By Sarina Trangle
The city is pushing ahead with plans to transform a vacant Glendale manufacturing plant into a homeless shelter despite objections from the community.
The mayor’s Office on Contract Services scheduled a public hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss Samaritan Village’s bid to run a 125-family shelter at 78-16 Cooper Ave.
Samaritan Village, a health and human services organization based in Briarwood, seeks to secure a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the city Department of Homeless Services to operate the transitional housing facility.
Glendale and its elected officials have argued that 78-16 Cooper Ave. would be a poor location for the shelter because of its distance from subway lines. They have also expressed concern that the city would have to pay exorbitant amounts to remediate the property, which once housed a sewing mill and airplane part manufacturing plant.
The Homeless Services and Samaritan Village have said the neighborhood does not have a shelter and more facilities are needed in Queens as families struggle to find affordable housing and battle foreclosures.
If approved, the contract would begin July 1.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
