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July 1, 2008
EMINENT DOMAINIA: The Big Apple Bites!
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Here is some of the coverage regarding the vote by Queens Community Board 7 that gave advisory approval to the City's plan for Willets Point, Queens. This is another land grab that doesn't yet have a plan or a developer, but will use eminent domain to displace businesses already established in the area. Look for the City to claim the area as being blighted, although the cause of the blight is the City having neglected to provide basic services to this area for decades.
AP via MetroNY: NYC board votes for site near new Mets stadium
A community board in Queens has voted in favor of a plan backed by Mayor Bloomberg to develop a 60-acre site into a new neighborhood of homes, shops, offices and entertainment.
Community Board 7 approved the plan 20 to 15 early Tuesday morning that would transform the gritty area known as Willets Point, near the Mets' new baseball stadium.
About 70 people spoke before the board at the meeting that began Monday evening and lasted into the next morning.
Willets Point land and business owners -- along with hundreds of their employees -- protested the meeting.
Among many concerns, including traffic congestion, the Willets Point Industry and Realty Association says the project lacks a developer or a formal plan.
1010 WINS: Repeats the same AP story, but also includes an audio report by Sonia Rincon.
The Daily News gives an indication of some of the political jockeying that went on before last night's vote by Queens Community Board 7.
Community Board 7 playing hardball on Willets Point redevelopment by John Lauinger
Community Board 7 has threatened to nix Mayor Bloomberg's Willets Point redevelopment plan Monday night unless the city consents to giving the Queens Borough Board a binding vote on the proposal.
The community board is balking at being forced to vote on the plan when the city hasn't even purchased the roughly 60-acre industrial zone near Shea Stadium.
"They're asking us right now to sign off unconditionally on a hypothetical plan without a developer and without funding," said Chuck Apelian, who heads the community board's special committee on Willets Point.
Crain's New York article prior to the vote (by Daniel Massey):
Willets Point project faces key test Monday night
“This is the opportunity to make sure we get good development and good give-backs to the community,” said Chuck Apelian, chairman of the board’s Willets Point committee. “We’re not going to let the city drive its economic engine through our land.”
The board is most concerned with giving the Bloomberg administration the go-ahead on a major project that would displace 260 businesses before the city has bought the land and picked a developer. Members are worried the plan could change and that they would be giving the administration a blank check for a valuable piece of land that abuts the new Citi Field in northeastern Queens.
“How can we convey it without knowing what they’re going to do?” Mr. Apelian said.
Posted by steve at July 1, 2008 8:26 AM