Forest
Hills Ledger, July 8, 1999 |
| The state Senate has passed in resolution honoring Forest Hills developer Heskel Elias for his work in making the Austin Street area "celebrated for its significant commercial and retail development." Elias, chief executive officer of Heskel group, received the award from state Sen. Dan Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) at an open house June 30 in Hevesi's newly renovated 13th senatorial district office. The resolution said such honors are reserved for "individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled." "Yeheskel (Heskel) Elias has given not only of his time and energies but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special recognition and honor." said the resolution, which was passed earlier by the Senate in Albany. Emanuel Gold, the former state senator from the district, and State Comptroller Alan Hevesi referred to Elias as "the person responsible for the development of Austin Street." In a time when people say malls are the Main Streets of America," Gold said, "Elias made our streets like Austin an Ascan still the places to go. "They are our Main Streets." Alan Hevesi, who his son Dan introduced as "the next mayor of New York City," also attributed the commercial development of Austin Street to Elias, a former fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force before he came to the United States in 1971. "Heskel Elias is the one who is solely responsible for Austin Street and extending it," Alan Hevesi said. "He opened the businesses and restaurants and movie theaters." Elias also hopes to convert the Bayside Movie Theater on Bell Boulevard into a modern multiplex and shopping center filled with national retail outlets such as The Gap and Banana Republic. Dan Hevesi said Elias, who attended Queens College and worked at a movie theater he would later purchase, has not only developed Austin Street but has also been a good friend to the entire borough. "He gave me my first job." Dan Hevesi said. "It was tearing tickets at the movie theater across the street. He has also brought staple stores here like the Disney Store, which will attract other strong businesses. "There is no greater friend to my office, my family, the Forest Hills community, the Queens community and all of us." Elias, who said he was unprepared to make a speech, could do nothing but praise Dan Hevesi and the job he is doing and will continue to do. "I look at Dan as a good friend," he said. "Not only someone good at his job but (he) has an open mind. He's very concerned, he cares and is very responsive. We have a great leader and (he) will be a great advocate for all of us. Dan Hevesi, who has been in office for nearly seven months since winning the seat when Gold retired after many years in Albany said the new office will be open to the public and he will try to listen to all of the suggestions from the community. "We're going to fight like crazy for the people we represent," he said.
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