City Council OKs Willets Point Redevelopment (Iron Triangle Tracker)

The City Council has approved the plan to redevelop ~~that incomprehensible wasteland~~ Willets Point by a vote of 42-2. The plan will take upwards of ten years to complete, and the city has been actively trying to buy up the remaining privately-owned parcels of land. Many landowners have graciously accepted the city's offers of relocation, though a number have resisted to this point. The council's approval gives the city far more leverage in their negotiations, knowing they can always pull the eminent domain card, hopefully only as a last resort.

This is a big win for the city and the Mets, as well as for fans who will eventually have a place to hang out before and after games instead of driving the unpaved roads that could otherwise pass as those of an undeveloped country if we weren't so sure that the area is actually part of Queens.

over 3 years ago Eric Simon 8 comments 0 recs |

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Though I have some sympathy for those that may feel that overdevelopment is a problem...

I think this is a huge victory for the METS all around.

Here in D.C., the inaugural season of the Nationals was not only tough because of a poor season, but half street is a couple of years away from being complete. Half street will encompass restaurants, retail and condiminium living adjacent to the area just south of the capitol area.

It would be great to have a place to hang out prior to and after the game, especially considering the sardine can that is the METRO system when fans depart the games. What’s amazing is that even when the stadium has a substantial crowd, the foot and vehicular traffic is not that bad considering the the METRO is literally 50 yards from the Center Field gate.

The METS will be better off for the development

" Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 14, 2008 5:36 AM EST reply actions

word to the wise

take the bus after Nats games. It goes to Union Station, and I’ve never had to wait to get a seat on one.

by cjmulrain on Nov 14, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

no bus for me...

I gotta choice parking spot (not giving it up on a blog partna) that’s about a 10 minute walk from the ballpark.

but for those without “secret” parking…that bus is a good idea by the city.

" Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 15, 2008 6:50 AM EST up reply actions

ah

nice. Last spring & summer I interned on Capitol Hill, which was awesome b/c I was walking distance from the field. I’m gonna miss that next year when I have to Metro all the way from Bethesda to get to games.

Interesting factoid: the DC MTA had the option of expanding the station platform at Navy Yard to be the same size as the one at RFK, but decided against it, b/c they wanted to encourage people to hang around the area after games, and they figured having a packed Metro would do just that. Unfortunately, none of the post-game options aren’t set to be open until next season at the earliest. Gotta love DC…

by cjmulrain on Nov 15, 2008 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

gotta love business

Main goal of a business? To maximize profits, whether the business be private or a municipality.

I’ll be here for at least 3 more baseball seasons, then I’m takin my a$$ back to SoCal. But while I’m here, I hoping to see the area develop to fruition.

" Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 15, 2008 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

Development

Not to get all political here, but does anyone really think that Willets Point is going to be a big attraction for tourists and conventioneers? Hell, I hate going all the way out there for Mets games. Still, guaranteeing 35% of the new apartments as affordable is a huge win – there isn’t anywhere near enough low-income housing in this city.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Nov 14, 2008 6:52 PM EST reply actions

I mean

In terms of gameday – yes. I like the idea of having there be places near the Stadium to hang out before/after games. As someone who has spent his whole life commuting to Mets games from far away, it would be great were there places for me to go instead of just the parking lot. Then again, the places around the Stadium might end up being obscenely overpriced and not worth the time spent. Who knows? I still sit on the side of development in this case.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Nov 14, 2008 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

I'm still trying to find anything of worth NOT OVERPRICED

I would say Wal-Mart, but there isn’t much of anything “worth” buying there. And besides, it’s pure hell going in a Wal-Mart. Don’t want to sound snobby but…Damn, has anyone been in one lately? (Shudder)

" Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 15, 2008 6:53 AM EST up reply actions