By Kathianne Boniello
Construction of a controversial new Korean church on an oddly shaped property in Little Neck has been stalled for more than a month as the city seeks changes in the developer’s plans, a Buildings Department spokesman said this week.
The stop-work order issued by the city Buildings Department at the construction site June 12 was still in effect this week because the architect for the new Eunhae Presbyterian Church, a Flushing congregation, had yet to address parking issues for the new facility, spokesman Paul Wein said.
The Eunhae Presbyterian Church has been on Farrington Street in Flushing for 10 years and sought out a new location because its lease is up at the end of 2001. Construction for the Little Neck building is being done by Eugene Chi, a contractor with the Whitestone-based Kang Suk Construction.
The architect for the project could not be reached for comment as of presstime Tuesday.
The Little Neck Pines Community Association was planning an Aug. 7 community meeting to discuss the church construction.
The property at 43-37 249th St. stretches behind stores and the Little Neck-Douglaston public library to Marathon Parkway and is in close to homes. The lot, which also takes in land facing Northern Boulevard, is split between a residential and commercial zone.
Wein said the Buildings Department met with the architect for the project on July 24.
“They have not resolved the parking lot issue yet,” Wein said Monday. “When they do, the stop order will be lifted.”
The planned church — which includes a three-story, 20,000-square- foot facility with a total occupancy of about 1,200 people — raised community concerns because of the height of the building and the allocation of only 32 spaces for parking in the construction plans.
The parking issue was not the only aspect of the project under inspection by the Buildings Department, Wein said.
The architect for the project, Wallace Kubec of Diffendale & Kubec Architects on Staten Island, said in a telephone interview last month the plans were altered to shift a proposed 12-foot spire 18 feet to the south, putting it closer to the commercially zoned Northern Boulevard.
Kubec said he agreed to change the plans during a July 3 meeting with the Buildings Department.
In letters to the Buildings Department, Community Board 11 Chairman Bernard Haber questioned the spire, which would raise the height of the new church to 62.5 feet, saying it was the equivalent of a seven-story building.
The community meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Little Neck at 46-16 Little Neck Parkway.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
