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Queens Chronicle,
Thursday, July 19, 2001 |
A new brochure published by the Queens Tourist Council announces that the Austin Street-Continental Avenue business strip of Forest Hills is "the next best thing to Manhattan." With three new retail stores opening within the next three months, business is booming. And with the garden ambience of Station Square slated to extend of Station Square slated to extend down Continental Avenue to Queens Boulevard in a capital project now being designed, the Forest Hills commercial district will become more of a showplace than ever before. "Austin Street is very hot property," said Leslie Brown, president of the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce. Following the March opening of the largest Gap store in Queens, the Banana Republic outlet is in the process of opening at its expanded new quarters. September will see the grand opening of a new Staples office supply store at 107-16 Continental Avenue. It will be above the Duane Reade flagship drugstore. Developer Heskel Elias said both elevators and escalators are being constructed for shoppers' convenience. The Disney Store has closed, but the building won't be vacant for long. Renovation will begin in the next tow weeks to get the site ready for the Anne Taylor Loft, which is scheduled for an October opening. "The Disney Store was nice and we're sorry to see it go," said Elias, whose development group owns many buildings in the commercial area. "But we're looking forward to bringing a fine fashion retail outlet to Forest Hills." Not all empty commercial space has been as easy to fill. The former site of the Fondue Pot restaurant in Station Square has remained vacant for two years. The area will be further enhanced when the new "streetscape" project gets underway on Continental Avenue. Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz said that $860,000 of her allocated funds are in place to "bring the Forest Hills Gardens onto Continental Avenue" The capital project, which is still in the design states, will include new walkways, plantings and occasional park benches along the avenue to Queens Boulevard, Koslowitz said. Angela Duff, president of the Friends of Station Square, hopes the "streetscape" project ill get underway sometime this fall. "It will be very lovely," she said. "Continental Avenue will be harmonious with the beautiful Station Square." Duff said the new sidewalks will have a pebble finish that is very durable and practical. She said it won't show the direct as much as ordinary cement walks. The heavily traveled sidewalks all along Austin Street are spotted and marred with stains and dirty blotches. They're caused by gum, Duff said. "Austin Street is cleaner now than it ever was, Brown said. "We have two street cleaners seven days a week, sanitation pickup twice a week and Doe Fund cleaning crews every day." The "streetscape" project may also include granite curbs and new light fixtures that will reflect the style of those in Station Square. Duff said traffic patterns will not be changed. The "streetscape" project may also include granite curbs and new light fixtures that will reflect the style of those in Station Square. Duff said traffic patterns will not be changed. Barbara McGregor, former president of the Friends of Station Square, said the "streetscape" project, which has been planned for several years, will reinforce the uniqueness of Forest Hills. "As soon as people get out of the train station, they will know that they've arrived in a special place," she said. Brown said that "Forest Hills: the heart and soul of Queens" is the slogan on the Chamber of Commerce's new brochure. The chamber's new web site, www.foresthillschamber.org invites browsers to plan shopping tips to the area. Parking is still at a premium and traffic moves at a snail's pace along Austin Street. However, both Brown and Duff believe that parking is easier since the muni-meter system has been in effect. Brown said that Allied Austin Parking next to Barnes and Noble offers two-hour parking for $2.00 if you hop at a business affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce. She also believes that the new parking spaces added to the Queens Boulevard service road make it easier to find a spot in the shopping and dining district of Forest Hills. The Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit group, hopes to establish more arts-orientated events in the future. Brown said the arts and crafts fair held in April was such a success that the organization is planning future arts presentations. Austin Street's annual fall street fair, according to Brown, the largest in the city, will be held September 3rd. It is expected to bring 100,000 shoppers to the area. Vendors as well as 100 Chamber of Commerce merchants will participate.
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