The city has requested bids from developers for the two southern-most sites in Hunters Point South. According to an article in Crain’s New York, it will contain “at least 750 apartments—with 450 or more (+60%) being permanently affordable.” and that “it prefers proposals that skew toward serving lower-income households.”
In addition, the proposal mentions a community facility space with the vague requirement that it needs to be rented to something/one providing a “community benefit, such as a nonprofit or a doctor.”
Finally, the article reminds us of the recent news that parcel C, TF Cornerstone’s project, is still facing design difficulties, and that schools are planned for both projects.
What this signals to me is that the overall future development of Hunters Point South is in a state of flux, and there is still time to do the right thing and include a real community center, not just some loosely defined “facility.” In a quick assessment of the proposals, enough space seems to have been set aside. Now it’s up to the powers that be to recognize the timing and locale for how this should all play out in order to best utilize the tracts.
//Selbstständigkeit! While we’re on the subject of using forward thinking to optimize space and venues, I was reminded of the tremendous lost opportunity in the planning stages of Hunters Point Park Phase 2 in reading an article in the NY Times yesterday about Berlin’s being a playground paradise.
“…in the United States, the sameness of playgrounds is striking.”
We had strongly advocated including a playground for big kids, both in writing here and directly to the Parks Department and NYC EDC. Alas, they utilized an old playbook of comments solicited in 2009 to plan a park that would be completed in 2018 in a neighborhood that was clearly undergoing a tremendous demographic change.
Though I’m sure the completion of Hunters Point Park will be visibly spectacular, the lost chance to make it an exemplar for the rest of the country (and an adolescents dream) is an invisible mistake.
Let’s not allow a slightly-dated zeitgeist and an overzealous response cause us to make another one.
//The PS78Q Spring Carnival is this Saturday, June 4 on Center Boulevard in front of the Gantries. Rides, cotton candy, face-painting – what more do you need to know?
City to Seek Developer for Two Large Parcels Along LIC Waterfront – proposals due in September, winner announced early 2017
What Makes Berlin a Playground Paradise? – “the prevailing wisdom here is that overprotecting children only makes it more, not less, dangerous for them; they need to learn to protect themselves”
Coming Together to Get a ‘Taste of LIC’ on June 13 – scotch eggs, short ribs, booze and views. Tix still available
Eight New Installations at Socrates Sculpture Park for This Summer – it’s picnic season
7 Must See Photos of Manhattan Henge This Week – the title screams clickbait
Long Vacant LIC Building Coming Back as ‘Green’ Tower – over in Queens Plaza
Rendering Appears at 11-22 45th Road – aka the south side of Murray Park. A whole slew of town-houses
Criterion Secures $53 Million for LIC Rental Project – 12-stories, 140 units on 49th Ave near the Hunters Point South subway station
Robert C says
June 2, 2016 at 2:01 pmI believe that before they make Hunters Point South and the surrounding area more dense, there needs to be a transit plan to relieve the already overcrowded conditions on the 7 train. Without reliable and relatively easy access to Manhattan and jobs, it won’t matter how affordable the housing is if people can’t get to work to earn a living and pay their rent.