The Bloomberg administration has begun its final campaign to win approval of an ambitious plan to redevelop polluted Willets Point in Queens by rallying dozens of influential community leaders, union bosses and elected officials to lobby the City Council.
Every council member will get a letter this week from 75 opinion-makers calling the development, across from Citi Field, “our best chance to transform a degraded section of New York into an engine for environmentally sensible growth and community development.”
The campaign hopes to sway the council, where 32 of the 51 members have signed a letter opposing the project as currently proposed.
Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens), the most vocal opponent, cites concerns about displacing 1,700 workers, possible evictions and not enough affordable housing.
“It’s not that I want to kill this project,” said Monserrate, who wants sweeping changes.
The current plan includes 5,500 housing units, 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, new hotels and a convention center.