City Negotiations Stalling Over Woodside Triangle Park

Woodside Triangle Park. Property owner Vinny Oppedisano wants to put up a building on the site - located at the intersection of 59th and 60th streets and 34th Ave. - which the community has used as a park for decades. The City has been unable to agree on a price with the property's owner. Council member Jimmy Van Bramer has not ruled out using eminent domain to accuire the land.

Queens

Jimmy Van Bramer has not given up on his plan to purchase a piece of Woodside land and convert it into a neighborhood park, according to The Sunnyside Post.

The city Parks Department, at the request of Van Bramer, has been trying to buy the property from its owner Vinny Oppedisano for the past year without success. The property, known as the Woodside Triangle, is located at the intersection of 59^th and 60^th streets and 34^th Ave., and had been used as a de facto park by nearby residents for decades. However, Oppedisano cleared the site last year for construction purposes.

Woodside residents Tom Ryan (l.), his daughter Victoria, her friend Lorraine Schucke and Marion Molno (r.) held a photo of disputed land last July. The property, 34th Ave. and 59th and 60th Sts - has been the subject of a 10-year struggle between neighborhood residents who want it turned into a public park and the landowner who has plans to build there. City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer had secured funds to purchase of Triangle Park. (Photo: Keh for News)

Earlier this month, it was reported that the city’s Parks Department had finally abandoned negotiating with him as the parties couldn’t agree on a price.

However, on Thursday, Van Bramer said he plans to bring the Parks Department and Oppedisano to the bargaining table one last time to see if something can be hammered out. “If it doesn’t come together, we will pursue all options.”

In a February interview, Van Bramer said that his office has had some preliminary discussions about getting the property via eminent domain and it is something he will continue to look into.

Last July, Van Bramer secured $350,000, which he said would be used to buy the site. However, the land was appraised at $140,000. The city offered Oppedisano $140,000, but he rejected it and ongoing negotiations have not produced results.

The City Parks department abandoned negotiations with Oppedisano, the Queens Chronicle recently reported, after he insisted on receiving the full $350,000.

“The owner is difficult to deal with and he is trying to make a huge profit and it is not right,” Joe Conley, chairman of Community Board 2, said earlier this month.

The following video was run by Fox News last June.

Read More:

Last ditch effort for Woodside Triangle Park

Sunnyside Post - May 30, 2011

Woodside's Triangle Park A Step Closer to Reality

A Walk In The Park - July 7, 2010

Jackson Heights Community Hopes To Extend Travers Park

City Councilman Daniel Dromm wants city to purchase yard from a cash-strapped private school to expand Travers Park. Dromm secured $4 million in Council funds to buy the property and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall is ready to kick in an additional $1 million. (Photo: DelMundo for NY Daily News)

Queens

A growing community in western Queens could get the additional park land that local families and advocates have long been fighting for - if the city acts fast.

The city is looking into purchasing the yard of a Jackson Heights private school that just happens to sit across the street from Travers Park, according to the New York Daily News.

But officials are worried the city won't be able to come up with the $5.25 million needed to secure the Garden School's 20,000-square-foot property before a developer snatches up the prime real estate.

"This is an ideal location and it would be a dream come true for the community if we could make this happen," said City Councilman Daniel Dromm. "Jackson Heights is in desperate need of additional park space."

The Jackson Heights Democrat has championed the fight for more open space in the neighborhood, which has one of the lowest acreages of green space per capita, according to the Parks Department.

Dromm secured $4 million in Council funds to buy the property. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall is ready to kick in an additional $1 million.

The price of the property is still under negotiation, said Mark Daly, a spokesman for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Even once that's settled, it could take up to two more years to go through the steps to acquire the property, he said.

Read More:

Long fight may pay off as city's urged to get lot for green space in Jackson Heights

New York Daily News - November 28th 2010 - By Clare Trapasso

City Councilman Daniel Dromm champions park space in Jackson Heights

New York Daily News -April 16, 2010 - By Clare Trapasso

Jackson Heights activists rip $1.7M plan to fix up Travers park

New York Daily News - September 24, 2010 - By Clare Trapasso