Forest Hills Gardens News – May 2024 | Issue 1

FHGC Monthly Newsletter



Forest Hills Gardens Corporation


Monthly News & Updates May, 2024


Experience the Exciting New Newsletter Format from the Communications Committee!


Introducing our new and improved newsletter format! Stay up-to-date on community news and happenings while enjoying current memories and images, all without the printing and mailing wait. Join us in this exciting trial and benefit from the greater timeliness of our neighborhood news!

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Gardens Received Notable Recognition – Level I Arboretum


Forest Hills Gardens has achieved an extremely prestigious recognition – it is now listed among the exclusive ranks of the world’s arboreta. Our name now appears together with the New York Botanical Garden, Madison Square Park Conservancy, Longwood Gardens, the United States National Arboretum and more!

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Fifty-year Tradition Continues!


The Women’s Club of Forest Hills once again hosted a delightful springtime performance featuring members of their Drama and Singers chapter — many of them Gardens residents! More than 200 attended the Community House show to support their talents and efforts.

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Community Board 6 Meeting Outlines Proposed Upgrades for Forest Hills LIRR Station


At the Community Board 6 meeting on March 13, 2024, a multi-phased construction schedule was presented for the Forest Hills LIRR station. The proposed plan outlined an extension of the LIRR train platform to accommodate ten cars and included the installation of ADA ramps and additional stairs. Representatives from the MTA Construction and Development division briefed the attendees on the plan. Although the project is in its early stages, a Gardens sub-committee has been formed to express the community’s concerns regarding its potential impact. The CB6 meeting’s minutes and video are available at: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/queenscb6/pdf/2024/CB-6-Minutes-March-13-2024.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNvsXiFMNC0

Preliminary designer renderings:

https://www.fortecc.com/post/forte-construction-and-designer-aecom-usa-venture-into-exciting-territory-with-lirr-station-improv

Gardening in the Gardens – May

With the threat of frost now passed, it’s time to enhance our gardens with new plantings. Mother’s Day, celebrated on May 12th, marks the official start of planting season for many.

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Mark June 1st on your Calendar!



The FHGC Membership Committee is pleased to host a New Member Brunch next month to welcome those who have recently joined our community. The event will be held at The Community House on June 1st from 11am to 1pm. Both new and long-time residents are invited to attend and children are welcome! Light brunch will be served and attendees are encouraged to get to know one another. FHGC Board members and representatives from the Membership Committee will be on hand to share information to help new Members adjust to life in The Gardens and to discuss FHGC covenants and guidelines that enhance the uniqueness of our community. RSVP by calling the office at 718-268-2420 by May 24th or email info@fhgc.org.


Neighborhood Tree Challenge–can you identify this tree? (answer below)

This month’s featured FHGC Committee:

Architecture

Spring is a bustling season for our Architecture Committee! From aiding new homeowners with vital renovations to supervising the installation of beautiful greenhouses for gardening enthusiasts, our Committee engages with numerous homeowners during this vibrant time of year.



During springtime, homeowners often undertake essential exterior maintenance tasks on their historic homes, including potential additions or replacements such as air conditioning units, patios, windows, fencing, walkways, and yes, even greenhouses. As per the Gardens’ Architecture Guidelines, all exterior work by homeowners must be pre-approved. The Architecture Committee – homeowners themselves – collaborates closely with residents, both new and old, on the proposed projects from start to finish.

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Litigation Update from the FHGC Board:

Court Rules in Favor of the Gardens



As many are aware, our community, represented by the Board of Directors, sued the West Side Tennis Club (WSTC) last year because the WSTC allowed its tenant, Tiebreaker Productions, to dramatically increase the number of concerts, creating substantial disruption in our neighborhood. Tiebreaker has turned the stadium into a full-scale, commercial concert operation. The concerts cause continued violations of our private property rights and restrictive covenants which bind all Gardens residents, including the WSTC.


The Board is pleased to announce that on 4/22/24, the court agreed with the Garden’s position and ruled in our favor. 


In the judge’s own words, “the noise level emanating from a concert, the vehicle and foot traffic, loitering and foul odors, before and after concerts are not encompassed in [the] expectations of living in an organized civil community.” The court order requires noise monitoring of the concerts by an independent noise monitoring organization and requires the WSTC to create and implement a plan to control trespassing on our private streets. Read the full court order here.


This court decision is designed to limit the nuisances created by the concerts and provide our residents with temporary relief as our broader case moves through the court system. It is just one step in what is expected to be a lengthy process. 


As it has done for the last 100+ years, the Gardens Corporation remains steadfast in its mission to protect the private nature of our streets, uphold the strength of our restrictive covenants, ensure the residential character of our neighborhood, and protect the quality of life of our entire community. 


The FHGC board will continue to keep you informed of key developments as they arise.

MTA Crew Seen Trimming Along Railroad




Fun Fact of the Month


Combining our curb plots and parks, The Gardens

is home to over 80 different

tree species!

Neighborhood Tree Challenge Answer: Schubert Cherry aka Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’)

Ah, the beauty of nature! Have you seen this tree on Greenway North that changes colors? Yes, you read that right! The leaves on this plant start as green but will turn a stunning shade of purple in just a few weeks after its white flowers fall. Head over to Greenway North and witness this transformation yourself!

FHGC Board Highlights:

Roadway Speed Hump Additions

A new roadway feature has been added in the Gardens for the first time ever — rubber speed humps! The introduction of these humps on Greenway North and Greenway South were made in an effort to encourage motorists to reduce their speed on our roadways and increase neighborhood safety.

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Upcoming Community Events:



-Musica Reginae community concert (musicareginae.org): Saturday, May 4, 2024

-Forest Hills Gardens Foundation fundraiser raffle drawing (foresthillsgardensfoundation.org): Monday, May 6, 2024

-Friends of Station Square fundraiser raffle drawing

(friendsofstationsquare.org): Friday, May 10, 2024

-Memorial Day Weekend Parade: Sunday, May 26, 2024

(americanlegionpost1424.com/memorial-day)

-Forest Hills Gardens Membership Committee Brunch: Saturday, June 1, 2024

-Forest Hills Gardens Flag Day celebration: Saturday, June 15, 2024

Visit our Website at FHGC.org