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32nd Ave., Linden Place get $19M from D.C.

By Stephen Stirling

Elected officials announced Monday that Community Board 7 received more than $19 million in federal stimulus money that will go to completing two long−awaited road projects and provide a boost to a Flushing medical center.

The funding is part of the $261 million the city received for infrastructure projects in President Barack Obama’s massive $775 billion stimulus package passed by Congress earlier this year.

“This is certainly good news for the city to jump−start and accelerate projects already in the pipeline,” City Councilman John Liu (D−Flushing) said. “Hopefully, this will also bring back other projects that have been canceled or deferred indefinitely.”

The bulk of the funding CB 7 will receive will be put toward two city Department of Transportation projects.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said $12 million will be used for reconstructing a large swath of College Point Boulevard and 32nd Avenue in Flushing. The funding will mean that 32nd Avenue, from College Point Boulevard to Linden Place, and College Point Boulevard, from Fowler Avenue to the Whitestone Expressway, can be completely resurfaced and brought up to commercial loading standards.

“If they rebuild College Point Boulevard, that will be really terrific,” said CB 7 Vice Chairman Chuck Apelian.

Additionally, $7 million will be applied toward completing the extension of Linden Place in the College Point Corporate Park, a project that is already underway and has been pushed by CB 7 members.

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D−Bayside) also said the Charles Wang Community Health Center at 136−26 37th Ave. will receive $474,976 to add new providers, expand hours of operation and extend services.

“All of these vital funds will go a long way towards upgrading our infrastructure, creating jobs to providing critical health care services,” said Ackerman. “I am extremely pleased that our district is reaping the benefits of the stimulus package so our city can move forward during these challenging economic times.”

Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e−mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 138.