Willets Point roundup

Willets Point was a hot topic this past week. Here's a summary:

"There have been several [redevelopment] plans before for Willets Point, but this one is not a pie-in-the-sky idea," said [Helen] Marshall. Public review of the proposal for the 60-acre site, including more than 1 million square feet of retail shops and restaurants, 500,000 square feet of office space and 5,500 units of housing, will begin shortly, she said. "We need to encourage businesses to come here."

More than 200 businesses currently operate in the so-called "Iron Triangle", and Marshall said the redevelopment plan includes a "business relocation component" for them.

So in order to encourage businesses to come, you have to get rid of the ones that are there already. Okay.

Borough Cabinet Considers Willets Point

Scully said the EDC is attempting to push public approval through before a developer has been named or financing is in place. "We're not against redeveloping the area," he said. "We're all for it. Let us develop our land." He proposed an economic zone. "Put the sewers in and many [more] businesses will come," he said. "Why should a new developer get [paved] streets and sewers that we've been waiting 40 years for?"

Willets Point Plan Draws Fire At Bd. 7

In the past five decades, Mayors Robert Wagner, Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani and master builder Robert Moses have all pledged a sweeping redevelopment of Willets Point, vowing to bring a new life to the 61-acre amalgam of auto-repair shops and manufacturers by Shea Stadium.

Willets Point, A Development Waterloo?

The Bloomberg administration, surely aware of the stumbling blocks of predecessors, seems to be preparing itself for dissent. Earlier this month, the city held a press conference to tout the newly announced support of Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley. Mayor Bloomberg has unabashedly supported the use of eminent domain to oust landowners unwilling to sell their land, and the city has brought in a number of high-profile attorneys to work on the plan.

And to drum up support in the immediate area, the city has been giving funding to a Willets Point redevelopment advocacy group led by former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber confirmed, boosting an organization that has brought on a lobbying team of its own for the push. The city has approved up to $250,000 in matching funds for Ms. Shulman’s group.

Huh????? Would someone please explain how this is allowable?