146-39 105 Avenue is a former Department of Health building located in South Jamaica, Queens, which will be auctioned off by the City on October 28th.

The auction does not put restrictions on uses or purchasers. The buyer would not be required to put the property to productive use, or obtain a Certificate of Occupancy within any fixed timeline. 146-39 105 Avenue is just over 2,000 buildable square feet zoned for residential use (R4-1). A for-profit buyer would likely convert it into for-profit, private housing, closing any opportunity for community use, or the renewal of health services in a neighborhood that lacks both.

By auctioning off this property, the City is missing an opportunity to preserve it as a public benefit, create affordable housing, or both. Community members see the potential for this building to become a Holistic Health Center. For example, it could house an acupuncture clinic, a nutritionist’s office, a source for organic foods, a cultural center, or a health education center for adults and children. The lot’s zoning allows for the construction of affordable residential units above the health center, which would contribute to the City’s ten year plan of developing 80,000 new affordable units.

We ask DCAS to remove 146-39 105 Avenue (Queens Block 10055, Lot 28) from the October 28, 2015 auction, and to give an opportunity to a local or citywide community development organization to develop a plan for a community-centered use.