The U.S. Tennis Association has only one more step to take before it can expand its complex in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, DNAinfo reported. The proposal, which has been criticized by preservationists, now goes before the City Council after the Planning Commission signed off on it Wednesday.
In its $500 million plan, the USTA is looking to overhaul its 42-acre Billie Jean King National Tennis Center; replace the aging Louis Armstrong Stadium; build a Grandstand Stadium and two parking garages; and replace seven tennis courts.The plan proposes using a 0.68-acre strip of city parkland, which has drawn opposition from neighborhood residents and preservationists. Earlier this month, the USTA agreed to replace the parkland with two other parcels totaling 1.56 acres that it has leased for the past 20 years.
Before voting “yea” for the plan, City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden said she was “pleased” to support the proposal given the parkland replacement deal, which would ensure “that there will be no loss of public parkland in order to accomplish the proposed upgrade to the tennis center.” [DNAinfo] – Hiten Samtani