KGCA Battles to Preserve the Heart of Kew Gardens
KGCA and the Kew Gardens Improvement Association (KGIA) have been fighting with the MTA to preserve the bridge stores for over 30 years:
- Meeting with elected officials and MTS
- Organizing online petitions with over 6,000 signers
Stores on Lefferts Blvd are owned by the MTA and operated by a master leaseholder responsible for maintenance and leasing the stores.
Senator Comrie and Assemblyman Rosenthal introduced legislation to preserve the bridge and protect storeowners. Legislation passed and is awaiting Governor Cuomo’s signature.
In 2020, the MTA Issued a New Request for Proposal for a Master Leaseholder
The MTA issued a new RFP for master leaseholder in October 2020 stipulating:
- Stores will be delivered vacant
- Leaseholder must repair bridge structure and stores
KGCA approached Mutual Association of NY (MHANY) to consider forming a team. MHANY is a not-for-profit affordable housing and mixed-use developer with over 35 years experience. MHANY’s team includes architects, engineers, project managers, and community organizations (KGCA, KGIA, and KGCRA).
An Innovative Proposal
MHANY team responded with an innovative concept:
- Storeowners can remain
- Rents to cover expenses to keep them affordable
- Board will consist of MHANY, community organizations and storeowners
- Preserve historic nature of structures
- Focus on mom-and-pop stores not chains
Cost of improvements will be around $16MM.