I didnt know where to put it. So I just started this thread. Being as WP is starting to become more influential in Wilpon going forward, it might be worth to follow the drama. Have fun: http://www.********.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50425
From the daily news political blog today: Willets point is done. Councilman/Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate, who was holding out on the Bloomberg administration's Willetts Point redevelopment plan, is poised to cut what will amount to his final deal before he departs City Hall for the Capitol. His office just put out the following press release: MEDIA ADVISORY^^^ COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE TO MAKE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT WILLETS POINT TODAY WHAT: Council Member Hiram Monserrate, Labor Leaders, ACORN and Others to Make Announcement on Willets Point WHERE: Steps of City Hall WHEN: Today, Wednesday the 12th, at 1pm The mayor is expected to attend. The Council is scheduled to vote on the plan tomorrow. UPDATE: ACORN is thrilled with this deal on account of a boost in the amount of affordable housing it will include, which had been a significant sticking point. According to someone who has been involved in the negotiations, the agreement includes 35 percent worth of affordable housing, up from 20 percent. And a sizable the units will be affordable to people who are truly low-income, making $23,000 a year for a family of four. This person called the affordability rate "unprecedented," in part because it will be permanent and mandatory, in other words: Not up to the developer.
Today's the vote. Interesting story. Yesterday afternoon, a couple of business owners from Willets Point were already starting to move. As well as employees looking for jobs.
Sorry, I have not been following this expansion issue very closely. I know I read that the Wilpon family is no longer considering expansion until 2012. Can someone give me a summary as to why they are postponing their proposal for expansion? I thought it had to do with their inability to secure land at Willets Point for a stadium. Is that it or is there more? How does this latest news (link above: http://www.ny.com/content/top_stori...t/Default.aspx) effect NYC's chances for an expansion team in queens? Thanks!
The stadium is slated to be built where Shea is today. As far as the Willets Point situation, I think that it has more to do with CitiField but everything in that area is related to one another. It's a chess game, move here then here and finally here.
Willets point has nothing to do with the stadium but it is the area around it - and it has been a hotbed of controversy - and most of hte attention in queens was on that - and imagine if they said lets build a stadium lol As for the Mets expansion - after the no bid they said maybe 2012 - yes - who knows - right now they are working on details for a SSS - which they would want to be a World Class facility! So when - no one really knows but hopefully we hear more soon! 2012 is a reasonable time frame but lets face it - the economy sux and we shall see!