http://www.planNYC.org/ PlanNYC | New York City Planning Information Portal en-us ja3n@earthlink.net http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4474 Flushing Towing, a business located in Willets Point, has agreed to sell its land to the City and move its operation to a vacant property in Flushing. Carlos Canal, owner of Flushing Towing, has had his business in Willets Point for 18 years without proper plumbing. He is the fourth business owner over the past four years to sell his property to the City so the City can move forward with its plans to redevelop the area into a mixed-use neighborhood estimated to cost $3 billion. Despite this sale, there are a still a number of businesses in Willets Point that are fighting the City’s plans. 2008-07-22 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4457 Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall, held a hearing on the Willets Point Development yesterday. Business owners in the area spoke out against the use of eminent domain and what they consider the City's neglect in the area. The New York City Economic Development Corporation stated that it would like to avoid the use of eminent domain at all costs and hope to make the neighborhood a green, 24-hour destination. 2008-07-16 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4432 Ten property owners have hired former mayoral candidate Freddy Ferrer to help support their case against the redevelopment of Willets Point. Public records have shown that former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr. is also being paid to help the opposition group. Ferrer was expected to join the opposition at a public hearing as part of the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. 2008-07-10 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4437 Protests have been planned by land owners and elected officials prior to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall’s public hearing on Willets Point. The hearing is the second phase of the City’s public review process, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The Willets Point Industry and Realty Association (WPIRA) is expected to call on Marshall to review the tactics used by the leadership of Community Board 7, which recently approved the plan. Dan Feinstein, a member of the WPIRA, has said that some of the actions were “bizarre and inappropriate.” 2008-07-09 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4410 Although Queens Community Board 3 is not officially a part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) for the redevelopment of Willets Point, it held a hearing on the subject because it believes that it will be significantly impacted. Many of the people who work in Willets Point live in Corona, which is represented by CB 3. Housing is a concern in Corona and some used the hearing as an opportunity to discuss the lack of affordable housing in the area. Council Member Hiram Monseratte, who is opposed to the plan as it currently stands, believes that CB 3 should be allowed to vote on the Willets Point development. 2008-07-03 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4409 Community Board 7 voted to approve the mayor's plan for the Willets Point development project. The vote was narrower than expected mainly due to concerns over the potential use of eminent domain for current business owners in the "iron triangle". The City and the NYCEDC both state that they are committed to doing whatever possible to avoid the use of eminent domain. The plan will now go to the Queens Borough President's office to be reviewed as the next step in the public review process. 2008-07-02 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4402 Queens Community Board 7 voted in favor of the City’s plan to redevelop Willets Point Tuesday morning. Following several hours of testimonies and debates, the community board voted 21 to 15. Despite the vote to support for the proposal to transform 61-acres into an area filled with housing, commercial space, and a hotel and convention center, existing business owners expressed their disapproval of their plan and intend to continue fighting the plan. The proposal will now need approval from Borough President Helen Marshall in order to move forward. A hearing is set for July 10; however, Marshall is expected to support the plan. 2008-07-01 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4401 Queens Community Board 7 is set to vote on the plan to redevelop Willets Point on Monday night. The board’s special committee on Willets Point voted to approve the plan last week, contingent on the City addressing some of their concerns about the plan. Board members said their biggest concern was that if they approve the plan it could be changed later, since none of the details are set at this point; the City has neither acquired the land necessary for the development nor picked a developer. Board members also have concerns about traffic. The Economic Development Corporation, the agency leading the redevelopment effort, says it is committed to keeping the community board involved throughout the process. 2008-06-30 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4399 Community Board 7 is threatening to vote against the plans to redevelop Willets Point, Queens at their upcoming meeting Monday night if a series of demands issued by their special committee on the project are not met. Among other things, the committee has demanded that the Queens Borough Board get final veto power on the project, which, according to Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills), would give more control to the community after the completion of the land-use review process. The community board’s Monday night vote is not binding, but only advisory. Board members say that they are concerned about voting on a “hypothetical” project. 2008-06-29 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4386 As the public review process continues for the city’s plan to redevelop Willets Point, some of the opposition is focusing on points made in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that traffic on the Van Wyck and Whitestone Expressways and the Grand Central Parkway will increase dramatically. The Land Use Subcommittee of Community Board 7 approved the plan on Monday with certain conditions that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) must meet before the June 30th full committee meeting. 2008-06-26 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4393 The City has lined up the support of some the biggest labor unions in hope of convincing City Council Members to support its redevelopment efforts for Willets Point. The Central Labor Council has been working with the City and the two sides were able to work out an agreement on providing a “living wage” for retail workers and a prevailing wage for service workers, security guards and service workers. Council Member Hiram Monserrate, who has lead the opposition to the redevelopment plans, has the support of 28 of 51 Council Members to oppose the plan unless more affordable housing is added, compensation and relocation for existing businesses and permanent quality jobs for the community. 2008-06-26 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4376 Community Board 7’s Land Use Committee approved the City’s plans for the redevelopment of Willets Point. However, the committee was not satisfied with the several aspects of the current proposal and requested that the Economic Development Corporation incorporate more affordable housing and a mitigation fund into their plans. The approval was received with mixed reviews. Former Queens Borough President, Claire Schulman, believes that this project will revitalize the area. However, local business owners, such as Anthony Fodera, are fearful of losing their land and feel as though they have not been fairly included in the planning process. Next week the entire community board will need to vote on the plan before it can move forward. 2008-06-24 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4362 While many land and business owners in Willets Point still hold out, two others signed deals today with the City to buy their land. The City has a mixed-use development planned for the area to compliment the new Citi Field development next door and provide housing for Northern Queens. Many residents and local officials have opposed the project and as many as 10 business owners are in the process of suing the City over the plans. 2008-06-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4365 The Queens Congregation United for Action (QCUA) is getting support from several City Council members, including Helen Sears, John Liu, Hiram Monserrate and Eric Gioia, and other groups in its fight for 30% affordable housing in the redevelopment of Willets Point. The current plan only includes 20%; a number the group believes is insufficient to meet the need. The City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) believes there is a good balance of market rate and affordable housing in the current plan. The Willets Point redevelopment is currently in the public review process and Community Board 7 is expected to consider the plan on June 30th. 2008-06-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=24#4334 An outside consultant has put together a 790-page report on Willets Point which paints a picture of the area has crime-ridden with poor environmental conditions. Some have speculated that the report will be used by the city to prove that the area is blighted to allow the city to use eminent domain in the area. Opponents of the city’s development plan argue that the deteriorating conditions are only present because the city has neglected the area for years. 2008-06-11 00:00:00