The development of Willets Point got a boost with the unveiling of design plans for traffic ramps off the Van Wyck Expressway – an element that project officials have said is vital to the project’s completion.
However, the enthusiasm was tempered with an equal amount of opposition.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) held an environmental assessment public hearing at the Flushing branch of the Queens Library on Wednesday, June 8 in order to open the project up to questions from the public.
According to the EDC, the purpose of these new ramps would be to “provide direct access to the Willets Point Development District and to facilitate traffic circulation in the area once it is redeveloped.” The new ramps would handle added traffic the $3 billion proposed redevelopment is expected to create.
The design plans modify the existing ramp to include a new exit from the northbound Van Wyck and a new on-ramp to the southbound lanes. According to the EDC’s traffic analysis, the new ramps would provide a more direct route to Willets Point, reduce congestion on local roadways and decrease travel time on surrounding highways.
Opponents of the project also ramped up efforts to halt the project by holding their own hearing outside of the library prior to the EDC’s presentation. Willets Point United, a group of Willets Point property and business owners, and elected officials voiced concerns and objections to the way in which the EDC conducted its study.
Among the opponents of the project was Councilmember Dan Halloran, who said that the announcement of this project shows that the city has confused its priorities.
“From a fiscal standpoint, it bothers me that the city can sit there with a straight face and talk about development while at the same time they’re firing teachers and closing firehouses,” he said.
Besides being a prime spot for retail and housing, the city argues that Willets Point is a blighted area and therefore should be redeveloped. Halloran shot back at this claim, saying that it was the city’s inaction that put the industrial area is such dire straits.
“The city chose not to improve the area – they chose not to plow, not to provide sewers, not to provide infrastructure of any kind,” he said. “There needs to be development in Willets Point, but it needs to be done with the cooperation of the people there and not at gunpoint. What is happening now is downright un-American.”
Michael Gerrard, a lawyer for Willets Point United said that the group fully intends to push for an independent environmental assessment.
“We believe that the environmental assessment completely misrepresents the impact that the ramps would have and we’re going to urge the state and federal transportation departments to prepare an independent environmental impact statement,” he said.
An EDC spokesperson said that the organization will listen to the opposition, but still firmly believes the project will benefit the city.
“Recently, we overcame several procedural hurdles allowing us to proceed on this overwhelmingly supported and job-creating project,” an EDC spokesperson said in a statement. “The city remains committed to Willets Point becoming a center of economic growth and the site of substantial environmental cleanup.”
