhoods that work for all of us,” said Laura Shepard, Queens Organizer for Transportation Alternatives.
“The crisis of affordable housing in Queens persistently and directly endangers our Malikah communities of immigrants, the economically disadvantaged, and the working class. With the escalating cost of living, an increasing number of families in our area face growing hardships. It’s imperative that we act swiftly to construct additional affordable housing and safeguard our district’s tenants. Initiating a thorough community planning process in District 26 is an essential and critical initial step. I am thankful that this process prioritizes the perspectives of those most affected by the housing affordability crisis in Astoria, Woodside, and Sunnyside, ensuring that our communities are not further displaced,” said Rana Abdelhamid, ED and Organizer in Astoria, Malikah.