Dr. James Cervino, an
environmental scientist, discusses development of 20th Ave,
at the Institute.
Change can be
good, but not at the cost of our heritage or
sustainability. As documented on the history page of this
site, the Poppenhusen Institute was, itself, almost sold
off in 1980. Had it been sold and torn down, what would
have taken it's place? It was only by the activism of
concerned College Point citizens that this cultural
landmark was preserved. Over recent years, dozens of
century old single family homes have been razed to make way
for multiple family dwellings that both create congestion
and stress vital services in this community. To replace a
Victorian home with cement cookie cutter boxes is something
the community should and has resisted.
The Poppenhusen Institute has hosted community board
meetings where these issues and others are discussed.
Without community involvement ambitious developers will
continue to erode what makes College Point what it is. The
management and board of the Institute encourage all
citizens to get involved. Come to community meetings and
have a say in the direction your community takes.
Here, an angry community
resident posts an opinion on the makeshift walls outside an
all-too-common scene; the demolition of a Victorian
home.