At Public Hearing, More Criticism of the Willets Point Development Plan

Yesterday the city held a public hearing on the $3 billion Willets Point development plan, which is up soon for a City Council vote. The City Council is expected to approve the plans for an entertainment and retail complex, but that didn’t keep critics, including a local councilwoman, from making their views known. According to the Daily News, “Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras grilled city officials about the massive development on Tuesday as a make-or-break Council vote looms.” In particular, Ferreras grilled EDC head Kyle Kimball over the unimpressive results that a private firm has had in relocating long-time auto repair shops — so far only ten businesses have been relocated despite the contractor, Cornerstone, being paid $700,000 over five years. (Recently business owners went on a hunger strike in protest of the payout deal offered by the city.) There was plenty of support for the project at the hearing too: Construction union leaders spoke in support of the development, which, according to The News, “is estimated to create 12,000 construction jobs and 7,000 permanent jobs.”

Heated Debate Between City Officials and Councilwoman on Willets Point [NY Daily News]
Rendering via the Queens Development Group