They’re not happy, but they’re ready to move on.
That was the message that a handful of Union Street small business owners proclaimed one week after the City Council approved the controversial Flushing Commons project.
A group of small business owners and leaders from the Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) gathered in front of Rim’s Fine Jewelry located at 36-24A Union Street on Friday, August 6, to publicly address the city’s $6 million aid package for local businesses.
“The Business Assistance Plan is not everything we had envisioned and fought for, but we recognize that the City Council fought for our survival,” said Ikhwan Rim, Co-President of the Union Street Small Business Association. “In order for Union Street to survive the construction phase and beyond, we need to move forward with the gains we’ve been able to make.”
Flushing Commons will be an $850 million, mixed-use, 1.1-million-square-foot, LEED-certified urban center with over 600 upscale residential condominiums, 275,000-square-feet of new retail space, hotel and/or office uses, a 1,600-space parking garage and a new state-of-the-art home for the Flushing YMCA. In addition, the project also includes Macedonia Plaza, a proposed 140-unit all affordable housing project being developed by the Macedonia AME Church.
During the Uniformed Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), many of the local businesses protested that the project would have an extremely negative impact on their local businesses. At City Council committee hearings, legislators were able to negotiate an increase in the city’s aid package to local businesses to nearly $6 million – three times more than it previously was offering.
“We are all here to put our differences aside, and we will work to ensure that the Union Street merchants are protected,” said City Councilmember Peter Koo, who represents the area where Flushing Commons will be built.
Some of the specifics include $2.25 million for marketing and outreach, $500,000 in loan guarantees from NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Capital Assistance Program, $200,000 in the form of legal assistance, training and government access, $50,000 for signs and way finding, 75 validated parking spaces at Queens Crossing and capped parking rates for five years post-construction – a value estimated to be approximately $3 million.
Koo said that if the need arises for more aid, he will be there with the businesses.
“We must develop a long-term plan to help local merchants grow and prosper,” Koo said.
