New York City FC’s soccer stadium just took another big step forward, as Community Board 7 voted in favor of the redevelopment plan that would bring the stadium along with thousands of units of new affordable housing to Willets Point, in Queens.
The community council voted 37-2 in favor of the motion to approve the stadium project, a huge step for the stadium plan as it nears its 2027 opening.
Community Board 7’s vote of approval comes five days after the board’s land use planning committee voted 10-1 in favor of approving the Willets Point development plan, subject to the eventual finalization of a deal with the New York Mets so attendees at NYCFC Stadium can use it. the parking lots surrounding Citi Field.
This final public meeting and vote by the full Board concludes the Community Board Review portion of New York City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. ULURP for those who are familiar with this particularly awkward acronym.
Willets Point “phase two” development officially registered with ULURP on Oct. 16, opening a 60-day window for Community Board 7 to hold hearings and discuss the merits of the proposal that includes the $780 million privately funded NYCFC Stadium, plus 1,400 units of affordable housing, a new hotel and grounds. new green spaces.
The community council has raised concerns and questions throughout, but it appears its main points of concern have been adequately addressed, as it issued a resounding vote of approval that helps the massive Willets Point project move forward that he progresses towards the next phase of ULURP.
Lingering Questions (Mostly) Get Answered
Like us first reported Ahead of last week’s final planning committee meeting on Nov. 29, council I wanted clarification on three specific aspects of the Willets Point redevelopment during the final meetings he held to discuss the project before voting.
One area of concern was the parking deal between the Mets and NYCFC, with the board also seeking clarification on the requested new police station, as well as answers on what type of hotel would open in the framework of development.
The use of parking lots around Citi Field by football game spectators has been a point of contention since the stadium deal was reached in November 2022, with Mets owner Steve Cohen. would have using the lots as leverage in his own quest to obtain the necessary approvals to build a casino right outside his ballpark.
No final agreement has been reached, but NYCFC Chief Operating Officer and Legal Director Jennifer O’Sullivan said at the final planning committee meeting on Nov. 29 that both sides were very close to a deal that would open 4,000 parking spaces near Citi. Land for use by participants of the new NYCFC arena.
Community Board 7 seemed satisfied with this clarification from O’Sullivan, and also seemed to get the answers they were looking for on the nature of the 250-room hotel which should open opposite the football stadium.
Opening a new police station has been the community council’s No. 1 priority in its discussions about the new Willets Point neighborhood, anchored by the football stadium and plenty of new housing.
The final planning committee meeting on November 29 appeared to produce sufficient progress in the area for Community Board 7 members.
Chuck Apelian, vice president of the community council, told meeting attendees that he received a letter from New York City Deputy Mayor Phil Banks pledging that the New York Police Department begins the process of exploring the creation of a new neighborhood in the area currently served. by the New York Police Department’s 109th Precinct.
It’s not a given that this new precinct will ever be built: New York City has only opened two new precincts in the last 30 years, and all the NYPD is committed to doing, it’s to begin the process of exploring its addition.
Regardless of how this ultimately plays out, the NYPD’s letter of intent was praised by Apelian and local city council member Vickie Paladino as a victory in the community council’s search for more local police resources.
Next step for Willets Point ULURP
The vote of approval, as well as the community council’s entire role in the ULURP process, was purely advisory.
The Willets Point project now moves to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr., who has his own 30-day review window as part of the multi-step ULURP process.
Richards has already been a central figure in the NYCFC Willets Point stadium approval experiment, promising to block football stadium unless vendors are allowed to return to Corona Plaza after a summer crackdown.
An agreement with Mayor Eric Adams’ office to return evicted vendors to Corona Plaza was reached shortly after Richards announced his desire to blockade the football stadium, although only a small number of displaced vendors returned.
The borough president now has the opportunity to publicly review development plans, with his office. schedule a public hearing regarding the Willets Point proposal for the morning of Wednesday, December 13.
We have covered all of the Community Board 7 meetings regarding Willets Point Stadium as they have unfolded and will bring you the same coverage as other public hearings that will take place during the remainder of the ULURP process.
