MTA Construction in Forest Hills, Queens Disrupts Local Eateries, Sparks Business Owner Outcry

Restaurateurs in Forest Hills, Queens, are facing a major setback due to an MTA construction project that has created a barrier between their businesses and customers. ABC7 New York reports that the local dining scene has been disrupted by work intended to replace a deteriorating LIRR overpass and add wheelchair accessibility. The side effect of this infrastructure upgrade is a dramatic decline in customers for establishments like The White Radish and its neighbor, a bagel store called Heena Bagel.

Not only has the project put a kink in plans for outdoor dining, an investment upwards of $20,000 for some, but essentials like parking have vanished, forcing business owners to scramble for solutions and seeing one shopkeeper turn to Uber driving to stay afloat, The White Radish owner Paul Singh revealed he's hemorrhaging about $30,000 a month due to the construction, losing both money and mental peace in the process, Singh told The New York Post, "I've lost my mental peace," he lamented, “This has destroyed my lifestyle and put my family in financial crisis and security. I can’t sleep. I have so much on my head."

A porta potty placed outside The White Radish's front door added to the frustration, with patrons complaining about the smell. It was finally removed yesterday, according to ABC7 New York. Customers seeking an al fresco dining experience are now also greeted by a chaotic construction scene with widespread fencing and, until recently, the aforementioned portable toilet. The fencing reportedly was briefly removed when congestion pricing came to a halt, but has since been resurrected, continuing to obscure the view of the restaurant's entrance.

MTA, the force behind the train station updates, indicates that their work is non-negotiable for the sake of infrastructure integrity; nonetheless, business owners like Singh, who has resorted to displaying signs atop the green fencing in a bid to reclaim visibility, feel the city could do more, “They’re going to just step on the small businesses, destroy them. It’s better for others, but not for someone who has worked all his life, all his hard-earned money is being invested, money is been borrowed and invested … and he’s just gonna lose everything — that’s not fair,” he argued. Employees also feel the economic pinch, with The White Radish staff reportedly falling behind on paychecks as business dwindles, Singh attributes his frustration to the relentless construction that sends noise and dust towards his customers, scaring them away with jackhammer vibrations that send wine bottles crashing from their shelves, as detailed by The New York Post.

The MTA has stated it will continue efforts to minimize the negative impact of construction on local businesses. Despite repeated appeals from the affected parties, the transit agency's spokesperson assured, "The MTA has plans to make the Forest Hills Station more accessible for all including seniors, caregivers with strollers, and people with disabilities and is working to advance that project," in a statement given to The New York Post.