A Unique Planning Partnership Leading Redevelopment Efforts in Queens

A non-profit called the Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corp. will employ the New York City Planning department as a paid contractor as it creates a plan for the neighborhood of Flushing West.

1 minute read

July 2, 2015, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Joe Anuta reports:

To ease New York's affordable-housing crisis, the de Blasio administration wants to redesign 15 city neighborhoods to allow for the construction of more apartments. Naturally, these efforts have been led by the Department of City Planning. All except one.

City officials have entered into an unusual arrangement with a small nonprofit run by former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman to develop residential buildings, transportation, parks, and retail and commercial space for 60 acres of industrial property along the western border of Flushing.

Anuta goes on to provide more details about how the non-profit Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corp. will work, which aims to build about "1,600 new apartments and hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail and office space…" According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the non-profit will conduct environmental reviews, with the New York City Planning Department as a paid contractor, before handing the concept off to the Planning Department for a "lengthy public review process" and consideration by the New York City Council for final approval.

FULL STORY: Dream of turning Queens industrial area into 'Flushing West' draws critics

Monday, June 29, 2015 in Crain's New York Business

Land Use New York New York City Queens New York City Planning Department Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corp. Planning View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.