But Cervino said one fact is clear: the construction of condominiums on College Point's waterfront in the last several years has hurt the health of marine life.
 

Cervino is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Carolina's Marine Science Program. He earned his master's in marine biology at Boston University in 1996 and has done field work in Papua, New Guinea, Malaysia and the Bahamas among other countries. His studies often focus on the health of coral reefs with regards to development and tourism.

His study of the College Point waterfront comes at a time when Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) is pushing the city to rezone the neighborhood, putting a possible limit on coastal development.

In the case of new condominiums on the College Point waterfront, development has led to the erosion of the coast line, Cervino said. Concrete covers the habitat of marine life, leading to their death. Algae replace the marine life, resulting in the release of ammonia and a "rotten egg smell," Cervino said.

The construction of parking lots near the water also leads to chemicals from vehicles running off into the water, Cervino said.
 

Cervino pointed to the waters off Edgewater Estates, College Point's newest condominium development, as an example of the problem.
 

In contrast to MacNeil Park, there were few oysters at Edgewater Estates, which is just to the south of another condominium project. Instead, a pool of algae sits near the entrance to the development's canal that is under construction.
 

Cervino said if the city is to allow such developments, officials should at least make sure that they are not right next to each other.

"If you are going to destroy habitats, at least create a buffer zone," he said.

Cervino fears the waters off MacNeil Park will soon look like the waters off Edgewater Estates. The area just to the east of the park is undeveloped, and community leaders are worried the site will soon become more condominiums.

Cervino said the city should require developers to maintain the health of coasts, calling on them to bring in beach sand and oysters and plant sea grass to counter erosion.
 

"The builders should be responsible for correcting the damage they created," he said.

Cervino also questioned whether waterfront development in northern Queens is a possible threat to public health. He noted the West Nile Virus was first discovered in College Point.

"We are introducing humans to an area where mosquitoes are supposed to live," he said.

Regardless of the whether or not waterfront development continues in College Point, most of the coast of northeast Queens has already been developed. Cervino said his goal is not to preserve a pristine coastline, but to save the few areas that still have abundant marine life left.

"The insanity has to stop somewhere," he said.
 

Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 141.