Flushing Plans For Extreme Makeover

More than 100 business owners and community members congregated at Flushing Town Hall last week to catch an early glimpse at the proposed Flushing makeover as presented by Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff. The plan focuses on three key areas: Downtown Flushing, the Flushing River waterfront and Willets Point. Months of study went into the plan, which grew out of proposals that premiered a year ago at a two-day workshop also held at Flushing Town Hall.
"Were looking to remake Flushing into a destination of choice for all people throughout the region to come to shop, to eat, to conduct business, to gain employment, for everything," said Councilman John Liu.
Ideas for renovations include sprucing up the Main Street Long Island Rail Road Station, adding a waterfront promenade on the Flushing River, making Main Street one-way and adding a station entrance at Prince Street. Flushing, a community with a rich history and a thriving business district, hopes to become a bigger dot on the map once the changes have taken place. To that end, the revitalization of the Flushing River area would create an open community space and possible recreational area, thus attracting visitors.
"For a couple of decades Flushing has grown tremendously to the point where we are bursting at the seams," Liu said. "To go to the next step we have to raise some standards and this coordination and support from City Hall is exactly what we need.
Any renovations eventually scheduled to take place at Willets Point, which was a landfill area in the 19th century, would require an extra influx of capital. Approximately 83 businesses reside on the 55-acre plot of land, 85% of which is overflowing with auto body shops and junkyards. The study showed that at least $130 million would be needed to relocate the businesses in order to allow the property to be razed. To facilitate that component of the project, the city plans to issue a call for ideas from developers some time next year.
Though nothing has been set in stone, its doubtful that the community would raise objections to a waterfront promenade or a prettier rail road station. But for the owners and employees of the 83 businesses in Willets Point, the future is far more uncertain. Nonetheless, it seems the entirety of Flushing, not just downtown, is finally going to get its chance to shine.
"City hall is finally paying attention to the dynamic and bustling town that we have here in Flushing with an eye toward unlocking the huge potential that we have, not only for local people but for the city as a whole," Liu said.