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City orders halt in Glendale to new yeshiva construction

By Nathan Duke

Fink said work on the yeshiva, which is being built at 74-10 88th St., was ordered to come to a halt when the project's developers did not have approved plans at the site to show inspectors. The project, which began about two years ago, has already received four violations from the Department of Buildings since it began construction, according to the department's Web site. The department announced the stop-work order at Community Board 5's Jan. 11 meeting.Fink said the project was originally slated to be a religious school and hotel, but current plans are to only build the yeshiva at the site. She said the construction project has been a source of controversy in Glendale.”This has not been a popular project,” she said. “There has been a lot of concern among residents about the project.”According to the DOB's Web site, the project has received 44 complaints, including work being done before and after hours, excessive amounts of debris at the site and renovation to the building without the proper work permit.”We've always questioned the permit process for the site,” CB 5 Chairman Vincent Arcuri said. Fink said developers have approved plans for the project, but they were not able to produce them at the site to inspectors. She said they must return to the DOB with their plans before construction can resume.CB 5 met with the DOB at the community board's Jan. 11 meeting, where the announcement for the stop-work order was made.At the meeting, CB 5's Parks Committee also recommended proposals for the improvement of five sites on Myrtle Avenue, several of which are triangular intersections, CB5 District Manager Gary Giordano said. He said the proposed improvements are meant to refurbish Myrtle Avenue to benefit residents and businesses. He said the community board will vote on the project at its Feb. 8 meeting.The board also discussed the repairing the section of Eliot Avenue between Mount Olivet Crescent and eastern property lines for Mount Olivet and Lutheran-All Faiths cemeteries in Maspeth. Giordano said the roadway will be reconstructed and new sewer lines and water mains will be added. He also said the roadway will be widened and a wide sidewalk will be added along the thoroughfare to make the area safer for pedestrians.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by email at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.