Shalimar Diner Site Rezoning On The Agenda At CB6 Meeting

REGO PARK, QUEENS — A developer's proposal to rezone the Rego Park site where Shalimar Diner once stood will face public scrutiny Thursday in a hearing hosted by Queens Community Board 6.

Community board members and the public will get to weigh in on the rezoning proposal as part of the board's virtual meeting for the month of November, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

The site has been vacant since July, after plans to relocate the diner building fell through and the owner, the Forest Hills-based development firm Platinum Realty Associates, demolished it.

Developer David Koptiev has proposed a nine-story building with 74 apartments, ground-floor retail space and 45 parking spots, according to records filed with the city.

An estimated 24 apartments would be designated as affordable housing for seniors.

If the rezoning is approved, enabling the developer to move forward with the current plan, construction is slated to wrap up by 2022.

Thursday's public hearing is part of that rezoning process, which also requires review from the Queens borough president, City Planning Commission and City Council.

Anyone who wishes to testify must email QN06@cb.nyc.gov by 3 p.m. Thursday with their name and the topic of their comment. Members of the public will get three minutes to speak.

Thursday, November 12 @ 6:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING @QueensCB6 on 91-32 63rd Drive Rego Park Rezoning (Formerly Shalimar) If you are interested in providing testimony please see the agenda below for sign up information. pic.twitter.com/tXyr7OU676
— Heather EB Dimitriadis (@HeatherEBD) November 11, 2020

Platinum Realty Associates paid $6.55 million in 2018 to buy the Shalimar Diner site from Hildy Limondjian, whose family had owned it for decades, according to the Forest Hills Post.

The historic diner, which closed in November 2018 due to declining business and a rent hike, appeared in the movie "The Wolf of Wall Street" and the CBS television show "Blue Bloods."