Update on the Concert Litigation

Dear Forest Hills Gardens Members:

The Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC) Board of Directors sent a letter to Queens Community Board 6 (CB6) on February 12, 2025 expressing deep concern regarding the significant harms caused by concerts at the Forest Hills Stadium (Stadium) to nearby residents.  In summary, the letter:

•  Highlights the high number of noise code violations issued by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to the Stadium operations in 2024, with 85% of monitored concerts receiving violations despite the Stadium operator’s claims of noise mitigation efforts. 
• Emphasizes scalable limits due to the unsustainable number of concerts, the disruption caused by street closures, and the need for the necessary environmental impact assessments (EIA) and careful planning that a concert stadium needs to operate properly in a residential community.
• Urges CB6 to press the City and elected officials to enforce the noise code, eliminate negative impacts, and stop using the Gardens’ private streets for the benefit of a for-profit business that has been operating without a license.

The FHGC board seeks support from CB6 to find solutions that respect the needs of all stakeholders.

Here is a link to the letter: CB6 Letter.

Our board member, Louis O’Neill, delivered remarks to CB6 along with the letter. Here is a link to his as-delivered statement. Other Forest Hills residents, including a minor, spoke at the meeting describing the ways the concerts negatively impact their lives.

We will continue to inform the community of any new developments.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors

February 18, 2025