Thorough remediation of Willets Point property has always been touted as an alleged benefit of this proposed development. Sterling/Related have even tried to create the impression that the remediation of Willets Point property is such a benefit, that the public should tolerate the drastic changes that Sterling/Related want to impose on the redevelopment plan that was approved in 2008. But now we find that Sterling/Related are even deceiving us concerning the remediation.
Sterling/Related have said that they are enrolling the project into NYSDEC's Brownfield Cleanup Program ("BCP"). But what Sterling/Related have not publicly said, is that they are deliberately excluding from the BCP certain notorious property that, by the developers' own reasoning, may be most in need of remediation and most deserve NYSDEC scrutiny pursuant to the BCP.
We understand that Willets Point Phase One property that is not owned by the City cannot be enrolled in the BCP at this time. But the City claims to already own 95 percent of the Phase One property. All of the City-owned lots within Phase One that Sterling/Related intend to develop should be included within the developers' pending BCP application. But that is not the case. Numerous City-owned properties located within Phase One – lots which Sterling/Related fully intend to develop – are mysteriously excluded from Sterling/Related's BCP application.
For example, Block 1824, Lot 1 – a relatively large property – is already owned by the City, but Sterling/Related have deliberately omitted it from their BCP application. Compare the attached maps depicting the intended Willets Point Phase One development excerpted from the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (showing Assemblage Options 1 and 2), both of which include Block 1824, Lot 1, with the next attached map excerpted from Sterling/Related's BCP application, specifying which blocks and lots Sterling/Related intend to enroll in the BCP, which mysteriously excludes Block 1824, Lot 1.
It so happens that Block 1824, Lot 1 was for several decades the location of Sambucci Bros. Auto Salvage – an automobile wrecking and dismantling businesses that handled a large quantity of vehicles. By Sterling/Related's own reasoning, property with a history of such use is exactly the kind that should be most in need of remediation – and that the public wants to be assured will be remediated to the high standards of the BCP Certificate of Completion, and nothing less. Yet, Sterling/Related have deliberately omitted this property from their BCP application, so that it will be excluded from the BCP. Why?
In addition to Block 1824, Lot 1, other properties that are owned by the City and intended to be developed by Sterling/Related are also deliberately excluded from Sterling/Related's BCP application, such as Block 1824, Lot 12; Block 1824, Lot 21; Block 1824, Lot 28; Block 1825, Lot 55; Block 1826, Lot 1; and Block 1826, Lot 31. Online City records indicate that the City acquired all of those lots long before Sterling/Related submitted their BCP application to NYSDEC.
It is not in the public's interest for Sterling/Related to cherry-pick certain Phase One properties – especially properties whose prior uses fit the profile that Sterling/Related allege requires extensive remediation – and deliberately omit those lots from the BCP application so that they are excluded from the BCP, and so that no Certificate of Completion for those lots will be issued by NYSDEC pursuant to the BCP.
Sterling/Related have never publicly explained why they are deliberately excluding certain properties – including the former Sambucci Bros. Auto Salvage site – from the BCP; nor have they even publicly admitted that they are doing so.
To the contrary: Sterling/Related's representative testified to the City Council on September 3, 2013 that "we're gonna clean our 23 acres; we have enrolled this project into the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program" – creating the false impression with the Council that all of the affected Phase One properties will undergo the program.
Withholding property from the Brownfield Cleanup Program should be the last straw – a clear warning to decision-makers that this development, which is supposed to remediate property once and for all, is not being properly implemented. It is bad enough that Sterling/Related have already compromised the affordable housing, the schedule, the new Van Wyck ramps, 30+ acres of Queens parkland, and so much else. It is too much to allow them to also compromise the remediation that is literally at the foundation of this project.
The pending ULURP application of Sterling/Related has obviously been rushed to coincide with the end of Mayor Bloomberg's final term, and the integrity of the Willets Point project originally approved by the City Council in 2008 has been sacrificed. None of that is necessary. Denying this ULURP application of Sterling/Related will allow the next City administration to take a fresh look at this project, and to ensure that its goals – including thorough remediation of property – are respected, not evaded by a developer.
6 comments:
Your getting it too complicated fellas. No one is commenting because no one is reading it. K.I.S.S.
I thought the whole piece needed to be remediated at once. What happened to that?
BRING IN THE FEDS!!!!!
Anon. #2 -- Yes, originally the City insisted that the whole 62 acres needed to be remediated at once. Doing it piecemeal was either impossible, or not the best way to proceed with the site. That was the City's position in 2008, when it had to justify approval to take over the entire 62 acres.
Once the City obtained that approval, then all of a sudden it became possible to remediate the property in phases.
Finally, now, although the developers have testified that they are enrolling the project in the Brownfield Cleanup Program, in fact they are omitting numerous properties that -- by the developers' own reasoning -- would be most in need of remediation and would most benefit from NYSDEC scrutiny under the program.
This all about backing away from the stated intent to remediate the property. The developer has not explained how it benefits the public to exclude key properties from the state brownfield program.
Where has Bill de Blasio, champion of those left behind in the "Tale of Two Cities," been on this issue? Wasn't this squarely his job as public advocate?
As a resident of a building managed by Related, I can assure that yes, they don't give a flying F about anyone else. I've never come across such a stereotypical "corporation" in my life. They try to control my building but putting in board members that unit owners haven't necessarily voted for and exhibit such a thoughtless pattern when it comes to managing it. This and the 93rd St project that Related is part of shows how corrupt and money grubbing this company is. I hope whoever the next mayor isn't in bed with these creeps to let them run wild on our city.
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