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April 21, 2008
Divisive Willets Point plan up for review
Crain's NY Business
Breaking news in our backyard in one of the most serious domain controversies in the nation:
The city intends to certify the Willets Point and Hunters Point South plans into the land-use process on Monday, setting the stage for a seven-month battle as the projects are scrutinized by the communities, the City Planning Commission and the City Council.
Willets Point business owners have been simmering since last May, when Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a $3 billion plan that would displace them and remake the hardscrabble blocks near the Mets’ new Citi Field. There, the city would build 5,500 housing units, a hotel, a convention center and 2.2 million square feet of office and retail space.
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The mayor’s economic development team has decided to press forward on Willets Point, despite many unresolved issues. The 61-acre redevelopment had been scheduled for certification in February, but the city temporarily backed off when City Councilman Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, withdrew his support. He remains opposed, saying he wants the administration to guarantee the inclusion of middle- and low-income housing units, require livable-wage jobs and agree not to use eminent domain to take over properties.“They have now put a real short-term clock on this project,” says Mr. Monserrate. “And that clock begins to tick on Monday.”
NoLandGrab: This would be a joke, if the City wasn't dead serious. After decades of failing to deliver basic city services to this neighborhood, New York City is conveniently declaring it "blighted" in order to remove small business owners via eminent domain.
Posted by lumi at April 21, 2008 4:47 AM