Observer Interviews Deputy Mayor Lieber
The Observer has an interview with Robert Lieber, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, about trying to wrap up some of Mayor Bloomberg’s plans before his term comes to an end. That’s assuming term limits stay in place, but until that changes, I’ll assume that the Mayor has slightly more than a year to get things done.
Here’s the execerpts from the interview regarding Willets Point:
On Willets Point, you wanted to get a developer selected before you leave office in ’09. Why do that in such a sour economy?
We’re entering the market now with the view that we’re actually going to have construction three, four, five years from now, but these are projects that are going to be decade-plus projects. So they’re going to go through a number of cycles, so in some respects it’s probably better timing now.
You’re up for Council approval in two months [on the proposed Willets Point redevelopment]. How do you think you’re faring on that right now?We’ve made very good progress with the landowners. We have a lot more progress that we need to make, but the level and the intensity and frequency of negotiations is going quite significant here; and I think there’s an open attitude from both sides. I think many of them support this—they won’t say so publicly. … We’re very optimistic.
4 Comments to Observer Interviews Deputy Mayor Lieber
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Welcome to Develop Willets Point
Notice Leiber’s revealing response to the second question. He views the Council’s approval as being related ONLY to whether enough land owners agree to move.
Leiber is severely underestimating the significance of the Council’s many other legitimate objections to the proposed redevelopment. Those objections stand apart from any deals made by property owners, and they collectively constitute sufficient reason to dis-approve the application.
not really.. all other objections can and will be mitigated via negotiations.
just like the CB7 negotiations worked out to a favorable vote.
No negotiation in the world can ever mitigate the disastrous traffic effects that will negatively impact everyone who lives in the vicinity of the monstrous proposed redevelopment. No negotiation can ever cause housing, built directly underneath the closest airport runway approach point and so ridiculously close to screeching, flying airplanes, to be a place where any sane person would want to live at any price. No negotiation can ever make it acceptable for children to routinely play in a schoolyard as they are periodically sprinkled with jet fuel mist. And so on. These and other points are non-negotiable, unmitigable reasons why the proposed redevelopment shall be dis-approved by the City Council.
you mention the flight path of LGA.
People who live in Howard Beach manage to maintain a beautiful community similarly in the flight path of JFK (a larger airport than LGA)
Willets Point - located amidst the largest park in NYC and surrounded by three major traffic arteries and between two vibrant communities should be used for something other than junk yards, chop shops and industrial clutter. It is in the best interests of all citizens that this development move forward.