Community questions 78-16 Cooper Ave. permit approvals

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Community members are questioning the DOB over permits recently granted for the conversion of 78-16 Cooper Ave. into what appears to be inflatable tent a homeless shelter to be operated by human services agency Samaritan Village, a project the community has fought for years. The permits, granted last week, show plans to convert the manufacturing building into a lodging building with 103 units.

The permit application was submitted by engineering consultant George Berger, a former commissioner at the DOB who now owns a private firm. CB5 board members have called into question whether Berger’s former DOB ties might have swayed the department’s decision to approve the permits. Asked about a potential conflict on Monday, a spokesperson for George Berger & Associates said they had no comment on the project.

Michael Wilner, the owner of the property, said on Monday he was not involved in applying for permits, which were filed on behalf of the renter, ostensibly Samaritan Village. Calls to the agency on Monday had yet to be returned.

Wilner said on Monday he was well-aware of the community’s feelings towards the project.

“18 years I’ve been trying to rent this property,” he said. “I can’t fund Glendale for the rest of my life. Everyone wants to hate me? That’s alright.

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