SJU Class of 2008
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The Concerned Residents of Jamaica Estates
Congratulate the Saint John’s University graduating class of 2008.
We are group of Jamaica Estates residents who have banded together with the sole mission of preserving our lovely community. As you walk/ drive thru the tree lined streets of our lovely community you might wonder why many of homes display The No to St. John’s Dorm Signs. We do not dislike students many of us are St. John’s alumni, the anger and animosity that permeates our community is a product of the underhanded and secretive manner in which Father Harrington and St. John's University secured the deal to construct the off campus Henley Hall dormitory. St. John’s University utilized the community facilities technicality in the zoning code, to build a 485 student private dormitory, in the heart of our residential community. Aside from violating the university’s lofty mission statement of being a good neighbor, SJU failed to include local elected officials, the community board, planning commission, the community at large or for that matter SJU community dialogue group,(a group created by Father Harrington to enhance dialogue and community relations) in the planning phase of this project. Not one of these entities was privy to this project until after the construction started.
Before you condemn the community, you should take a few minutes to look at the situation through my eyes and the eyes of many of the residents on Henley Road;
Our homes, our lifetime investments, are not only our residence of many years, but our retirement nest egg and our children's inheritance. We are angered that St. John's University is able to infringe on our life plans and negatively impact our property values and do so with impunity.
Many of us are parents of college students and we know first hand what moving in and out of dorms is like. This is a chaotic period regardless of how much planning takes place and we can't help but cringe at the thought of double parked cars in narrow Henley Road and people trampling over each other as they maneuver carts full of furniture and boxes for 485 students.
Teenagers and young adults have their internal clock a bit askew, most of you start partying way past midnight about the time most of us have retired. We gave a lot of thought, as did many of our neighbors, in selecting a community with the attributes and amenities to raise children as well as grow old in. We do not believe that SJU has the right to alter the character of our community for self serving reasons and have the audacity to exclude the residents from the planning process, ignore our invitations to participate in community forums, and then spin the situation so that SJU can portray themselves as victims!
In addition to the above reasons, this project is moving forward without an environmental impact study to determine if the community can withstand a construction of this magnitude. At a time in history when developers are building "green buildings", H2H Developers is desperately seeking creative ways to dispose the proposed buildings human waste in our aging sewer system.
At some point in the not too distant future, members of the SJU 2008 graduating class will be purchasing their first home and I assure you that you will passionately defend your investment and the peaceful enjoyment of your home with the same vigor and determination that we defend ours.
Sincerely,
Before you condemn the community, you should take a few minutes to look at the situation through my eyes and the eyes of many of the residents on Henley Road;
Our homes, our lifetime investments, are not only our residence of many years, but our retirement nest egg and our children's inheritance. We are angered that St. John's University is able to infringe on our life plans and negatively impact our property values and do so with impunity.
Many of us are parents of college students and we know first hand what moving in and out of dorms is like. This is a chaotic period regardless of how much planning takes place and we can't help but cringe at the thought of double parked cars in narrow Henley Road and people trampling over each other as they maneuver carts full of furniture and boxes for 485 students.
Teenagers and young adults have their internal clock a bit askew, most of you start partying way past midnight about the time most of us have retired. We gave a lot of thought, as did many of our neighbors, in selecting a community with the attributes and amenities to raise children as well as grow old in. We do not believe that SJU has the right to alter the character of our community for self serving reasons and have the audacity to exclude the residents from the planning process, ignore our invitations to participate in community forums, and then spin the situation so that SJU can portray themselves as victims!
In addition to the above reasons, this project is moving forward without an environmental impact study to determine if the community can withstand a construction of this magnitude. At a time in history when developers are building "green buildings", H2H Developers is desperately seeking creative ways to dispose the proposed buildings human waste in our aging sewer system.
At some point in the not too distant future, members of the SJU 2008 graduating class will be purchasing their first home and I assure you that you will passionately defend your investment and the peaceful enjoyment of your home with the same vigor and determination that we defend ours.
Sincerely,
The Concerned Residents of Jamaica Estates