Council chews on Willets Point plan

Some City Council members are wary of aspects of the city’s $3 billion plan to revamp Willets Point in Queens. The Council, which held a public hearing on the proposal last week, called into question the Bloomberg administration’s plans to rezone the industrial area before a developer is chosen and to give current Willets Point owners market-value sums for their properties. The Council typically considers rezoning proposals after a developer has been chosen. As for the plan to give current owners market value for their properties, Councilman Tony Avella noted that “No property owner in their right mind is ever going to agree to this…They’re clearly pressuring the property owners, threatening them that, ‘If you don’t give in to our terms, we’re going to apply eminent domain.'” more [NYDN]