Mayor Bloomberg is battling to get a key City Councilman behind his sweeping Queens redevelopment project ahead of tomorrow's deadline.The city offered to nearly double the number of affordable housing units in the $3 billion Willets Point redevelopment plan, but Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens), whose district includes the 62-acre site, wants the project to include low-income housing.
"At this point, we don't have a deal," said Monserrate, who has been critical of Bloomberg's plan to transform the gritty industrial haven into a residential and commercial megadevelopment.
The plan the city put on the table yesterday would increase the number of affordable homes in the 5,550-unit project to nearly 2,000 from 1,110.
Bloomberg's redevelopment proposal must pass through a subcomittee and then the Land Use Committee before the full Council can take a make-or-break vote.
Another stumbling block remains: Monserrate and a majority of the City Council don't want the city to grab the land through eminent domain. City officials are pressing to strike deals with landowners.
Michael Bloomberg sweetens Willets Pt. deal
Let's remember that the "brave Americans" who signed that letter back when stated firmly that they would not vote "yes" if eminent domain was on the table.
If they fold like a cheap tent tomorrow, then vote their asses out of office next November. Many of them already have one foot in the grave after their term limits extension vote.
18 comments:
Is there any doubt that from Monserrate's words he is ultimately signing off on the project ?
Get that Fat lady on the stage and belt out a number for NYC.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/11/12/2008-11-12_why_im_glad_i_sold_my_willets_point_prop-2.html
Carlos From Flushing Towing's comments in the DN opinion page give a great look intot he inner workings and conditions of the Iron triangle from a person who has been there for some time.
The pressure and intimidation from the large landowners - which Carlos outlines in his piece - certainly reeks of collusion and heavy handed tactics.
His description of the conditions and his health problems from working there should be eye opening to anyone who supports this project.
I am sure you wont see this OpEd featured on this site.
Who in their right mind is going to buy here considering the location and the fact that we will probably be in recession for many years?
You just featured it, moron.
Why would Crappy post EDC propaganda bullshit? He obviously was paid to write that or it was part of his deal.
The opinion piece was written for him.
Please refrain from defaming Carlos.
Crapper - are you going to stand by as this PRIVATE CITIZEN is defamed in your forum and accused of lying with no proof?
No one said he was lying. People can give their opinions on his opinion piece.
This moron Biggie Smalls loves to comment all over the place about this project. No one could possibly be this obsessed with and know so much inside information unless they were working for Parkside, EDC or the administration. He always tries to change the subject, too. This was about affordable housing and Monserrate and Mr. Anonymous made it into something totally different.
This project will never happen. They may go through eminent domain and whatnot, but that parcel will lay vacant for decades. No developer will be paying big money to remediate the site if there is a requirement for almost 50% affordable housing. No developer is building luxury condos there because they won't sell in that area. No developer is going to build anything there and it will become Shea parking or home to Wilpon's soccer stadium.
Of course there is no proof that he "obviously was paid to write that piece or it was part of his deal" and that the opinion piece was "written for him".
Defaming his motives for writing this compelling portrait of his experiences as an Eyewitness is disgusting and potentially libelous.
Nope. Questioning the motives of someone who has written an opinion on a public project is not grounds for libel. Stating you think he had a ghost writer is not either. Try again.
insinuating Carlos's words were untrue in any way is a desperate attempt to minimize the experiences of an individual who has seen the heavy handed tactics of the WPIRA and has documented the absolutely horrid conditions of the property.
I hope Carlos has no long term health issues as a result of his working conditions.
If he was afraid for his health, he should have moved. You can be successful anywhere, right?
insinuating Antonacci or Bono's words are untrue in any way is a desperate attempt to minimize the experiences of an individual who has seen the heavy handed tactics of the EDC and has documented the city's refusal to provide basic services.
I am more than happy to discuss how Hiram is folding like a cheap chair and will ultimately be supporting the deal he so "fundamentally opposed" just a few months ago.
Maybe we'll see Sate Senator Monserrate riding the first bulldozer or with a gold shovel in his hand next to Clair Shulman.
Lower class Chinese will buy anywhere
that's an improvement over their former crappy locations in China.
Developers like Muss, etc. are already marketing their "luxury" condos to the Asian market
with such catch phrases like "good chi" and extolling feng shui aspects.
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