Willets Point Queen

Willets Point, popularly known as the Iron Triangle, is an industrial area in Corona, Queens. It is located east of Citi Field, along the Flushing River, and is well-known for its car shops and rubbish yards. It had a population of ten in 2011.Proposals to reconstruct Willets Point began after WWII but acquired full traction in 2007. New York City Council members and the area’s few residents were highly opposed to the original proposal, which resulted in several years of litigation. In 2011, the city began a $4 billion reconstruction project that includes a retail shopping center, 3,000-unit residential structures, an entertainment complex, and a public school. The New York City Economic Development Corporation authorized a redevelopment plan for the region in 2013, and demolition of Willets Point’s industrial sector began in 2016.

The proposed complex was originally scheduled to open in phases between 2018 and 2032. However, the redevelopment plans were altered after a New York state court halted building of the shopping center. The development was reapproved in February 2018.

Initial proposal and controversy

On May 1, 2007, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled his administration’s new plan for urban renewal in the Willets Point area. The plan aimed to replace scrapyards and industrial sites with a sustainable and affordable mixed-use development. This development included provisions for a convention center, 5,500 housing units, 1.7 million square feet of retail space, a 130,000-square-foot school, 500,000 square feet of office space, and 150,000 square feet for community facilities. Additionally, the plan encompassed environmental remediation efforts, installation of sewers and other infrastructure, and the relocation of existing businesses. The project was expected to create more than 5,300 permanent jobs and add 18,000 construction jobs.

However, on April 9, 2008, the Willets Point Industry and Realty Association (WPIRA), representing the ten largest business and landowners in Willets Point, filed a lawsuit against the City of New York in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The lawsuit sought a court order compelling the city to provide infrastructure improvements, including repairs to streets and storm sewers, installation of sanitary sewers, street lights, street signs, and other services that the city allegedly neglected for over 40 years. Additionally, the lawsuit sought unspecified damages for past neglect. Judge Edward R. Korman granted the city’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on November 25, 2009.