Gothamist: Willets Point Development Plan Gets City Council Approval

lucyvanpelt

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:13:38 -0500

I live in North Flushing, and Willets Point is much larger than most people know. Those chop shops near Shea make up only a part. The rest are legitimate businesses that keep their areas very tidy, and are no worse (oftentimes, better) than those in nearby areas. WP also includes some green space. If the last few landowners won't sell, the city will be forcing the eminent domain issue not for "public good," but for private profit. This area of Queens is already plagued by developers who are destroying the neighborhoods. We don't need space for even more crappy stores; eyesore, code-violating apartment buildings (a huge issue out here); and fewer trees. We don't need this plan. Trust me--you don't need it either, unless you enjoy the idea of the city coming after your perfectly decent home or business someday and saying "we're forcing you to sell to us, and then handing your property over to a developer so they can make a mint at yours and the neighborhood's expense." Sorry for the rant. Whenever I see another 100+ year-old tree torn down out here to make way for more concrete, it makes me cry. . .(not saying that there are trees that old in WP--but you get the point)

ANGRYGOD11

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:11:31 -0500

It's not outlying. It's between Corona and Flushing, two very busy areas. It's almost walking distance to LaGuardia Airport. There's a lot of Queens to the east, south and the west. It's isolated because it's such a dump, despite a subway line, a waterfront, MLB stadium and two major highways running by.

skowen

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:46:58 -0500

Since when is an isolated, outlying area considered the "heart".

Legalist

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:30:21 -0500

This is just a wrenching issue. The place stinks and looks horribly algaeic on the one hand, and on the other hand you have these auto shop small business owners scraping to keep their land and make a decent living. On other note, check this out: http://swc-biogon.smugmug.com/gallery/3273609_SVoat/6/205911035_wu7ME#P-1-20