Pondering Willets Point
Over at Metsblog, Matt Cerrone writes about a few of the things he’s pondering regarding the Mets. The issues include Carlos Beltran, Citi Field ticket prices, and the Willets Point Proposal. Of the proposal, Matt writes:
Is it fair that residents and businesses in the Iron Triangle may be forced to move out by the city to make way for the development of Willetts Point, a downtown setting of bars, restaurants and retail to accompany Citi Field. On one hand, as a modern-Libertarian, I feel this should be negotiated between the businesses that are directly involved, and not by Government. On the other hand, I love the idea of being able to hang out in a fun, downtown setting prior to seeing the Mets in Citi Field – assuming I can find and afford a ticket.
He concludes the post with the following:
If you have any insight on the above, let me know.
Matt runs one of the best blogs out there, and I definitely can see where he’s coming from with the conflicted thoughts on Willets Point. That being said, head on over and let him know how you feel about the potential development of the neighborhood.
3 Comments to Pondering Willets Point
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Welcome to Develop Willets Point
Thursday, August 14, 2008
War Over Willets Point
Every year or two an epic battle between developers and citizens erupts in New York City. There was the battle over the West Side Stadium in 2005 (which was killed) and then there was fight over the Atlantic Yards development project in Brooklyn (which wasn’t killed) in 2006-2007. Now, in 2008, Willets Point in Queens is the new front is this perennial struggle.
Here’s the deal: Mayor Bloomberg’s administration and his developer friends want to rezone the area and use eminent domain laws to evict over 200 small businesses and tear up the whole neighborhood. Why? They want (allegedly) to build a hotel, a convention center, and lots of retail space. This gang considers Willet’s Point “doomed” and they want to gussy it up and pimp it out. They believe tourists and convetioneers and fancy stores are gonna schlep all the way out to Corona, Queens (right near where Shea Stadium was and is) for this stuff. This is an area btw that is grossly underserved by public transportation (basically there’s just the 7 train) and already is choking with traffic. If this plan goes through, not only will all these small businesses be wrecked so that big businesses move in, but already nightmarish traffic will be made worse. That’s assuming that the crowds come, which I found doubtful. Can anyone say … debacle?
This ain’t happening without a fight. The City Council has to approve this and right now more than 32 members say they’re opposed. The neighborhood is outraged by this plan and rightly so. The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!
Why do some people think hotels and stadiums and convention centers are the answer to improve blighted cities or neighborhoods? Oh I know, “they create jobs” but most jobs in this country are created by small businesses. So I have an idea: make it easier for more small businesses to open in Willets Point (more jobs!) and build more affordable housing (more jobs and housing!). As always, it seems that some people don’t want to do the right thing until they exhaust all of the alternatives.
If you want to know more check out today’s Times’ article about this: A Confrontation Over the Future of Willets Point. Also, there’s a great blog called Queens Crap which is easily the best informational resource (better than the Times) about this and all things Queens.
HOW TRUE NOW EVERYONE SHOULD READ
Posted by Mr NYC at 7:05 PM
im generally libertarian as well.. but with places like Willets it takes the govt assembling the land to really improve the area .. which NEEDS improvement no doubt
bottom line.. is the place a blight? of course it is.
the landowners need to really come to the reality that they can and should move their businesses elsewhere and work with the city on making the best deal that works for themselves and their employees.
but if they continue to think their land is worth ten times what it really is it wont end pretty. but it will end.
and donna, with all due respect to the author you plagiarized, i think this is more of a housing and local queens project than a tourist and retail destination project.
the original author is right. the focus will be on affordable housing and queens needs THAT more than anything else. this provides needed housing in an ever crowded borough
smallie why are you the only one who ever writes it just me and you all the time never see any other opinions , we can’t be the only 2 people who visit this site can we?