By Stephen Stirling
City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) said he will once again rally College Point, Whitestone and Mitchell-Linden residents later this month to protest the city’s plans for the College Point Corporate Park, which include moving five Willets Point businesses to the area.
Avella has said he is disgusted by the city’s plan to relocate the Willets Point businesses to the corporate park as well as its decision not to include a stipulation barring adult establishments from the area in a new special zoning district.
Avella said he will lead the rally July 26, one day before the measures go before the City Council’s Zoning and Franchise Committee ahead of a full Council vote.
The time and exact location had not been announced by press time.
Community Board 7 and Borough President Helen Marshall have already approved the city’s plans to move five businesses — Met Metals, Flushing Towing, Sambucci Bros. Inc., Feinstein Ironworks and T. Mina Building Supply Co. — and the special zoning district.
“As I have stated before, I vehemently oppose the relocation of any businesses from the Willets Point area to the Corporate Park,” Avella said. “Frankly, I find it offensive that Mike Bloomberg would call these Willets Point businesses ‘blighted’ and then move them to another community — our community.”
The Corporate Park situation is one of several things that has led to a rift between Avella and CB 7 dating back to last year, when the board voted to approve the Willets Point redevelopment project.
CB 7 approved both the special zoning district and the migration of the businesses to College Point after lengthy negotiations with city officials — a move that drew heavy criticism from Avella.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
