Monday, June 30, 2008
New Willets Point video + tweeding by CB7
Community Board 7 playing hardball on Willets Point redevelopment
BY JOHN LAUINGER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Community Board 7 has threatened to nix Mayor Bloomberg's Willets Point redevelopment plan Monday night unless the city consents to giving the Queens Borough Board a binding vote on the proposal.
The community board is balking at being forced to vote on the plan when the city hasn't even purchased the roughly 60-acre industrial zone near Shea Stadium.
"They're asking us right now to sign off unconditionally on a hypothetical plan without a developer and without funding," said Chuck Apelian, who heads the community board's special committee on Willets Point.
Last Monday, that committee approved Mayor Bloomberg's sweeping plan to transform the gritty industrial maze into a glitzy residential and commercial development.
But the committee issued a series of demands that the board expected the city to satisfy by Monday night's meeting - or face a thumbs-down. That vote, however, would only be advisory.
Chief among the committee's demands is for the city to give the Queens Borough Board veto power over the Willets Point plan after it goes through the normal city land-use review process.
Jeff Roberts, a spokesman for the city Economic Development Corp., said: "We're working closely with the committee and the City Council on a reasonable arrangement to meet the requests of the committee."
A city source told the Daily News that the administration is pushing to have the Willets Point redevelopment controlled by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development rather than the EDC.
The community board's request would have the project remain in EDC's hands, because all dispositions of city land controlled by EDC must be approved by the borough board.
"It's a good idea," said Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills), chairwoman of the Council's land-use committee.
Katz said the community board's request is one of several options being discussed with the city that would give the community more control over the plan if and when it clears the land-use review process.
jlauinger@nydailynews.com
You're demanding a binding vote by the Queens Borough Board? You might as well just vote "yes".
DATE: Monday June 30, 2008
TIME: Rally – 6:30PM
Community Board 7 Public Meeting & Vote – 7PM
WHERE: UNION PLAZA CARE CENTER
33-23 UNION STREET, FLUSHING, NY 11354
CONTACT: willetspoint@gmail.com
18 comments:
I wish they'd start looking at the space around the newtown creek for industrial development. It is an underused swath of land that calls out for development. I think it would also make sense to put a new transit line there along the existing rail lines. Next to the obvious fumble when they built the new Shea out by the old shea instead of over the Sunnyside rail yards this is the most egregious misuse of public space imaginable. Both of these areas are (long) walkable to Manhattan.
It is an underused swath of land that calls out for development.
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I am sorry, being neither a politician or developer I never hear land calling out for anything.
Why would a land call for development? To impress the block and lot next door?
"MY building is bigger than YOUR building?"
I always love how the community boards look into this stuff and give the impression that they are doing something useful.
Like community board one and Dutch Kills (calling it a 'downzoning' as the increase it from an R5 to R6) or community board 2 and LIC (such a mess lets not even go there)
Community Board #7 playing hardball? Right! That article is show biz produced by The Parkside Group.
The borough board is as much of a joke as the community board. One thing they both have in common; the community is not represented at either one. Developers are.
The Community Board should not be voting on this un-American, immoral and hypothetical plan. They should do the right thing and either vote it down or refuse to vote at all.
The land by Newtown Creek will not be developed for awhile. That is where they plan to put the Cross Harbor Tunnel, also brought to you by the Parkside Group.
I'm very happy to see the business owners organize, the video shows them in a great light.
I hope it helps, to shut this area down and hand it to huge developers that could care less about the area would be a disgrace.
BRING YOUR VIDEO CAMERAS!!!!
Yes, everyone should unite to make sure that the nightmarish mess of a hell-hole that is Willets Point stays exactly the way it is. Let's fight any attempts to change the area over into something nice and useful for the entire community.
Yes, everyone should unite to make sure that the nightmarish mess of a hell-hole that is Willets Point stays exactly the way it is.
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Yes, everyone should unite to make sure that the nightmarish mess of a hell-hole that is Queens stays exactly the way it is.
Support the party line.
Yes, everyone should unite to make sure that the nightmarish mess of a hell-hole that is Willets Point stays exactly the way it is. Let's fight any attempts to change the area over into something nice and useful for the entire community.
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Bloomie is that you?
Rally actually starts at 6PM so the CB7 members can see the protesters on their way in. On another note, another hearing is scheduled before the WP vote, taking up an hour of the schedule tonight, and leaving only 15 minutes for public testimony. I see how they're so supportive of the community...
I think its not that a lot of people want the plan not to go through. I think its more like the plan right now is not so good, so listen to the community concerns, adress them, and then present a better plan rather than just try and hastily pump this out before bloomie leaves office
Lots of illegals in the video. The INS would have a field day down there. If Bloomberg was smart he send them in.
Bloomie is that you?
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Yes, where are all my new people supposed to put there 120 inch Plasma screens and get there nails done every day??
My new people will have all brand new or leased cars under Factory warrantee by the dealer. Who needs junkyards, welders, painters and mechanics ?
BTW
How did you know I wear my underwear on my head?
...Parkside keeps me clean from the waste down.
PFFT ! Nothings sacred anymore :( :(
-Mike B
Plane and simple, if they take the triangle away the middle class and lower class wont be able to get there cars fixed without going to a dealer.
Corner gas station and body shops will be screwed as well.
"Make Queens the new playground for the rich...everbody else GTF OUT !!
This is no doubt part of this commie plan
Who cares about the middle class. How many times do we have to tell you that as far as the machine thinks, the 'Middle Class is a Pain in the Ass.'
Think of all those tweeded Flushingites that are moving in. With this development, you assure that census district will vote the 'right way' for generations.
End of discussion.
Where is Cuomo? He helped them a few decades ago and and can come in and do it again. The issues are exactly the same today as then.
Oh, yes, he is retired. Their usefulness to his career was then, not now.
Remember that the next time you see an ambitious young politician hanging on to your every word.
Next to the obvious fumble when they built the new Shea out by the old shea instead of over the Sunnyside rail yards
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Sure, build an entire city above a railyard with thousands of third world communters who come from countries where terrorism is a way of life.
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