By John Tozzi
The Parks Department wants to seize the lot through eminent domain and incorporate it into the rest of Udalls Cove Park, according to an agency spokeswoman. The land is situated on the east side of Udalls Cove Ravine behind houses that face 247th Street. Owner Joseph Atarian, of the Queens Village-based Atari Realty, opposed the city at a condemnation hearing Feb. 8 and said he plans to build three two-family homes and one single-family home on the lot, but he has not gotten permits yet.”I'm totally against the idea that they want to take that property away,” Atarian said.But neighbors, elected officials and Community Board 11 have long supported expanding Udalls Cove Park. The cove is an inlet from Little Neck Bay between the Douglaston peninsula and the eastern edge of Queens. Udalls Cove Ravine is the steep southern portion of woods that separates Douglaston and Little Neck. Walter Mugdan, president of the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee, said the city owns about 45 percent of the 14-acre ravine. But once the Parks Department completes this and several other acquisitions that are in progress, nearly 80 percent of the ravine will be parkland.”The protection of the ravine has been one of our highest priorities for an incredibly long time,” he said. “Whenever we see the city taking these steps to make that a reality and finish up that as yet uncompleted task, we're very, very pleased.”The plan has the support of state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), who spoke at the condemnation hearing, and Community Board 11. The city began acquiring parts of Udalls Cove for parkland in the early 1970s, Mugdan said, after it abandoned plans to build roads through the area. In the 1980s, the city agreed to acquire the ravine as well, he said. The lot in question was identified by the Parks Department for acquisition in 1982 and there is money in the budget to acquire it, Parks spokeswoman Abigail Lootens said. The Parks Department has bought some of the lots on the open market, but if owners do not accept offering prices, the city condemns the land. Atarian said he rejected an offer by the city. Now, the case must be assigned to a court, where a judge will determine a fair compensation to Atarian for the land.Reach reporter John Tozzi by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 174.
