Plaxall Inc. has joined the group of developers that are planning the future of the Long Island City waterfront post-Amazon.
The family company joins TF Cornerstone, Simon Baron Development and L&L MAG, which have banded together to conduct a series of community-planning meetings at the urging of the City Council.
Plaxall, which stood to make a windfall if Amazon’s proposed campus had materialized, officially announced Thursday it would support the public consultation process, as QNS first reported.
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The planning events are a mix of in-person and online workshops meant to give the developers insight into what residents want to see developed on the 28-acre site. It’s unclear what, if any, obligations for developers may come out of the public consultation process.
Prior to Amazon’s plans for a second headquarters being unveiled, Plaxall had been planning to develop a $3 billion, 5,000-unit project on its LIC land that would require rezoning, which had met resistance from Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.
Plaxall Managing Director Paula Kirby described the firm’s delayed decision to join the other developers’ coalition as taking the “considered and careful approach.”
The first workshop occurred last month and the second meeting is scheduled for Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at Hunters Point Middle School. Architects and engineers are set to speak at the upcoming meeting about designing for climate change and fair access to park land. There will be a total of four events.
Residents and members of the real estate industry seem enthused at the news.
Modern Spaces’ Eric Benaim said he’s supportive regardless of what kind of projects ultimately get developed “because the bigger picture is it helps out the rest of the neighborhood.”
“As of now everyone’s been receptive of this but then again you never know,” he said. “You have the crazies who came out for Amazon, they might come out again.”
Write to Erin Hudson at ekh@therealdeal.com