One of the largest deals made by the city thus far is at risk of falling apart, according to Crain’s. The EDC is set to relocate Sambucci Bros., an auto salvage business with a large piece of property in Willets Point, to College Point Industrial Park. The only issue is that the industrial park is zoned in such a way that specificaly excludes auto salvage yards. The NYCEDC is working on getting around those restrictions to successfully relocate the business.
A meeting is set for Thursday for the NYCEDC and Sambucci Bros. to try to work out a solution to the relocation.
Let’s hope this works out. It’d be a blow to the plan if this property deal were to fall through, although by no means would it signal the end of the push to develop Willets Point.
Update: A spokesperson for the NYCEDC issued the following statement:
“We have a contract that remains in effect and we intend to honor all commitments. Nothing has changed.”
Seems like the piece, particularly the headline, might be a little alarmist. Hopefully, there won’t be any bumps in the road here, and I’ve got faith that the situation will work out just fine.
A reader points out that the element of the urban renewal plan which disallowed auto salvage yards in the College Point Industrial Park expires in 2009.
If that’s the case, there’s really nothing to worry about here if you’re rooting for this plan.
3 responses so far ↓
1 zacknussbaum // Aug 5, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Why is crain’s the only publication that carried this story? If such a symbolic deal was really in danger of falling apart, wouldn’t there be a lot more widespread coverage? I agree with you Chris, clearly alarmist and I’d add that it’s probably baseless.
2 BiggieSmalls // Aug 6, 2008 at 10:13 am
Daniel Massey at Crains has been all over the WP Story from the get go..
that said.. i dont know why College Point and Flushing Airport isnt a good long term solution for a lot of the WP businesses..
the fact that Flushing Airport is being called an “ancient aquifer” is a joke.. its only that way cause it has been empty for 25 plus years..
the city could pave over most of that empty land at Flushing Airport and build a world class eco friendly auto service district pretty simply.. with the street traffic from 20th Ave and the big box stores in the area it would be MUCH MUCH more convenient for customers and is less than 5 miles from Willets..
in fact.. the Pratt Center made that same recommendation in their Feb 08 report Making WP Work for NY.. A Plan for Neighborhood Success..
As an added bonus to the City taking Flushing Airport off the FAA roles would open up more routes to LGA… Win Win.
3 zacknussbaum // Aug 6, 2008 at 3:05 pm
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/FREE/166248540/1058
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