A years-long dispute over a small plot of land at the intersection of three Woodside streets may come to an end with a $350,000 boost from the city, according to the New York Daily News.
The land - dubbed Woodside Triangle Park by locals - has been the subject of a 10-year tug of war between neighborhood residents who want it to remain green space and the landowner who has plans to build there.
Now, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer has secured $350,000, which he hopes will be enough to purchase the land at the junction of 34th Ave. and 59th and 60th Sts. and turn it into a city park.
"We have very little open space, so when the threat of developing came in, we were against it," said Tom Ryan, one of several neighborhood residents who have been lobbying for park space.
Vinny Oppedisano, owner of Sano Construction Corp., bought the land in 2000 and said he has been willing to sell it to the city ever since.
"I told them, 'Show me the money and I'll leave and you can have the property,'" he said, adding that the price tag has gotten higher as he has invested more money in the land. "I've been waiting 10 years."
The plot was left open to the public until recently, when Oppedisano gathered all the necessary city permits and began construction of an 11,000-square-foot, two-story house.
A fence was then erected around the triangle and its trees were cut down.
"They were such beautiful trees," said resident Marion Molno. "That just broke our hearts."
But when the bulldozer started digging, the community came out in full force.
"We need more green, not another house," said resident Daniel Kim, 80, who lives directly across the street from the land.
At a June 15 rally, Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and Oppedisano came to an agreement - the landowner would halt construction and give the councilman a few weeks to come up with the money.
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Triangle squared away? Woodside land dispute may finally be solved
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