City Will Give Willets Point Land to the Queens Development Group for $1

The Queens delegation of the City Council voted in favor of the city selling 23 acres of Willets Point land to the Queens Development Group for $1. Queens Chronicle reports that demolition and remediation work is expected in 2014. The first phase of the plan — the cause of massive controversy and resistance from existing Iron Triangle tenants — consists of retail and office space and a 200-room hotel. The council members spoke in favor of the jobs and affordable housing the project will create, although the affordable housing component was pushed to a later, unknown date. Only one person voted against the plan — Community Board 7 Chairman Gene Kelty, who said “Board 7 has no intention of voting for this agreement. We feel that we have not been dealt with fairly by the EDC.”

Iron Triangle tenants continue to speak against the city’s relocation proposal, which offers a payment worth 12 months of their present rent if they relocate by November 30th. Times Ledger says that the tenants are requesting a six-month extension for relocation. The tenants also accused the city of purposefully lowering rents in anticipation of the relocation offer — apparently some tenants had their rent lowered from $5,000 to $1,000 a year ago. A city housing rep told Times Ledger, “We have only renegotiated rents only at the request of an individual business. Nobody is required to pay less rent, and this is not related to NYCEDC’s supplement benefits payments.”

City To Sell Willets Point Plots for $1 [Queens Chronicle]
Willets Pt. Businesses Denounce Relocation Offer [Times Ledger]