Advocates call TF Cornerstone’s $925M LIC megaproject “irresponsible”

A Long Island City advocacy group is fighting TF Cornerstone’s planned mixed-use waterfront development, arguing that the project is “irresponsible” because it’s planned in a hurricane evacuation zone.

The group, the LIC Coalition, launched a petition last week to oppose the project at 5-40 44th Road and 4-99 44th Road, which is expected to include 1,000 apartments and 100,000 square feet of space for light manufacturing, DNAinfo reported. The coalition wants the two city-owned parcels to be converted into public parkland instead.

“We think continuing to build in a flood plain is irresponsible,” said Diane Hendry, a member of the LIC Coalition. “The land is a natural wetlands. It should be preserved. We do not want this land used for 1,000 luxury units.”

The project is planned for an area the city has designated as most likely to flood during a storm, Hurricane Evacuation Zone 1. The sites are also located on the border of two FEMA flood zones with the highest risk of flooding. The city’s Economic Development Corporation told DNAinfo that the project is in early design phase and will comply “with all applicable resiliency standards.”

The $925 million development would also include a 600-seat public elementary school and a one-acre park. At least 25 percent of units are designated affordable.  [DNAinfo] — Kathryn Brenzel