Develop Willets Point

Bill Thompson on Development, Willets Point (updated)

New York City Comptroller William Thompson, who has announced he’ll run for Mayor in 2009 regardless of the result of this term limits fiasco, offered his thoughts on the future of New York City and what he’d do as Mayor.

From City Room, here’s what he had to say regarding economic development:

Mr. Thompson favors scaling down some of the Bloomberg administration’s more ambitious projects, like the Moynihan Station in Midtown and Willets Point in Queens. Calling them “bold plans that will generate future growth in the our business sector,” he said the projects should be “altered, but should not be abandoned.”

Although it’s no surprise that other potential Mayors might be a little less enthusiastic about Mayor Bloomberg’s current proposals for major development, I am glad to hear that Thompson is not completely against the development of Willets Point.

How he would alter it is anyone’s guess, but the project definitely should not be abandoned.

Update
Well, I speculated about the details, and a few minutes later stumbled upon them.  There’s much more from Thompson’s speech, as reported by the New York Observer:

“Today, its proximity to La Guardia Airport and public transportation makes Willets Point a prime location for a larger convention center, a successful model that other cities have developed….Over time, this convention center could replace the Javits Convention Center entirely, freeing up valuable land.

Such an investment would not only create good jobs and give northern Queens a shot in the arm, but it would take advantage of the enduring strength of our tourism industry.

…

But development of Willets Point must place a priority on the proper relocation of the valuable enterprises now operating on the site….Their owners have built solid businesses in a previously neglected area, providing jobs and important services….At a time when we want to keep and grow our small businesses, they must not be cast aside.

We must also endeavor to create low, moderate and middle-income housing there.”

All in all, Thompson’s position is at the least very reasonable.

Tags: William Thompson