The city's Economic Development Corporation announced today it made a deal with a fourth landowner at Willets Point, the 61-acre site by Shea Stadium the Bloomberg administration wants to redevelop.

The landowner, Carlos Canal, agreed to sell his 4,000-square-foot property if the city completes a rezoning of the area, a process that will come to a head in November when it is slated for a vote before the City Council.

The news comes five days after the main opposition group of landowners and businesses at the site, the Willets Point Industry and Realty Association, announced its group had grown by five businesses to 14 (one of the original 10 businesses agreed to sell his property to the city).  read more »

The road to approving a mega-project in New York City often follows a similar formula, with a months-long political dance carried out between the city or developer and local member/members of the City Council. Last-minute compromises and agreements are routine, and once a project starts the city's land-use approval process, defeats are almost without precedent.

However, the dynamic surrounding the planned redevelopment of Willets Point is proving far less simple than the typical fare, as both observers and those involved seem genuinely unsure as to how the Council will ultimately vote on the project.  read more »

Among the issues adding complexity to the political scene: A Council that was offended by the start of the rezoning process; a Council speaker who has been ]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/willets-point-uncertainty-marks-political-path-ahead#comments Real Estate Hiram Monserrate New York City Economic Development Corp. Willets Point Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:01:12 -0400 Eliot Brown 71678 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/city-gets-third-buyout-willets-point

The city today announced a third deal to buy land at Willets Point, agreeing to acquire 22,000 square feet from Met Metals if the area is rezoned by the City Council. However, the deal leaves a long road left for the city in terms of acquisitions and relocation deals at the 61-acre site next to Shea Stadium, as there are over 250 businesses in the area

The city seems to be strategically timing its announcements, at least so far. Last month, the first two deals were announced the same day that the main landowners group held an opposition rally in Queens at a public meeting on the project, and today's announcement came just minutes before a scheduled rally at Queens Borough Hall, where Borough President Helen Marshall is holding a hearing on the issue later today.  read more »

After months of trying to cut deals, the city has made its first two agreements to buyout landowners at Willets Point, the 61-acre site by Shea Stadium slated for redevelopment, the city announced today. The first to give in were Sambucci Bros., an auto salvage business, and BRD Corp.

The news comes on the same day that a local community board is holding its first hearing on the redevelopment, which is expected to attract considerable resistance from a well-organized group of major landowners.  read more »

Taken with a public endorsement of the project by members of the Central Labor Council ]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/city-makes-its-first-buyouts-willets-point-businesses#comments Real Estate New York City Economic Development Corp. Willets Point Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:51:00 -0400 Eliot Brown 70920 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/city-looking-help-relocation-willets-point-businesses

The Bloomberg administration is searching for a firm to help relocate some 260 businesses currently in Willets Point, the 61-acre industrial site by Shea Stadium slated for a complete redevelopment. The city’s Economic Development Corporation today posted on its Web site a request for proposals, seeking a consultant to provide assistance in relocating the businesses, most of which are in the auto-repair/junkyard industry.  read more »

Make way for booze cruises. The city’s Economic Development Corporation is searching for a company to set up shop for “excursion services” leaving from the Brooklyn Army Terminal in South Brooklyn.

The EDC yesterday issued the request for proposals, which is not specific in what exactly is envisioned there other than saying that the EDC is looking for a company “to operate excursions, educational boat services, and/or other waterborne vessels intended for public use.”  read more »

The Bloomberg administration is getting squeezed from all sides with its Coney Island plan, as its most recent proposal is taking fire from both advocates of the historic amusement hub and the area’s major landholder, Joseph Sitt.

Key advocates who once rallied behind the Bloomberg administration are now coming out strongly against the city’s proposal, expressing dismay that it would further shrink down the amusement district, putting retail and some hotels where city-owned land for amusements was once planned.

“The new plan sucks,” said Dick Zigun, the director of the nonprofit Coney Island USA who is often called the unofficial mayor of Coney Island. “They initially came together and came up with a plan that everybody got on board for … This is so watered down it is unacceptable.”  read more »

As if there weren’t enough affordable housing fights around the city, it’s probably time to add another to the list. In Long Island City, at the confluence of Newtown Creek and the East River, the city is at the start of the public review process for a major planned housing complex of mostly middle-income residents called Hunter’s Point South (a.k.a. Queens West).

Tonight, the fun kicks off at a Community Board 2 hearing in Queens, where, among other issues, we’re willing to bet that people want more affordable housing than is presented in the plan.  read more »

An alternative studied in the Willets Point environmental review suggests a possible compromise strategy for the Bloomberg administration in its contested effort to redevelop the 61-acre industrial area by Shea Stadium.

The proposed redevelopment has turned into a big political quagmire, with elected officials on the City Council jumping at the chance to bash the city about its proposal. While a group of current and former elected officials met at City Hall today to hail the plan, the project clearly will take some convincing in the Council.

The alternative plan, studied in the draft environmental impact statement, calls for acquiring the land and building the project, in two phases. The plan includes acquiring the land on the western portions of the site first, where most of the smaller automotive-related businesses are based, while the owner-occupied businesses on the eastern portion would have more time before they sell their land. The plan would be the same in size, though the first half would be done by 2013, according to the plan studied, while the second half would be done by 2017.  read more »

A bunch of elected officials held a pro-Willets Point redevelopment rally at City Hall this morning in a likely attempt to counter efforts in the City Council to oppose the multi-billion dollar, 61-acre project, at least as currently presented.  read more »