Posted on July 1, 2009 by Stephen Stirling
EDC Vice President Tom McKnight explains the error to Community Board members.
The city is taking the development equivalent of a mulligan.
The Economic Development Corp. evidently forgot to include a piece of property in its proposal to move five Willets Point businesses to College Point and was forced to start a new public approval process to complete its application.
In April, CB 7 approved plans giving the city the right to transfer land to five Willets Point businesses slated to move to the College Point Corporate Park. But according to city EDC Vice President Tom McKnight, who returned to the board Monday, the application was incomplete.
The city’s application left out a sliver of property, approximately 4,200 square feet of land slated to house a portion of Met Metals, forcing the EDC to begin the public approval process again for the tiny fraction of the proposal.
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Filed under: Business Relocation | Tagged: CB 7, Chuck Apelian, EDC, Tom McKnight | 146 Comments »
Posted on June 30, 2009 by Stephen Stirling
Michael Rikon
Property owners’ group Willets Point United Against Eminent Domain Abuse has retained the services of attorney Michael Rikon to fight the city’s bid to use eminent domain in the Iron Triangle, the group announced today.
“This guy knows our situation as good as we do. We don’t have to explain anything to him,” said Willets Point United President Jerry Antonacci. “This guy is like a rock star among attorneys.”
Earlier this month, the Economic Development Corporation said it plans to hold a public hearing in the near future that will officially start the march towards eminent domain — generally a several-year-long process — although it said it remains committed to negotiating property acquisitions with land owners outside of the courts.
Willets Point United’s full release after the jump.
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Filed under: Eminent Domain | Tagged: EDC, Jake Bono, Jerry Antonacci, Michael Rikon, Willets Point United | 34 Comments »
Posted on June 19, 2009 by Stephen Stirling
Not a lot of Willets Point news this week, but that’s because there hasn’t been a lot of movement on either side.
The EDC says it is still ironing out issues keeping it from announcing the Eminent Domain Procedure Law hearing, initially scheduled for Monday.
Willets Point United Against Eminent Domain Abuse, meanwhile, say it is finalizing its legal team for an expected court battle with the city.
Should have some more next week, so check back and have a good weekend.
Filed under: Eminent Domain | Tagged: EDC, Willets Point United | 298 Comments »
Posted on June 12, 2009 by Stephen Stirling
Cornerstone Realty Group, a firm hired by the city to help with tenant business relocation at Willets Point, has yet to receive the “green light” from the city Economic Development Corp. to begin relocation assistance to renting businesses in the area, according to Willets Point Defense Committee President Marcos Neira.
At a recent meeting between Neira’s group and the staff of Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst), Cornerstone said it can not start formal relocation negotiations with the more than 200 tenant businesses at Willets Point until the EDC grants them permission to do so.
“They told us they cannot do anything,” Neira said. “So right now we’re trying to get the rents lowered for the businesses that are paying the city now.”
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Filed under: Uncategorized | 172 Comments »
Posted on June 10, 2009 by Stephen Stirling
Shea Trucking owner Andy Charidemo (r.) lambasts the city for threatening to use eminent domain to acquire his property alongside City Councilman Tony Avella (l.). Photo by Stephen Stirling
Anger and confusion were dominant at Willets Point Monday afternoon when City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and property owners railed against what they called city “hypocrisy” over the city Economic Development Corp.’s plan to begin moving toward eminent domain.
About three dozen Willets Point property owners and workers gathered outside Shea Trucking and Auto Repair, at 127-48 Northern Blvd., and called on the city to pursue fair negotiations with property owners or abandon its multibillion-dollar development plans altogether.
“We should all be working right now, but instead we have to come out here and fight for what is already ours,” said Jake Bono, co-owner of Bono Sawdust and Supply Co.
“They say sell us your land or we’re taking it. That’s not negotiating.”
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Filed under: Eminent Domain | Tagged: Andy Charidemo, EDC, Irene Presti, Jake Bono, Tony Avella, Willets Point United | 55 Comments »
