By Stephen Stirling
The city said it will move ahead with plans to redevelop Flushing’s municipal lot by the end of the year, raising hopes for the revival of a project considered by many to be dead in the water since it was announced by the mayor in 2005.
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert Lieber told Flushing leaders last Thursday that the city is committed to dusting off and starting the public approval process on its Flushing Commons project, an announcement that caught several in the room, most notably City Councilman John Liu (D−Flushing), by surprise.
“This project has admittedly had some delays, but I’m here to say we’re still committed to making it a reality,” Lieber said at a meeting of the Flushing Business Improvement District.
In 2005, Flushing−based TDC Development was selected by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to transform municipal lot 1 in Flushing into a “town center” consisting of mixed−use development featuring 500 residential units, 350,000 square feet of retail space, a 50,000−square−foot youth center and 2,000 below−market rate parking spaces.
At the time, Liu said the original plan had promise, but changes proposed by the developer cut about 400 spaces from the parking plan, reduced the size of the youth center by nearly half and raised the proposed parking rates above what are currently available on the lot, which he said left little incentive for Flushing residents to get behind the project.
The plan has remained dormant since then, and a visibly miffed Liu cordially expressed his pessimism at Lieber’s statement.
“I was happy to hear the deputy mayor make a surprise announcement regarding the municipal lot,” Liu said. “I’m looking forward to seeing not only how he will perform CPR on, but exhume this project from its grave to get it back on a respirator.”
Reached for comment, the city Economic Development Corp., which has been working with TDC on the project, confirmed that it intends to certify development plans for public approval by the end of 2009. In an interview with TimesLedger Newspapers, TDC President Michael Meyer was equally optimistic about moving ahead with the project by year’s end.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I think when we go into the ULURP process, into the public hearings, the community will recognize the value of the project.”
Community Board 7 Chairman Gene Kelty said he was also surprised to hear the project may move ahead.
“I didn’t think anything was happening there, so that’s nice that they’re talking now,” Kelty said. “I’d like to see it move, but at the same time I’m not at a loss because the municipal lot is still operating.”
As he stepped toward the elevator to leave the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, where the Flushing BID meeting was held, Liu laughed when asked if he was optimistic about Flushing Commons’ future.
“I suppose that anything is possible,” he said. “I hope they can do it, though.”
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e−mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 138.
