By Stephen Stirling
The city announced last Thursday it has secured $100 million in funding through the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to aid in the construction of 14 major projects in Queens, including the first steps toward the redevelopment of Willets Point.
The $100 million in funding, which the city Economic Development Corp. said was the result of a collaborative process between the city and the Port Authority as part of the airport lease negotiated in 2004, will help decrease the financial load the city has to bear in order to complete the projects.
EDC President Seth Pinsky said this kind of creative funding effort is essential to moving forward in an economic recession.
“This funding allocation demonstrates that despite the current economic downturn, we continue to invest in projects vital to economic development in Queens and throughout the city,” said Pinsky. “Through these investments, we can ensure that the important neighborhoods where these projects are located will remain attractive to residents and local businesses and will be served by the infrastructure necessary to attract private sector investment and the employment and tax revenue that come with them.”
A about $15 million of this funding will be put toward off-site infrastructure work at Willets Point, where the city began the bidding process in the spring.
In April, the city issued a request for quotations for $150 million in necessary, off-site infrastructure around Willets Point — the first formal step toward developing the Iron Triangle the city has made since the project was approved last year.
The EDC said the main purpose of the off-site infrastructure will be to give Willets Point access to city services, such as storm and waste sewer systems, and to improve transportation connections to the surrounding area.
Though it was unclear if existing Willets Point businesses would be forced or even able to hook up to the sewer connections once complete, the head of a Willets Point business group welcomed the change.
“We look forward to finally having sewers in Willets Point so that our streets and businesses will no longer be flooded after a rain storm and we will no longer be forced to use sewage tanks,” said Jerry Antonacci, president of Willets Point United Against Eminent Domain Abuse. “With these improvements, it will be possible to expand and grow our businesses and attract new ones.”
The city said this will be a precursor to issuing a request for proposals from developers for the site, now expected to occur later this year.
The EDC said the $150 million will go toward the construction of storm and waste water systems, a sanitary force main, design upgrades to sewers on 126th Street and potentially a new sanitary pump station in the area surrounding Willets Point.
The projects will also implement transportation improvements such as the design of new connection ramps from Willets Point to the Van Wyck Expressway and additional bicycle and pedestrian paths connecting the district with surrounding neighborhoods.
It is anticipated design work on the projects will begin later this year.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
