From the Daily News:
The city kicked off its formal review process of the mega development at Willets Point on Monday.
The City Planning Commission certified changes to the zoning for the commercial and retail project near Citi Field, initiating the public debate among stakeholders in the upcoming months.
The Queens Development Group, a joint venture between the Related Cos. and Sterling Equities, will present its plan in the coming weeks to develop 23-acres of the Iron Triangle to Community Board 7, the Queens Borough President’s office and the City Council.
One of the centerpieces of the first phase of development, Willets West, will erect a 1.4 million-square-foot mall on the current Citi Field parking lot.
Which is mapped parkland that can't be developed unless there is a home rule vote by the City Council to alienate it, followed by a vote up in Albany, with compensation for the loss of parkland. (The EDC is trying to say that a 1961 agreement that Robert Moses made with the Mets means that this process is not required, but this argument will be legally debunked.)
One would think that the City would reclaim the land for park use if the Wilpons don't need it for parking anymore. But this is corrupt NYC, so development of every last inch - even where it is forbidden - is encouraged.
Prediction: This will end up in court with the City losing.
13 comments:
Sky view mall is just a few blocks from here . College Point mall on 20 th Av is half mile away as well.
Why do we need another mall??? Not to mention more vehicular congestion and pollution .
This is outrageous ! What poor city planning !
The Department of City Plotting never sleeps--neither does the notoriously corrupt CB#7, various crooked pols, etc.
Where is Queens Civic Congress?
Oh that's right, struggling with tree pruning issues in Hollis Hills.
get down to cb7's next meeting and tell them to shove this plan up there you know what ,
wheres the feds
Since this is such a great idea economically for our city we should put it right in the middle of central park.
Since this is such a great idea economically for our city we should put it right in the middle of central park.
Now you are catching on. Our electeds do not serve you.
They simply care to get elected (honest graft, the rush of being a big shot in an otherwise unremarkable life, you pick.)
They pay the dim bulbs out there off with ice cream money for coffee and stamps for your little civic, that for all intents and purposes in the grander scheme of things, amounts to, well nothing except beaming happy faces framing your local pol as they toss change to the crowd.
Break free from the system, demand from the system what 5th Avenue is getting, and watch 'em squirm.
It works in Manhattan. It works in Brooklyn.
As for the rest, let them worry about tree pruning in Hollis Hills.
The corupt politicos have had their eyes on this piece of realestate for many years. First start by cutting off basic services like sewers & road repair to force everyone out, then plan B spend all that taxpayer money buying up property. Finally eminent domain the rest out. What happend to Life Liberty & the pursuit of happiness.
"Sky view mall is just a few blocks from here . College Point mall on 20 th Av is half mile away as well.
Why do we need another mall??? Not to mention more vehicular congestion and pollution .
This is outrageous ! What poor city planning !"
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...And don't forget about the claim the new Police Academy in College Point will have 5000 people at any given time, will add that many more cars to park and in traffic congestion.. !
I don't attend CB 7 meetings as often as I used to.
In fact, I rarely attend these days at all--only on special occasions.
Why, you might rightfully ask?
CB 7 has become is a hopelessly corrupt collection of self serving individuals--each looking out for their own nabes with giving a damn about the adjacent ones in the district.
Whitestone doesn't give a crap about what's going on in Auburndale for example, etc. etc. etc.
It's all about deal cutting behind closed doors in covert meetings. The public hearings are often pre-decided. This CB 7 show should be running on Broadway with a more talented cast of players.
Whichever way these "bored" members cast their votes on a proposal, it amounts to pure window dressing.
What good is an advisory vote without any teeth?
This body of tin demagogues serving in toy government have become a disgrace.
Shame on you!
It gets worse — look at this!!!!
http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/willets-point-a-coup-for-developers/article_1c280a8c-923b-11e2-a9fd-001a4bcf887a.html
Soon there will be no park land left in Queens. The real estate vampires have opened the door on destroying our last frontier and there is no looking back now.
UNLESS WE HAVE A MAYOR THAT PUTS THESE CRIMINALS IN JAIL.
Sky view mall is just a few blocks from here . College Point mall on 20 th Av is half mile away as well.
Why do we need another mall??? Not to mention more vehicular congestion and pollution .
This is outrageous ! What poor city planning !
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I think at first glance, building a new mall is great! ECONOMIC BOOM! But you're right, when you see the surrounding area, you'll quickly notice congestion will be a HUGE issue at hand. It is poor city planning unfortunately. The area by Skyview will become a traffic jam if this comes to fruition
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