This report was written 8 years ago, but most of the findings are still relevant today:The Big Squeeze
This particular passage jumped off the screen:
"The development Queens West is one example of the city's short-sighted land use policy. In the early 90s, city and state government and the Port Authority joined forces to develop the waterfront at Hunter's Point - a stone's throw from Long Island City - with residential units, retail establishments and a private tennis club. The project went forward at a time when the city's economy was in a slump and there was no significant demand for industrial space. If that land were available today, it would be ideal for industrial expansion. While the impetus behind Queens West was understandable, the city was left without a large well-located industrial site once the economy picked up and demand for that type of space grew."
Unfortunately, our city never learns from its past mistakes and thus redevelopment of industrial space for residential use continues.
1 comment:
The plan for the development of Hunters Point go way back to the reign of Donald ("The Terrible") Manes! I remember seeing drawings etc. in the weekly local newspapers (around the early1980s) regarding this proposal. The project lay dormant and shelved for a few years until it was eventually rescued and "pimped" by Borough President Shulman & Co. and of course, later extolled by Hellen Marshal. Our favorite builders, Rockrose Dev. is doing most of the work now! This is the same Rockrose that contributed to the election campaign funds of many prominent politicos (Melinda Katz being one of them)! It seems a pity to waste an expensive dramatic river/skyline view that the wealthy are willing to pay so much for and build affordable housing or revitalize the industry that once created jobs for people. Oh, we know what they'll say, that construction jobs will be created by all of this over building. This is the same tired mantra we've heard over and over. These will only be "temp jobs". As soon as all of the "migrant construction workers"are finished with their tasks and those jobs are over, where do they go? Nobody really cares!
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