Padavan and Concerned Residents of Jamaica Estates To Host Community Meeting on Feb. 28th

 New York State Senator Frank Padavan (Queens) and the Concerned Residents of Jamaica Estates announced today that they will be hosting an important community meeting to discuss the recent developments surrounding the on-going building by St. John’s  University of a six-story, 485 student off-campus dorm on Henley Road.

 The meeting will take place at the Abigail Adams Elementary School, PS 131 located at 172nd Street and 84th Avenue in Jamaica Estates at 7:15 pm on Thursday February 28th.

 “Despite overwhelmingly strong opposition and a host of unanswered questions and serious concerns surrounding the building of an off-campus dorm in our community, St. John’s continues to move forward with their plans,” Padavan said. “The Jamaica Estates community is outraged at St. John’s and their developer’s constant lack of care and concern for our neighborhood. This meeting is an important opportunity for the entire community to join together once again and voice our opposition to this off-campus dorm.”

 Among the important issues to be discussed at the community meeting are:  
 
• Overtaxed water, sewer and electrical usage
• Traffic congestion and parking issues from 500 additional cars 
• Safety and security of local residents and St. John’s students

Since the off-campus dorm first became public back in September of last year, Senator Padavan has
been at the forefront as the leading voice of opposition. Padavan has led numerous protests near the St. John’s campus and hosted a community meeting on December 11, 2007 during which hundreds of residents stressed their strong opposition to the dorm.

 “St. John’s action by placing this dorm in our community is a direct threat to our quality of life and property values,” Padavan said. “I urge everyone in the Jamaica Estates community to attend this important meeting on February 28th and stand up for the future of the community we love.”