Develop 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.

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.

According to people who attended the hearing yesterday, there were 54 speakers in total.  40 were in favor of the development plan, and only 14 were opposed.

Several outlets have pretty extensive coverage of the happenings at Washington Square Park.

The New York Times covers the WP protests but focuses on the interruption of the pro-development press conference by the protesters.

The Times also has photographs which support the reports I heard yesterday that turnout was relatively small for the WP protest.  The anti-development folks joined the much larger group protesting the Lower East Side rezoning, as shown in the photos.

The New York Sun covers some of the same, but points out that the Mayor is extremely confident in the plan.  Despite the letter signed by 32 Council Members in opposition to the plan, they quote Mayor Bloomberg:

“I think you will find virtually all of the City Council in the end signing on.”

Sounds like what Councilman Monserrate has been saying in private and around the events yesterday afternoon.

And lastly, NY1 has some additional coverage of the protesters interrupting the press conference.

Sounds like things have been pretty crazy in Washington Square Park today outside of the hearings on Willets Point. According to a couple readers down at the events today, here’s what happened.

• Willets Point protesters joined in with those protesting the Lower East Side rezoning plans. Turn out for the WP protest was moderate but loud.
• The WP protest had a garbage truck with an anti-Bloomberg sign on it circle the park.
• The rally in favor of the plan was going well until it was overrun by shouting ACORN members and the workers who came with Councilman Monserrate.
• Councilman Monserrate was overheard on more than one occassion saying that in the end the plan to develop the area will happen.

Wow. Really wish I could have been there, but the fact that Monserrate ultimately sees this project happening is great. I do, too.

You can catch the video coverage of the events from NY1 here.

Just a reminder that you can rally in support of the Willets Point plan today at 1 pm in Washington Square Park.