City Planning Commission gives nod to Willets Point mall

The City Planning Commission approved the Related Companies and Sterling Equities’ plan to build a sprawling mall at Willets Point, as part of a $3 billion redevelopment of the area near Citi Field.

“Willets Point is on its way to becoming remediated and ultimately becoming an active and inviting destination,” City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden said Wednesday after signing off on the 1.4 million-square-foot mall.

The approval from the 13-member panel means that the mall is headed for a City Council vote within the next 50 days. Representatives for Related and Sterling said they intend to “brief” Council members on the “support the plan has received from local civic leaders,” according to the New York Daily News.

But board member Michelle de la Uz said that Queens was already chock-full of malls and that “questionable and weak” efforts were made to relocate the small business owners working in the auto shops in the area. [NYDN] – Hiten Samtani