Opinion: What the Opposition is Thinking
Sometimes I wonder what the opposition to the Willets Point development plan is thinking. They’re certainly making a lot of noise and garnering plenty of attention from the press.
I can’t blame these businesses if they’re making such a hard push to get the best deal they possibly can from the city as they are relocated. That might sound cynical, but when Hiram Monserrate, the plan’s biggest opponent, is going around saying he expects the development to happen, it’s reasonable to guess that may be the case.
I also understand that it’s relatively common in the Council for members to rally behind a member whose district includes a project as big as Willets Point. But how many of the 32 Council Members really think this development plan is a bad idea? Concerns for the fair treatment of the existing businesses are reasonable, and it might be tough for any of these members not to demand more affordable housing, but the strongly worded opposition seems a bit much.
Finally, there’s at last a little hypocrisy involved with the opposition. A few days ago, Councilman Monserrate was demanding that each of the issues discussed at the City Planning hearings yesterday get its own full day. But he and other opponents of the plan had no problem joining together with the Lower East Side protesters in order to make their group appear even larger and more significant. Had they actually gotten their separate hearing, their protest crowd would only have been their own.
I’m very optimistic about the future of this plan. I think the Mayor is right in saying the Council Members will all come around on this in the end. I just don’t understand the grandstanding from the public officials who are currently denouncing this plan.
7 Comments to Opinion: What the Opposition is Thinking
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those numbers are about right..
of those opposed they were:
three business and land owners (Feinstein, Tully and the parts store guy) — they all seemed resigned to their fate but wanted more attention on their relocation and to say that ALL the businesses are not chop shops.
Two tenant businesses - they seemed disturbed that the city wasnt paying them any attention. The city spoke that they have recently hired a consultant soley to deal with tenant business relocation and the panel was optomistic of finding a single location to move all auto related shops (similar to the fish market or wholessale food market - their words)
the infamous Joe andrizzone who wasnt taken seriously at all. id have like to ask him sone questions like — WHY are you still living in this place???
3 or 4 acorn people who were pining about needing more affordable housing
someone from betsey gotbaums office who was concerned about eminent domain abuse
four consultants on the WPIRA dime (they said this not my opinion) who testified about things like historical buildings (where??) traffic issues on non game days and other specific points on the plan like the new highway interchange
i was expecting a big speech by Hiram but was surprised he didnt show up at the meeting.
the BP made a passioned plea and the toxic expert was very compelling..
OH and the state senator mentioned you McShane and the article in the NYT about how Mets Fans are afraid to walk in the area and have to leave before dark for fear of their lives..
Loved that part..
three business and land owners (Feinstein, Tully and the parts store guy) — they all seemed resigned to their fate but wanted more attention on their relocation and to say that ALL the businesses are not chop shops HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT FEINSTEIN WAS ON TV SAYING HE WILL GO TO SUPREME COURT WITH THIS . YOU NEED TO KNOW LIKE I KNOW THE RESOLVE OF THE WPIRA GROUP THEY WILL FIGHT TILL THE CITY GIVES THEM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE . THEY PUT UP WITH CRAP FOR 30 YEARS AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING IT ANYMORE. THE CITY THINKS THEY CAN OFFER 50 CENTS ON A DOLLAR AND MAKE A DEAL WITH A FEW GUYS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE REST NO WAY CLAIRES PLAN IS FALLING APART THE OPPOSITION IS GROWING
the eminent domain speaker was interesting.. she was a real cute Latina in a pink dress..anyway i digress
she said the process goes like this..
the landowner gets their assessment of the value of the land.. most landowners should have gotten one by now.. Feinstein and Tully said they have gotten them and have exchanged offers with the EDC
the assessment takes into account the land value based on its current use and doesnt regard potential environmental remediation.. which means its probable A LOT higher than what they would REALLY get if they tried to sell it..
if the landowner refuses to negotiate or cant find a suitable location and the city goes the ED route the city gets their own appraisal and then those two independent appraisals act as the basis for negotiations.
the negotiated price - and this is if the go ED or not - include relocation expenses, moving expenses and other expenses incurred with moving to a new location.. if the EDC cant find a spot for them they will buy the WHOLE business from them for fair market value and they’ve done this before. so in the case of Tully who has a transfer station that no one wants they’ll buy it for whatever two independent appraisers say a waste transfer station is worth as a business.
doesnt sound like 50 cents on the dollar.. but not a great headline.
so in the case of Tully who has a transfer station that no one wants they’ll buy it for whatever two independent appraisers say a waste transfer station is worth as a business.
doesnt sound like 50 cents on the dollar.. but not a great headline.
ANOTHER LIE . THEY BUY THE LAND NOT THE BUSINESS THEY LET YOU FIGHT IN COURT FOR THAT FOR 10 YEARS. AND A TRANFER STATION IS WORTH A LOT OF $$$ TULLY ALONE IS WORTH MORE THAT THE CITY HAS ALLOCATED FOR THIS LAND GRAB YOU FIGURE THE # ‘S SMALLIE . IT COMES TO 71$ A SQ FT THE CITY IS OFFERING .ARE WE TALKING THE NORTH POLE OR THE BEST PROPERTY LOCATION IN THE CITY? TREAT THEM FAIR AND THEY WILL SIGN ,SCREW WITH THEM AND THAY WILL FIGHT. BY THE LOOK OF THINGS I DON’T THINK THEY ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY
tully said at the CPC hearing that the EDC was negotiating a purchase of his transfer station business.
you got that number from bono on the queens crap post.
look.. it MAY be the “best location in the city” but its M3-1 heavy industrial zoned property. you cant demand 5th avenue prices for property that is zoned for heavy industrial purposes. that’s real estate 101
if one property is zoned to build up to 700 feet of commecial residential property with adequate utilities it will get a higher price that another area that is zoned for heavy commercial purposes on one tenth of the elevation with NO sewer or drainage services.
sounds like the owners and the city are far apart on their valuations which is a shame. i dont know what a waste transfer station is worth but im sure someone does and it shouldnt be that hard to come to a conclusion.
the lack of sewers is the citys problem you can’t get charged tax’s for it and than get screwed because its not there. make sence?
where i live we dont have sewers.. we have septic systems.. just like WP..
your bosses bought the land without sewer systems.. just septic systems… who’s problem is that?
im not demanding my town install sewers and rezone my land so that I can sell it to a developer for ten times the value.