From the Times Ledger:The $800 million Flushing Commons development project has cleared its final bureaucratic hurdle after nearly a decade of planning.
The Queens Borough Board voted Monday evening to approve the city’s plans to sell the downtown Flushing land where the project is slated to be built to its developer, TDC Development.
The vote was unanimous but came with a healthy does of chastising by City Council members and Eugene Kelty, chairman of Community Board 7, which did extensive work to address community concerns regarding the project.
“The Community Board has tried to work hard to make sure the project was modified as best it could be ... The EDC needs to follow through with the letters, the community needs to be satisfied and the EDC needs to continue to work with [Councilman] Peter Koo [R-Flushing],” Council Land Use Committee Chairman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) said.
Kelty said at CB 7’s Sept. 13 meeting that he would only vote to support the project Monday if the city, the developer and other groups drafted letters indicating that they would address remaining concerns CB 7 had about the proposal.
In the end, Kelty said he nearly voted no for the project because of these issues but that he and his other executive board members decided that it was best to vote in favor since most concerns had been addressed.
From the Neighborhood Retail Alliance:
As we expected, the barking being done by CB 7's Gene Kelty about Flushing Commons turned out to be meaningless-and frankly we weren't surprised that the former fire marshal resorted to self-immolation, since he has been huffing and puffing to no avail for years; while at the same time fronting for the kind of development that will severely hurt the community he allegedly represents.
EDC must be laughing their collective asses off-and their contrition is risible: "Carolee Fink, the EDC’s project manager for Flushing Commons, apologized to Kelty after the meeting and told him the agency would move to quickly fulfill his request." These are the kinds of promissory notes that are best suited for being utilized to replace a used roll of Charmin.
11 comments:
Anyone have a pin? Kelty looks like he's ready to pop!
That "healthy dose of chastising" is all part of the show folks...feigning caring for what happens to the local residents and businesses!
Apelian & Kelty got exactly what they really wanted....to contain all the over development in the downtown hub and far away from the nabes in which they both reside.
Why else would they both have voted "yes" to approve Flushing Commons in the first place?
That whole CB# 7 board needs to be flushed clean as is appropriate for Flushing....BA-WHOOOSH!
Did Myra Baird Herce get a cut from Wellington Chen for her help in "vaseline-ing" this project through?
Maybe Marilyn & Jack will get another trip to Toronto to rest up after the strain....no?
Now Gary Ackerman can concentrate on another illegal fundraiser in Taiwan (like he did with Tommy Huang's help?) in the 70s so that he may secure his re-election bid come November....huh?
Flushing Commons (AKA Wellingtowne Commons) was a done deal from the get-go! CB#7 can't go against Wellington Chen's wishes, after all he is their landlord.
Oh, the colonizing continues....
Take a picture of the leadership in the Queens Chamber of Commerice in, or say, 1920, or 1930, or ....
Now look at these losers.
What does it say?
Wellington Chen is just a wannabee little king...of little importance as his diminutive stature indicates.
He'd love to be an emperor but in reality he's most likely just an agent...a bag man for the wealthy and powerful Shanghai interests.
And might Chen be the Bitterman's "travel agent"?
Who arranged and paid for their trip to Toronto?
It seems that a lot of "benevolence" finds its way to CB# 7!
Does Kelty really believe his bullshit. "I almost voted no" seriously? then why not? Because they almost got all the issues addressed. What a way to run a community board, "insure that the we get tax revenue" oh boy when is someone going to stop this Farce? All we do is talk here, somebody must know someone who can get some sort of Inquiry going.
Lot of accusations being thrown around yet they do what they want. Kelty scolds and Chuck plays the Mediator, We know the script and yet we allow it to continue.
Halloran lets them do what they want, Marshall gives them free reign, and Grodenchick gives them legal advice.
You say Tweeding? THE BOSS had nothing compared to what is going on here.
Someone has to know someone.
Does Kelty really believe his bullshit. "I almost voted no" seriously? then why not? Because they almost got all the issues addressed. What a way to run a community board, "insure that the we get tax revenue" oh boy when is someone going to stop this Farce? All we do is talk here, somebody must know someone who can get some sort of Inquiry going.
Lot of accusations being thrown around yet they do what they want. Kelty scolds and Chuck plays the Mediator, We know the script and yet we allow it to continue.
Halloran lets them do what they want, Marshall gives them free reign, and Grodenchick gives them legal advice.
You say Tweeding? THE BOSS had nothing compared to what is going on here.
Someone has to know someone.
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