The city's moving forward with its questionable eminent domain plan that would oust 250 businesses from the Iron Triangle:Willets Point business relocation plan coming
But many say they aren't going anywhere:
At a Famous Old Eyesore, the Battle Goes On
Map from Gothamist
30 comments:
It's a non-issue, the body-shops will go, they will take their pollution and criminal-element and no one will miss them.
Queens improves.
They deserve to keep their property and no one has the right to take it away from them.
If there is a criminal element there then it is because the city has denied them adequate police protection just as they have denied them sewers and many other improvements.
What is criminal about industrial and auto use? Have they been charged with crimes? If not then stop hurling baseless accusations at family businesses.
Real convicted criminals like Tommy Huang and Joseph Liu (Councilman John Liu's father) still walk the streets of Queens doing business as usual! They're politically "connected" and get away with just a slap on the wrist !
Meanwhile, the business owners of Willets Point (who are continually being slandered, libeled and maligned as criminals) are soon to have their land stollen right out from under them by some of the biggest crooks in new York City.....the EDC & Co. !
Illegal "EMINENT DOMAIN-ATION" is what I call it.....pure and simple LAND THEFT !!!!
Now, now, now.....we "must not offend the Asians", as one "prominent" politician stated , some 22 years ago !
No one, apparently, shall dare interfere with the building of "Wellington Point".....eh ? !!!!
This has been a plan that's been around on the back burner for years ! Now our "city fathers"seem to be turning up the heat !
Watch out you SOBs...... that it doesn't boil over and backfire !
The First poster is obviously from the Parkside Group or Senator Stavisky's office. They keep saying "Queens approves". That's an issue and the only "criminal-element" are the policians and the politically connected developers who are trying to steal property.
Yes, this seems to be yet another land grab brought on by overdevelopment. They ran out of room in downtown Flushing, so they have no choice but to spread West.
Nah....there's still plenty of room in downtown (east bank) Flushing .
The "teaming" masses that live
there would consider a closet a roomy luxurious living space when compared to their previous (perhaps, overseas ?) quarters ? !!!
What is the first poster suggesting by "criminal-element"? The mafia? Because some folks' names end in a vowel? I resent that.
The city has every right, under the law and the constitution, to take this action to improve this property. It is the absolutely right thing to do for Queens and for NYC. That area has changed dramatically since those businesses started up, and the city is doing the right thing to improve and develop the property in a way that will benefit the surrounding community and the whole city. A beautiful retail/dining/residential development next to Citi Field and the USTA makes perfect sense and will be much more beneficial and desirable for the public than the dirty junkyards. As long as the city fairly pays the junkyard owners and helps them relocate to a location more conducive to that kind of business, I think it is a great thing.
Who's in charge of this land theft? Robert Mugabe?
"It is the absolutely right thing to do for Queens and for NYC."
And how did we come to this conclusion. I don't see how this is helping someone who lives in Rockaway, Jamaica or the Bronx. This sounds an awful lot like a lobbyist drone.
It's an isolated locale and therefore the perfect spot for the "eyesore" businesses which are there now. Where are they supposed to move to - the middle of Flushing?
The city has no right to take this property and create "Wellington Point".
As a first generation American from Italian parents, I don't like the first posters comment. The American-Italian business owners are not criminals.
They did not cause the pollution in this area. The real criminals are Claire Shulman and her friends. The businesses paid taxes and got nothing from her. No roads, no sidewalks, no water main and no sewers. Now her friends want to steal the land. Not without a fight!!!!
It is located next to a Major League Baseball stadium, across from the USTA, next to one of the major parks of NYC, near subways, the LIRR and highway exits. I don't understand how this constitutes "isolated."
The area is buffered from the closest residential community by a Major League Baseball stadium, the USTA, one of the major parks of NYC, and Flushing Creek. The closest residential community is one LIRR or subway stop away. This is why it's a perfect spot for industry.
"The area is buffered from the closest residential community by a Major League Baseball stadium, the USTA, one of the major parks of NYC, and Flushing Creek. The closest residential community is one LIRR or subway stop away. This is why it's a perfect spot for industry."
Have you looked at a map lately? This area is right at the juncture of the Whitestone Expressway, the Van Wyck Expressway, the Long Island Expressway, the Grand Central Parkway, Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue.
Major events at Shea Stadium and the tennis stadium already clog all of these main Queens arteries. Adding a huge development as proposed by Mayor Bonehead will choke off all sides of the borough. While I recognize that the area is not very pretty, I feel that the current owners should have much greater input into any decision-making process and should be allowed to stay, if they so desire.
As someone who lives about 2 miles north of the Willets Point area, I am wary of any project that will create more congestion, pollution, and drain on an already overtaxed infrastructure. The hypocrisy of this city administration is quite disturbing. I know Doctoroff and cronies see dollar signs when they drool over the Willets Point property. Can someone please explain how adding so many residential units and businesses are good for the environment? Doesn't the mayor say he is trying to green up New York City? Hmmm.......
Where is the money ($60,000+) coming from to pay The Parkside Group?
The USTA project was pimped by former Mayor Dinkins and his tennis buddy Sid (political king-maker) Davidoff.
Attorney Jeffrey Chester (of Davidoff Melto & Partners) was their chief lobbyist !
We're still being screwed by the restrictive terms the city agreed to with the USTA !
That was another land grab of parkland that slipped under the radar .......the city already had a tennis stadium (which still stands) the Louis Armstrong Stadium !
The use of eminent domain can only be legally employed for the "public good" !
I don't see any libraries, schools or bridges being planned for this area....only cash benefits going into PRIVATE POCKETS !
The bastards that are supporting this perverted and illegal use of eminent domain proceedings are defying the U.S. CONSTITUTION !
That also makes them TRAITORS in addition to thieving cowards !!!
Who is funding the FLUSHING WILLETS POINT CORONA LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and the FLUSHING WILLETS POINT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION?
Both entities were formed on the same day. Why two corporations? Which one is Claire Shulman heading? Who are the Board of Directors? Where are they getting their funding from?
Sounds fishy! And it's just the begining.
Don't think I am not watching another "prize" for this sleazy administration. It seems that the 24 acre parcel that is left of developable land at Flushing Airport is once again being quietly prepared for something. I am sure it is part of the Commissar's master plan for North Queens.
My objections to any new major projects is that I can see from apartment window the daily traffic going north and south on the Whitestone Expressway. Without any traffic reviews, environmental studies and public oversight, any new construction would, in my opinion, cause great harm to the infrastructure.
As don't tread on me already pointed out, "I don't see any libraries, schools or bridges being planned for this area....only cash benefits going into PRIVATE POCKETS !" What about the strain on the already overtaxed electrical grid? How are emergency vehicles going to navigate the area?
There are just too many unanswered questions that are real and legitimate but Mayor Doomberg & Co. only see economic benefit for their friends and therefore themselves. It is about time that people of this city take off their rose-colored glasses and see these selfish people as many concerned citizens do.
May Queens Crap live long and prosper. Ever think of starting your own local paper?
Good posts Alan. I disagree with you but I respect your opinion, especially when you stay away from name-calling and personal insults. I think we should view the development of this site from a cost/benefit analysis. Many benefits exist in the mayor's plan. The people who would shop and dine in the area would perceive a benefit. The business owners of those stores and restaurants would perceive a benefit. The people who work in the added jobs that would come would benefit. The US Open and Mets game patrons that now flee the area after events would stay and spend money in the area, which benefits Queens. The people who choose to live there would perceive a benefit. We should take take advantage of the location, its proximity to the USTA, the Mets, the park, the easy access by public transportation, to build something more useful and that will enhance Queens' reputation and economy. Living in NYC means living in an ever-evolving and growing urban environment, which is one of the things that makes this a great city. People should not choose to live here if they want open space, empty roads and quiet.
I agree that traffic and environmental studies should be part of this process. I agree that libraries and schools should be considered as part of the planning. I believe that a hospital is in the plan, and we all know Queens could use an additional high-quality hospital. The alternative of doing nothing with this site and just having it continue with dirty, smelly junkyards is the worst solution. After decades of talk with no action regarding the Willets Point site, I am glad that the Mayor is finally making progress and something may finally get done. Genius.
how does the mayor get away with calling this area "blighted" when the city has failed to provide the basic services to this area that it provides to other taxpayers? it's disgraceful. perhaps if bloomie spent as much time pushing for filling potholes, adding sewer lines, street lights and other necessary basic services, the area wouldn't be such a "blighted eyesore."
willets point residents should take this to the u.s. supreme court. i would so love for the new justices to get the opportunity to overturn kehlo.
Throw in a hospital to make the land grab legit? It's all bullshit.
To "anonymous who posted after Alan":
My....what a well prepared and lengthy script worthy of, perhaps, a Jeffery Chester (of the law firm of Davidoff Malito & Partners) who represented and lobbied for those original USTA parkland grabbers and left NYC holding a bag of dog waste....a sellout deal that still stinks!
Or maybe this tripe is a product of one of the "Parkside Group's" golden mouthpieces ?
The readers of this truthful blog don't respond well to such convoluted forms of patronizing !
Go and try to kiss somebody else's butt and keep your sharp little teeth away from my sphincter !
Is that colorful enough for you fella ? !!!
To the previous poster...
HOW VIVID!!! But I have to agree. It's obvious that that individual is spreading his/her own PR Agenda against the Willets Point property owners.
this will go to the supreme court ,its the best case in the country to overturn kelo . lets use eminent domain and steal your land'' because it's blighted but'''' wait we blighted it by giving you nothing for 35 years . ask for records of any city agencey to see how much they spent on willets point in the last 35 years and the answer will be the same ooooooooooooo'''' this is the case that brings the greedy deveolpers and politicans back to the reality'''''''''
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