Area politicians and members of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), among others, are demanding more affordable housing. Local City Council members also say the plan is too vague and that it should not go forward as outlined.
Community Board 7 gave the plan a slim six-vote approval earlier in the month. Under the Uniform Land Use Review Process, the proposal then must go to the borough president, who has said previously that she is in favor of the development.
The plan then goes back to City Planning and then to the full City Council, where Flushing Councilman John Liu believes it may be in for trouble. “Its fate is less certain in the City Council,” he said. “There are not enough details and the city is not treating the owners right.”
In April, Councilman Hiram Monserrate, who represents Willets Point, got a majority of fellow council members — 28 to be specific — to sign a letter sent to Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber denouncing the plan. They called it deeply flawed and that it stood little change of passage in council chambers.
At Thursday’s rally, Monserrate reiterated that it is irresponsible to let the plan proceed. “I have made it clear that this project falls short on affordable housing and I am not satisfied by the vague promises we have received.”
He was joined for the first time by former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, now a consultant and lobbyist, who said it was time to stop the clock on the project “so all these questions can get answered, including just how much of this land the city will attempt to take by eminent domain and just how much truly affordable housing will be included.”
Mrs. Pat Boone, NY ACORN president, called the plan woefully inadequate by ignoring the need for affordable housing in the borough “and putting the jobs of more than 1,500 workers at serious risk.”
At about the same time as the public hearing and rally, the city’s Economic Development Corp. announced its third property acquired in Willets Point. Met Metals has agreed to sell its 17,500 square feet of industrial land.
There are 250 businesses in the 60-acre location with half the land owned by 14 business owners and the other half by 54 landlords, who lease space.
On Tuesday morning, Monserrate held a press conference outside City Hall, calling for the mayor to rethink the plan before it proceeded. He was joined by eight other council members or their representatives.
The borough president, who is a staunch supporter of the plan, is scheduled to announce her recommendation on July 23 or 24, according to her spokesman, Dan Andrews. It is expected that the City Council will vote on it in the fall.
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