Negotiations failing at Willets Point

Several prominent property owners, who requested to remain anonymous to protect their negotiations, have told me in recent weeks that they appeared to be on the brink of making deals with the city only to have last minute complications keep them from signing the final paperwork.

Progress, complexity surround Willets Point land negotiations

Such cases were also alluded to during last week’s hearing.

“We thought we were very close but we were not close,” House of Spices owner G.L. Soni said.

Multiple sources have told me that House of Spices were close to striking a multi-million dollar deal that would have sent the Indian food distributor to the Bronx, but negotiations collapsed. Soni said at the hearing the company remains open to a deal with the city.

A similar situation was true for Crown Container Co., who agreed in principle with the city to relocate its waste management company to Maspeth before negotiations broke down. Crown Container Owner Jerry Antonacci said he too remains at the negotiating table with the city.

Scully, meanwhile, told Council members at last week’s hearing that Tully Environmental and Tully Construction, who together account for about a quarter of the privately-owned land at Willets Point, have been proactive in their negotiations with the city, which thus far have not been fruitful.