Mel Siegel President Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Association P.O.

BOX 580031 Flushing, NY 11358-0031

December 22, 2011

Dear Mr. Siegel, Thank you for your letter regarding your concern about a story that ran on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 on Fox 5 News. As my Chief of Staff James McClelland explained to you over the phone, the reporter Ashley Mastronardi did not inform our office that the story was about the landmark historic district status being fought for by the Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Association (BFHA). The story was presented to my office as a general approach to preservation and development and no mention was made of the BFHAs participation. Although the BFHA is not in my district, I continue to offer my assistance to my colleagues Senator Tony Avella, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Councilman Dan Halloran to help achieve landmark historic district status for your area. Additionally, I applaud and support the Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Associations herculean efforts to protect your neighborhood from development and preserve the esthetic beauty of the Broadway-Flushing community. As you are aware, I voted twice as a Community Board 7 member to support the creation of a Broadway-Flushing New York City Historic District. As a Councilman from Queens, I understand the importance of protecting our residential neighborhoods and was proud to be an ardent supporter for the approved Auburndale down-zoning to protect one and two family homes. As you are aware, the statements that were reported were a small portion of a much larger conversation and therefore I share your frustration with the televised story. My Chief of Staff did make the comments .its tough to legislate good taste or what you think is good taste and they bought the house, they paid the mortgage and unless its, you know, mandated by some kind of city code, they should be able to do what they want. However, they did not include his other in-depth statements about balancing development with the preservation of residential neighbors in the borough of Queens. Mr. McClelland never said he was against turning the neighborhood into a historical district because development is inevitable and good for the community. More importantly, no comments were made regarding the Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Associations desire to have their neighborhood designated as a historic district. As Queens residents, we know firsthand that our borough does not get equal consideration from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. There are over one hundred historic districts in New York City and only a fraction is here in Queens. I am proud that here in Flushing we have historical treasures such

as the Bowne House, Flushing Town Hall and the Quaker House. As an elected official representing neighborhoods in Queens, I continue to pledge my support to work with homeowners associations, preservation groups, historians and proud residents to ensure that we protect our neighborhoods and rich history. Working together I am confident that we can develop appropriate areas for economic growth while saving our tranquil residential neighborhoods from being destroyed.

Sincerely,

Peter Koo Councilman 20th District