Lowe’s representatives have finally agreed to meet face-to-face with Mill Basin residents.
At next week’s Mill Basin Civic Association meeting, the general manager of the new Lowe’s store adjacent to Kings Plaza and the building’s architects will offer details about the project and finally address residents’ concerns.
“People need to come out to this meeting. This is the one and only meeting where they can see the plan before the store opens,” said Paul Curiale, president of the Mill Basin Civic Association, which will meet on February 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Hall, located on East 56th Street off Avenue N.
Civic members have complained that Lowe’s ignored repeated calls and written letters requesting that a rep meet with residents to answer their questions about the new store.
Recently, Curiale was invited to tour the site of the new store, which he said is now expected to open this summer. He is pleased that the initial three-building plan was downgraded to just one Lowe’s store.
“They downsized the project immensely,” he said.
However, Curiale remains concerned about how the new store will impact the community.
He fears that traffic on Avenue U will increase and many Kings Plaza customers will leave their cars in Lowe’s free parking lot instead of paying $3 for the mall’s lot.
But the biggest concern stems from the new green space, which Lowe’s is creating to allow the public access to the water, a legal requirement.
“Benches mean that there’s going to be public loitering. I really want the community to come out and raise their concerns at the [civic] meeting,” Curiale said.
Lowe’s did not respond for comment for this story.
To remain updated about the meeting, contact the Mill Basin Civic at 718-968-2777 or e-mail at millbasincivic@aol.com.
