City Council majority denounces Willets Point plan

April 21, 2008 05:30PM
Willets Point


The seven-month review process for the 61-acre redevelopment of Willets Point got off to a rocky start today, as 29 New York City Council members formally denounced the plan as "deeply flawed."

In a letter to Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Robert Lieber, the Council members cited the displacement of 250 businesses and the lack of affordable housing as unacceptable terms.

"If the plan does not meet basic standards of public benefit, there can be no justification for this broad use of public authority and funds, and we will not allow the redevelopment to take place," the letter read. "As the plan currently stands, it has no chance of surviving the public review process."

The Bloomberg administration's decision to push the project forward through the ULURP land review process has raised concerns among Queens business owners and residents. The proposal called for 60 percent of the residential units to be reserved for middle-income New Yorkers and the rest to be sold at market rate. TRD


Comments

GoGreenNYC

There is no flaw to the Willets Point Plan. There is flaw in the affordable housing regulation. Why do we have to create affordable housing for those crooks who is staying home doing nothing. I have a rent stabilized tenant below my apartment and this person is disturbing neighbors; making loud music, smoking weeds.

Comment #1 Posted By: GoGreenNYC 04/22/08

Anonymous

It is too bad that the City or the Mayor do not care about this area. The environment is bad and obviously the air quality and water ways smell very bad. With a new Stadium in the works and with new Condominiums investing in a renaissance of the area it sure would be nice for a change if the Government helped make this area livable. Why am I not surprise. hmmmmm

Comment #2 Posted By: Anonymous 04/26/08

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