CMS and QHC are Victorious in Willets Point
On Wednesday October 30th CMS and the Queens Housing Coalition gathered at St. Sebastian Parish in Woodside, Queens in order to celebrate their achievements in the final plan for the redevelopment of Willets Point, Queens.
Maximo Luna and Ivan Contreras communicate health care options to QHC members.
The meeting began with a brief informational session from Maximo Luna, Outreach Specialists from Fidelis Care New York . He encouraged participants of the meeting to meet with him if they had questions about obtaining health insurance and if they had questions about the new health care initiative.
Ivan Contreras, Queens Housing Coalition Coordinator updated the QHC members on their successful efforts to draw public attention to the needs of the Willets Point community. As a result of their efforts there will be a total of 5,850 housing units . Approximately 2,000 of those units will be dedicated to people who are eligible for affordable housing. In 2024 construction will begin on 871 affordable housing units. Approximately 1,200 units will be built in Phase II of the project . Priority for the affordable housing units will be given to the people who currently live in the Willets Point area.Approximately 110 auto shop owners at the Iron Triangle are continuing to assess where they will relocate.
The redevelopment of Willets Point has been on the city council agenda since 2008. On Wednesday October 9th the City Council voted to approve the 3 billion dollar Willets Points redevelopment plan. The 43-3-1 vote gave the developing companies Sterling Equities and Related Cos. the go-ahead to move forward with their redevelopment plans which will include a mega mall. According to the terms of the agreement if the development companies do not abide to their commitments to the Willets point community there will be a 35 million dollar fine and the city has the right to replace them with another developer.
Residents of the Queens Housing Coalition had many questions about the cost of the affordable housing options but they remained confident that their efforts helped to hold the developers accountable to the community members and workers of the Willets Point area.
For more information about the redevelopment of the Willets Point area please click here.