City reaches deal with two at Willets

The city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has struck a deal with two Willets Point landowners to acquire their property, in what the city hopes will be the start of multiple acquisitions for the redevelopment of the Iron Triangle.
EDC announced on Wednesday, June 18, that Sambucci Bros. Inc. Auto Salvage and BRD Corp., agreed to sell their respective 52,000 and 22,000-square feet of land to the city, contingent upon approval of the Uniformed Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).
“NYCEDC is pleased to have completed the first property acquisition agreements,” EDC President Seth W. Pinsky said. “They provide tangible evidence that we will make good on our promise to achieve fair, negotiated deals with as many businesses and owners as possible in connection with the Willets Point redevelopment.”
However, Daniel Feinstein, owner of Feinstein Iron Works in Willets Point, threw cold water on the city’s agreement saying they used scare tactics to coerce Sambucci to agree to the deal.
“I don’t think that’s really too much of an accomplishment signing a deal with one business out of 250 after 2.5 years,” he said.
If the ULURP is approved, Sambucci Bros. Inc., would turn over their land for the city to use in their $3 billion project that includes more than 1 million square feet of retail shops and restaurants, 500,000 square feet of office space, 5,500 units of housing, a school, hotel and convention center.
“From our perspective we’re glad we reached a deal with the city,” said Dan Sambucci, Jr., of Sambucci Bros. Inc. “We are now able to begin planning our relocation.”
Feinstein Iron Works and Sambucci Bros. Inc. were part of the Willets Point Industry Association (WPIRA) - a group of the largest 10 businesses and landowners opposed to the Willets Point redevelopment - but Feinstein does not believe one business agreeing to terms will have an impact on the opposition of other landowners.
“They aren’t going to scare us into [an agreement],” Feinstein said.
Meanwhile, some local lawmakers including Councilmember Hiram Monserrate, John Liu and Tony Avella planned to attend a Community Board 7 meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the project with area residents.
Monserrate has led the charge in the Council for EDC to change parts of its master plan to make more housing affordable.
“When they first told me about Willets Point two years ago, they told me it would be market rate condos,” Monserrate said, at a recent Queens Congregations United for Action (QCUA) meeting. “That’s really priced out of our community.”
Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods of Willets Point, many of whom are immigrants and working class, are worried that the redevelopment plan would exclude them and that the city might displace approximately 1,500 workers, possibly through eminent domain laws, according to QCUA.
“I think the development in Willets Point is unfair,” said Florencio Almazo, a resident of Corona who, along with his wife, shares a basement apartment with two other couples. “It’s unfair to people like me. It is unjust that we and families like ours won’t qualify for the housing to be built in Willets Point.”