CB 18 Meeting Denies Rumored Home Depot Plans
By Dara Mormile

Rumors were dispelled by District Manager Dottie Turano during last week’s Community Board 18 meeting that a Home Depot will be housed in the former Key Food warehouse site at the Brooklyn Terminal Market in Canarsie.

“Somehow, the principles of the Key Food warehouse obtained phone numbers of all the civic association leaders in the community, contacted them and wanted to have a private meeting. The civic organization leaders do not realize that Community Board 18 works as a group and the only way we have strength is by making these decisions together,” said Turano.

At the meeting, which took place at the Kings Plaza Community Room, Turano said she knew nothing about the proposal of a Home Depot for the 500,000-square-foot site. “Not too long ago I received a call from Wanda Irhig, president of Informed Voices Civic Association, and she told me the principles wanted to meet and discuss the matter with them. I said, ‘That’s news to me.’”

Turano brought the issue to Borough President Marty Markowitz only to learn that the principles and developers had asked many other civics to meet with them and not CB 18. According to Turano, Markowitz reacted with dismay that the community was apparently being divided.

“We’ve always made it clear to developers that decisions are not made in this community unless they are presented to elected officials and the entire community,” said Turano. “This matter has become such a media blitz.

“I received calls from local newspapers asking if they could attend this meeting. First, I had not heard a proposal and had no idea what this meeting entailed. Rumors were flying and one of the civic organizations compiled a petition not even knowing what the proposal really was. Our office was getting flooded with phone calls but we did not know what’s happening.”

The empty warehouse site, at Remsen and Avenue D, was built in 1929 and is currently owned by the city’s Economic Development Corporation. It was left vacant five years ago when Key Food moved its distribution facilities to New Jersey and Staten Island.

Turano said that last year’s proposals for a Costco and a Pathmark at the same site were rumored and subsequently turned down by the board and never came to fruition.

“If we do meet with developers, it will be at a group meeting where everyone has input. In this community, we all stick together.” Turano said that prior proposals to place supermarkets and retail stores in the warehouse were turned down because of the impact it would have on nearby businesses.

Another issue addressed at the meeting was the results of the budget requests and proposals submitted to city budget agencies for the District Needs and Priorities Report for the Fiscal Year 2006. Turano announced that all priorities, including reconstruction of some Canarsie streets, were turned down.