NYCEDC
News: City Planning Commission to Hold Hearings on Willets Point
From the NYCEDC:
“On Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., at Tishman Auditorium of Vanderbilt Hall, New York University School of Law, 40 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 in Manhattan public hearings will be held by the City Planning Commission on… Willets Point Development Plan – land use applications for a change to the City Map (C 080221 MMQ), a zoning map change (C 080381 ZMQ), a zoning text amendment (N 080382 ZRQ), urban renewal designation and plan (N 080383 HGQ, C 080384 HUQ) and disposition of city property (C 080385 HDQ) and a related DEIS (07DME014Q) submitted by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Economic Development Corporation. THIS HEARING IS NOT LIKELY TO BEGIN BEFORE 1 PM. *
Here’s another opportunity for anyone who supports this plan to get out and voice support! Unfortunately, I can’t make the hearing myself, but if you are anywhere NYU on Wednesday afternoon, please stop by and tell the City Planning Commission you support this plan.
News: WPIRA to Protest Plan During Game Today
The WPIRA is organizing a protest of the city’s development plan to take place at 3:15 today. There’s going to be a press conference with Councilman Monserrate followed by some trucks circling Shea Stadium “informing Mets fans of the city’s attempt to use eminent domain to take private property and turn it over to a politically-connected developer, destroying jobs in the process,” according to Queens Crap.
Well, the city has yet to come close to using eminent domain, and the property deals that have occurred thus far have been more than fair to the businesses that are relocating. Keep in mind that some of those that have sold were members of the WPIRA. Seems to me the city isn’t stealing property but instead is paying a premium and doing a good job of finding new locations for these businesses.
The jobs that currently exist in Willets Point will continue to exist when these businesses move to their new locations. Never mind that this development is set to create hundreds of jobs in the neighborhood that is Willets Point.
News: Issues with Sambucci Resolved
Crain’s is now reporting that things are back on track for the relocation of Sambucci Bros.
From the article:
“Everything is settled,” said Danny Sambucci Jr., whose father opened the auto parts yard nearly 60 years ago. “They resolved everything. We have no problems.”
Sounds like the information from the NYCEDC and readers of the site was dead on. That quotation pretty much sums things up, and it’s definitely good news.
News: Property Deal at Risk of Falling Apart, Or Not…
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.
News: Queens Borough President Approves of Plan
As expected, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall released her report on the Willets Point plan and issued her approval.
She did list some conditions in the report, mainly including affordable housing, making every effort to avoid eminent domain, and guaranteeing a convention center.
More on this to come this evening, but this is great!
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