Terri Adams (red sweater) would often lunch with a group of LIC seniors (Photo: Queens Post)
May 16, 2019 By Christian Murray
A street co-naming is taking place in Long Island City Saturday in honor of Terri Adams, a long time Hunters Point civic leader who died in September 2017.
The south east corner of Vernon Boulevard and 49th Avenue will be co-named Terri Adams Way, after a life-long resident who lived just steps away from the intersection at 49-10 Vernon Blvd.
Adams lived in a building that her grandfather bought in 1895. Her son Brian owned the Delta Force Army Navy store that was on the ground floor of that building for 25 years. In 2016, Adams leased the space to Something Sweet.
Adams was the president of the Hunters Point Community Development Corp., a merchant group established in 1952, and was an active member of Community board 2 until her death. She passed away on Sept. 18, 2017 at the age of 75.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer said the co-naming is important, since it pays homage to a person who shaped Hunters Point long before the high-rise buildings went up.
“In a neighborhood that has changed so rapidly, it is even more important to remember the people like Terri Adams who were there a long time before many others and who fought to improve the neighborhood when it was a very different place,” Van Bramer said.
Adams owned and lived in 49-10 Vernon Blvd. She owned the business Delta Force with her son Brian, located on the ground floor. (GMaps)
Van Bramer said that he plans on passing legislation that will see the corner of Vernon and 50th Avenue (next to the Dorian Café) co-named after Frank Carrado, dubbed the mayor of Long Island City, who died last month and played an oversized role in that area before the towers went up.
In terms of Adams, Van Bramer said she had a strong presence in Hunters Point for decades. “She was like a Vernon Boulevard block watcher. People would come out of the subway [on Vernon Boulevard] in their suits at, say, 6 p.m. and Terri would be siting outside her building in a beach chair watching people go by.”
Adams was known for hosting a Christmas Tree lighting at Vernon Mall each year. She also organized community events at ‘Shady Park’, formally known as Andrews Grove, on 49th Avenue, in the summer.
She also played a role in the development of the waterfront, advocating for residents.
Mark Christie, a Hunters Point civic leader and friend of Adams, described her at the time of her death as neighborhood “pillar” and said the area had lost someone with a “beautiful heart.”
Details of Co-naming:
Time: 3 p.m.
Date: Saturday, May 18
Location: Intersection of 49th Avenue and Vernon Blvd
Santa, State Sen. Mike Gianaris, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, HPCDC president Terri Adams and Capt. Brian Hennessy at the Christmas Tree lighting in 2013.
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3 Comments
When will we get Mad Cow Josh way?
Terri Mona Adams leaves a legacy, Her life is a testament to what can be accomplished by someone with vision,dedication,and community unity. She is a role model for us all,today and in years to come.
What a fantastic woman and a real loss for the hood. JMV is finally doing something right with this!!