New York City is looking at reviving prior development plans for the HQ2 site according to James Padgett the President of the Economic Development Corp (EDC) in a report by AM New York. Known as the Water’s Edge location, the confirmed pre-Amazon plans included a pair of massive towers (potentially 65 and 50 stories) that would bring 1000+ additional residential units to Hunters Point. Oh sure, there would also be the requisite new school. Requisite because with a 1,000 more units… And some space set aside for a nod to LIC’s industrial past, lest we never forget, but with a 21st century twist.
Anyway, no word on future plans for the Plaxall location, but I imagine the city will greenlight their previous appeal for a zoning change pretty quickly given the Amazon debacle. If granted the full request it would bring 5,000 additional residential units to Hunters Point including the potential for a 700-foot tower. Is that really what Jimmy Van Bramer and Mike Gianaris thought best for their community?
EDC Boss Reveals Back to The Future For LIC – time to start more building on the waterfront
Interview With the Amazon Slayer – “They could have said, we’re going to put a billion into this, a billion into the subways or into the schools”
Two Levels of Disappointment From Popular Restaurateurs in LIC Over Amazon Pullout – “Jimmy is term limited but Mike is as dead as disco,”
Developers Poised to Pump Brakes As Amazon Effect Vanishes – “The jury is still out with regard to making LIC a traditional office hub,”
NY Property Firm Hit the Jackpot, Then Amazon Pulled Out – owner of the Citi tower gets double-whammied
Is the BQX Plan Grinding to a Halt – absolutely, and never should have gotten this far to begin w/
THE REAL STORY!!! says
February 22, 2019 at 9:59 pmhttps://www.governor.ny.gov/news/open-letter-new-york-state-budget-director-robert-mujica-regarding-amazon
Anonymous says
February 26, 2019 at 9:02 amhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jamie-dimon-amazons-decision-to-forsake-new-york-cost-100-000-jobs
Hunters Point Resident says
February 26, 2019 at 11:51 amWill always come to this site for the best local news, however the potential for this website would have been tenfold if Amazon came to LIC. Now we’re back with common dribs and drabs of local news and what to do with our LIC. Still the best site out there by far for LIC, with insightful and thoughtful commentary, just very disappointing for “what could have been” for those in the neighborhood.
Anonymous says
February 27, 2019 at 4:18 pmhttps://nypost.com/2019/02/26/cuomo-says-ocasio-cortezs-political-influence-helped-ruin-amazon-deal/
Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the first time Tuesday said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political left-leaning influence played a major role in scuttling the Amazon deal to open a headquarters in Queens.
Cuomo was asked during a radio interview whether Ocasio-Ortez’s stunning upset victory over Rep. Joe Crowley in last year’s Democratic primary spooked local pols to flip from supporters to opponents of the project because they feared a primary challenge from progressives.
“Yes,” Cuomo responded.
It was only last week that Cuomo played down Ocasio-Cortez’s role, pointing out she wasn’t directly involved.
But he changed his tune Tuesday.
“The state said we’ll put forth the application only if the local politicians and community supports it. Senator [Mike] Gianaris signed the letter of support. Van Bramer signed the letter of support. We win,” Cuomo said on WNYC radio.
Cuomo said there was a “political shift” after Ocasio-Cortez’s victory.
“Then they oppose the very application that they supported. They signed the darn application. We win. The same people who sign it then say, ‘Oops, the politics changed, I changed my opinion,’” he said.
Cuomo also escalated his feud with fellow Democrats who control the state Senate for giving Gianaris veto power over the project, which he called “irresponsible.”
“I think they should’ve stuck it out, but I also think you had politicians playing their own local politics and the state Senate as a body represents the entire state and should not have deferred to just a local politician’s political interests,” the governor said.