Construction is complete on Willets Point Commons, two 12-story residential buildings in the first phase of the redevelopment of Willets Point, Queens. Designed by S9Architecture and developed by Queens Development Group (QDG), a joint venture between Related Companies and Sterling Equities, the structures yield a total of 880 affordable units. The project is being completed in partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). The buildings are bounded by Willets Point Boulevard to the northwest, Roosevelt Avenue to the south, and Flushing Creek to the east.
The structures feature a cohesive design, each with a multifaceted massing incorporating multiple upper-level setbacks topped with terraces. The façades are composed of red and earth-toned brick on the lower stories and gray paneling on their higher floors, matching the color palette of Citi Field to the west. Both buildings feature green roofs with landscaped common spaces.
Willets Point Commons Phase One. Credit: S9Architecture.
Rendering of Willets Point Commons, courtesy of QDG.
Units at Willets Point Commons will serve households earning between 30 and 120 percent of area median income (AMI). The project includes set-asides for Queens Community Board 7 residents, veterans and/or municipal employees, and residents with mobility, visual, or hearing access needs.
Willets Point Commons Phase One. Credit: S9Architecture.
Amenities at Willets Point Commons include a community garden and multiple courtyards, tenant lounges, and outdoor terraces. There is also a fitness center, children’s playroom, coworking space, and ground-floor retail.
Rendering of Willets Point Commons, courtesy of QDG.
Rendering of Willets Point Commons, courtesy of QDG.
Rendering of Willets Point Commons, courtesy of QDG.
Rendering of Willets Point Commons, courtesy of QDG.
Construction has also begun on Building 3, which will add 220 affordable senior housing apartments and complete the 1,100-unit commitment for Phase 1. Future phases will bring the total to 2,500 affordable homes, along with a public school, open space, retail, a hotel, and Etihad Park, the planned home of New York City FC.
Transit nearby Willets Point Commons includes the Mets-Willets Point subway station, served by the 7 train, as well as the Mets-Willets Point LIRR station.
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This is a major improvement over the auto chop shop district, which formerly occupied the space. Flushing had the highest auto theft rate in the city in the district’s heyday. Until things are fully developed, residents will have a bit of a hike to services such as grocery stores. A similar project was envisioned for the east bank of Flushing Creek, but objections were raised that it would make Flushing too crowded. This land remains vacant.
You’re wrong David. Whitestone had the highest GLA rate in NYC in the 90s. Willets point never had chop shops. They only had parts places and junk yards. Now that it’s gone it’s hard to find original parts unless you go to PA pick-a-part. But no you must drive a Tesla and need your man card pulled.
Well, where Whitestone begins, and north Flushing ends, is rather vague at this point. In addition to outright thefts, parts would be “harvested” in my area. I lost both front turn signal lights on my Camry. The Iron Triangle was long held suspect by residents here.
PS. It is best that octogenarians not drive, and I gave up my car.
Big improvement , test the drinking water and the soil for toxins before letting people move in. If no problem let people move in however before any harm done do a double check.
Why should there be toxins in the drinking water? It uses the same water system as the rest of the city. The land elevation was increased by several feet, covering the old soil, which was likely polluted with automotive fluids.
Amazing to see this ‘neighborhood’, if that’s the right word..evolve, and so quickly; amazing what a soccer stadium, and a casino license will do..
Yeah, especially if you like noise…ugh
Whoever moves in better have earplugs and light blocking shades to block passing train noise and stadium lights.
Turns out buildings nowadays aren’t built like barns. They have modern multi-pane windows and believe it or not these things called drapes are good at blocking game day lights.
Steve: Yes Citifield has a light panel on it’s north side that can be seen from the Bronx at all hours of the night
There needs to be a mix of affordable and market rate apartments in this development. Concentrating the poor in one neighborhood or building never works out, especially when there is a casino next door.
It will be curious to see which ethnic group comes to predominate here. I wonder if the AMI will include baseball players.
In terms of concentrating the poor, I think this complex will be much more mixed than NYCHA. These developments will be about 50% low income. Distribution appears to be something like:
15% formerly homeless
35% 30% median income
50%: 60% to 120% AMI
Honestly the biggest problem with NYCHA is underfunding and a lack of street-facing ground-floor businesses. Underfunding is one thing, but ground-floor business contribute a lot to neighborhoods having a sense of place and allow for more economic opportunity. This development has neither of those problems, aiming more for a courtyard-style mixed-use development and not being a part of NYCHA, so I have high hopes for it.
Jane Jacobs would also tell you that a neighborhood needs a mix of residents from varying economic backgrounds. This entire neighborhood will consist of a population from a very narrow band of economic circumstances; all with little access to capital, and all renters.
I think this whole development would be better served from some high occupancy condo buildings, or at least some sort of rent to own scheme.
My understanding is the east Flushing Creek land is called Flushing Waterfront District. The land is being built at phases. Google Jane’s Place. ImRhere is a website that contains the current status. 2026 Q1 us laying the foundation. 2027 to 2028 is development. 2029 is presale.
Speaking of Flushing Creek, the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge, visible from above in the first rendering, celebrated its 99th birthday last week. When built, it was the largest fixed bascule drawbridge in the world and had 2 sidewalks, 4 lanes of traffic, and 3 elevated subway tracks. The bridge was locked in the closed position, and the mechanism removed when the Van Wyck was built in 1961.
Looks nice
A really great project. Would love to see site photos.
A major way to increase low income housing is to once and for all close Rikers Island and develop it for housing for the homeless, schools and a Health and Hospitals acute care and long term facilities
Remarkable improvement to the area and you haven’t mentioned the new Soccer Stadium that’s being built. I plan on taking my bike a riding over there to get a closer look. As a lifelong resident of the area the change in the last 30 years is incredible!
David from Flushing why are you so concerned about ethnic dominance. Having to many poor people in one place is never any good. It’ll be like NYCHA.
I am not so concerned, but curious. It is set in an uninhabited area between rather different neighborhoods, and it is a question of which one might spill over into it.
The article is about completion of construction but only shows renderings?
The Willets Point Common has been completed to reach economy of Scales meaning the City is looking towards building that house five hundred or more apartments. This is required due to the housing shortage.
Wonderful concept!! Why not; it should work if everyone behaves themselves and aren’t looking over their shoulders to see what somebody else has!!! I think it’s due time; congratulations; maybe parts of the world can see this & learn & grow from this!!!!!