Construction has reached a milestone in the first phase of the Willets Point Transformation project in Willets Point, Queens, where the superstructures of Buildings 1 and 2 have been completed ahead of schedule. These two buildings will deliver 880 of the total 2,500 affordable housing units planned for the site, marking a step forward in what is set to be New York City’s largest 100-percent affordable housing development in over four decades. The initiative is being developed by Queens Development Group, a joint venture of Related Companies and Sterling Equities, in partnership with the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
Photo by Michael Young
Once complete, the full Willets Point plan will feature 150,000 square feet of new public open space, over 20,000 square feet of retail, a new public school, a 250-room hotel, and the city’s first soccer-specific stadium, which will serve as the home of the New York Football Club (NYCFC) of Major League Soccer. Phase 1 includes three residential buildings with a total of 1,100 units, including 220 units of senior housing. Phase 2 will deliver the remaining 1,400 units, as well as the hotel, stadium, and additional infrastructure upgrades. The stadium, expected to open by the 2027 season, will be fully electric and privately financed, with parking accommodations made through an agreement with the New York Mets.
Phase one of Willets Point redevelopment. Designed by S9Architecture.
The city has invested heavily in preparing the site, including removing nearly 200,000 tons of contaminated soil and raising the area above the 100-year floodplain to improve resiliency. New infrastructure, such as streets, sewers, sidewalks, and utilities, has also been installed. The development is projected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over 30 years and create 14,200 construction jobs and 1,550 permanent jobs. Sustainability targets include pursuing LEED Gold or Enterprise Green Communities certifications, and QDG will participate in HireNYC to connect locals with employment opportunities.
Phase one of Willets Point redevelopment. Designed by S9Architecture.
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I went by this site yesterday and was surprised how quickly the buildings had risen. They are bland in appearance, but certainly better than what was there before. There was a time when Flushing enjoyed the highest car theft rate in the city and many eyed the chop shops on Willets Point Blvd. with suspicion.
I am glad that the ground level was raised as the site is adjacent to Flushing Creek. Between the frequent elevated #7 train rumbling by and the flights taking off from LGA, I hope provision was made for good soundproofing.
Agreed, A new development at this stage of modernization and technology especially right in front of citifield shouldn’t look so cheap or better said like a low budget project. At least they are remodeling queens for a better look and living, although I feel flushing meadow park needs a big retouch. This park is 99% made for soccer fans only nothing to see or tour around this park besides seeing only south americans playing soccer loud noise and barbecue all day. Such a waste of land.
After both World’s Fairs, Flushing Meadows was supposed to be rebuilt as a park. In both cases, the money was lacking and what we have today is the last World’s Fair less and pavilions and sadly most of the fountains. There is a zoo, the Hall of Science, and the Queens Museum of Art.
The land was originally a tidal swamp called the “Flushing Rivers.” When coal was the main source of heating, buildings hired an ash removal companies and one used Flushing Meadows as a dump. This was immortalized in “The Great Gatsby” novel as the “Valley of Ashes.” Pivotal incidents in the book took at a Northern Blvd. gas station in the meadows, though the author tinkered with the geography..
More importantly though, has work started on the NYC FC stadium?
Why is only one building under construction? This is a multi-building project.
I feel this is typical of scenarios where some entity is given a zoning variance or is allowed to develop on city owned land. They promise all this affordable housing, a school, parkland, or other amenities, but drag their feet building it.
Hudson Yards has dragged their feet for so long that they are now promising to build these amenities in an area they previously promised to build them.
See Atlantic yard now Pacific yards in Brooklyn never finished and the affordable housing still missing. Yes, but the Barclays Center is done.
Actually, there are hundreds of affordable units already completed and occupied in the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park/New Name Pending development. As many as promised? Not even close, of course, but most of the market rate housing hasn’t been built yet, either.
Foundation work for the stadium is well under way.
A most impressive project.
I like the metric for success that was proposed: “Better than what was there before!” I need to embrace that sterling standard more often, especially when trying to defend a dubious effort. Better than a contaminated swamp that smelled to high heaven, along with a few shady chop shops. Aiming high, aren’t we? As for the “soundproofing” …really? In New York City??? Surely you jest. Many of the apartments next to the rumbling, screeching #7 train will no doubt be reminiscent of the “Blues Brothers” flophouse hotel scene. Hold on! And you’ll get no respite if you venture “Up on the Roof”, where the planes come in so low that even the very worst Mets player can catch them. Actually it’s not even “better than what was there before”. Prior to the arrival of the invading colonists it was a verdant natural setting, with clean water and clean air, the peaceful home of the native Lenape peoples. Gentrification 101 indeed: “Friends, we like your beautiful ancestral home, it has potential, move out!” But at least the slave-trading Dutch West India Company invaders named the general area appropriately enough: Flushing 🙂
This rant brings to mind the lyrics of Billy Joel’s “Angry Young Man”. There’s a life lesson in those lines.
You mean in Vlisingin? The Quakers had a very nice meeting house on Northern Blvd. across the street from the old Flushing Town Hall.
Flew over it on a departure from LGA on Saturday and was shocked to see how far along it is. Great project.
Flushing
Has a new meaning!!
Drain the swamp!!