Approval of highway ramps pushes forward Willets Point redevelopment

The Bloomberg administration granted permission yesterday for the construction of two highway off-ramps for the Van Wyck Expressway that city officials had slated as essential for the redevelopment of Willets Point in Queens, according to Crain’s.

Several Willets Point property owners had been attempting to stall the redevelopment project, claiming that the city had pledged not to condemn state land until the ramps had been okayed. A New York City Economic Development Corp. spokesperson said that the procedural hurdle had now been overcome, and they could move on to the required public review process.

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Meanwhile, the city will carry on with the first phase of the project, separate from the ramps. Yesterday it issued what it calls a determination and fundings report, considered a step towards purchasing the final 10 percent of land necessary for the first phase, which will include commercial, residential and hotel facilities. About 4,600 jobs will be created by the construction and 1,800 permanent positions at the new facilities, the city said. [Crain’s]