Across from Willets Point, massive development could rise in Flushing

Willets Point could be getting a neighboring development project directly to the east. The Queens Chronicle reported that a local development group presented plans to the Flushing community last week that called for large-scale development on 60 acres of downtown Flushing land across the Flushing River from Willets Point.

The plans, crafted by the Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corp., were funded by a $1.5 million grant from the state’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas program and aim to upzone the area to allow for mixed-use development. According to the Queens Courier, in the near-term the land would get 600 units of affordable housing and more than 250,000 square feet towards retail, restaurants, office, hotel or entertainment options.

Down the road, more than 1,600 units of housing would be erected. Because the site is less than a mile and a half away from LaGuardia Airport, building heights would be capped at 170 feet further inland and 145 feet along the river.

But no building would veer to closely to the river, as the plan calls for a 130-foot wide waterfront edge that would be dedicated to green space. Officials also hope the final plan includes a pedestrian bridge across the water linking this development site with the one Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced for Willets Point. [QChron] and [Queens Courier]