City says condo violated agreement by keeping bikers off public path

The Department of Buildings said Shore Towers Condominium violated its agreement with the city by posting a sign limiting use of a publicly owned but privately maintained greenway in Astoria.  Eagle photo by Jacob Kaye

By Jacob Kaye

Owners of a condominium in Astoria were found to be in violation of their agreement with the city after they posted a sign limiting bicycle access on a public greenway behind their building. 

Shore Towers Condominium, located on the south end of Astoria Park, was issued a zoning violation by the New York City Department of Buildings for hanging a sign on a fence that said bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and scooters were not allowed on a public waterfront greenway. 

The building’s Certificate of Occupancy – a document issued by the city’s Department of Buildings that outlines a building’s legal use – states that Shore Towers, which privately maintains the public space, is required to “provide access to [the] pedestrian and bicycle path to residents and non-residents.” 

Following the Eagle’s reporting on the sign, the Department of Building sent inspectors to the building at 25-40 Shore Blvd., and agreed with what a group of cyclists called QNS Ride has been saying for years – the condominium can’t lock bikers out. 

“I'm glad that the city has finally confirmed what we have been complaining about,” said Eric Harold, the founder of QNS Ride. “I hope that Shore Towers takes this as an opportunity to see their waterfront property not as a burden but as an opportunity to help beautify the Queens waterfront and to look at it as an asset to both their shareholders, their condominium owners and the community at large.”

The sign in question is no longer on the fences in front of the greenway. 

Shore Towers Condominium could not be reached for comment. 

The block-long stretch of waterfront path is covered in gray concrete with several benches scattered throughout. While it has a nice view of the East River, little has been done to beautify the space, which is surrounded by tall black fencing. 

“It may not be a large space that they have, but it's still a space that's available,” Harold said. “It's an empty canvas right now.”

The group of cyclists also complained about the building’s indiscriminate practice of locking the gates. The cyclists say they understand if the gates are locked at night but complain that they sometimes aren’t opened back up in the morning. 

If the gates are locked, cyclists are forced to use streets lacking bike infrastructure and riddled with potholes when trying to connect with the rest of Astoria’s waterfront greenway.

During the DOB inspector’s visit to the greenway, the gates were open and no violation was issued, according to the agency spokesperson.

“Having this open and not having the sign allows cyclists to know that they are free to use this,” Harold said. “It does cut a few blocks off that are a bit more hazardous and allows for a shorter ride, a shorter commute and gives everyone access to the waterfront, which is rightfully ours.” 

Though short, the greenway also allows for a better connection to the rest of Astoria’s waterfront bike and pedestrian infrastructure, something bike advocates say the borough lacks. 

“In Queens, it always feels like we get second-rate infrastructure,” Juan Restrepo, the Queens organizer with Transportation Alternatives, told the Eagle in May. “A lot of the waterfront is built with the idea of preserving parking and forcing you to do little detours or just take a less safe path.”

A hearing will be scheduled at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings for the building’s zoning violation, according to the DOB. 

Additional reporting by Emily Lever.