Jackson Heights Life

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-survey-finds-38-decrease-in-new-yorkers-experiencing-homelessness/3066793/

I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard about this year's HOPE survey of homelessness in our city, which reported a 38% drop in numbers over last year. Obviously they did not come to Jackson Heights or Woodside where there are encampments underneath virtually every LIRR or BQE overpass.

Given that we are electing both a new mayor and city council members this year, how the candidates are going to address the issue of homelessness in our streets is one of my major concerns.

Has everyone seen these pop up all over the neighborhood? DOT has taken it upon themselves to place "loading zones" on many of our residential side streets, essentially removing two parking spaces on each side of a block between the hours of 7AM and 7PM weekdays. While there's been plenty of talk about the 34th Avenue "Open Street," there was no consultation with the community or local residents about this to my knowledge.

There is absolutely NO need for loading zones on a residential block where the fire hydrants essential serve that purpose. Where loading zones ARE needed is along commercial avenues where delivery trucks often create obstruction hazards, but my guess is that DOT doesn't want to lose the metered parking revenue along 37th Avenue or Northern Blvd.

Can anyone help me with this... especially any of the realtors who frequent this message board: I'd like to know how common flip taxes are in the Jackson Heights Historic District? Does anyone know which properties have a flip tax (also known as a transfer fee) imposed on unit sales?

I've heard 2-3% of the total sales price is a typical formula for Manhattan coops. Is it less in Queens?

Lonely Planet has named Queens the #1 U.S. destination in their 2015 travel guide. You can download the chapter on Queens for free until February 1st using the link below.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/north-america/travel-tips-and-articles/best-in-the-us-2015

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120504/POLITICS/120509933

(Let's hope once and for all this is the last our community ever hears of him.)

I'm VP of our coop board at the Greystones and we've started experiencing trouble with one of our circa-1917 dumbwaiters. The gentleman who has serviced our building for many, many years is getting too old for this type of work anymore and I was hoping that perhaps someone from one of the other landmark buildings in the area might know of a contractor/handyman familiar with this sort of project. I've looked online and can only find companies that service modern dumbwaiters (which are essentially small, electrically-powered commercial elevators and not the old-fashioned rope-and-pulley systems we still have).

Any leads would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I just want to alert local residents that I am aware of three attempted break-ins at the Greystones in the past few weeks. In one case, the culprit (or culprits) was unsuccessful in getting past the security gate on the window, but in the latter two cases they did manage to get into the apartments. As I understand it, all three occurred during the daytime while the residents were at work, all were top-floor apartments, and it is presumed the burglar(s) came down from the roof via the fire escape. Reports were filed with our local precinct and in the hope of preventing future burglaries in the neighborhood I thought I would post this warning.

Keep an eye out for suspicious activity, remember to lock any windows facing the fire escape before you leave your apartment, and if you have security gates on those windows, use them.