New community on 23-acres of formerly contaminated land in Willets Point neighborhood of Queens will feature 2,500 units of affordable housing, a new public school, 40,000-sq.-ft. of new public open space and a new home for New York City Football Club in a privately-financed stadium.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has begun the Uniform Land Use Review Process “ULURP” for the transformation of Willets Point, Queens into the city’s largest all-affordable housing community in 40 years. Formally known as Willets Point Phase 2, the project also includes a new 650-seat public school, a 250-key hotel and the city’s first soccer-specific stadium.
Led by NYCEDC, on behalf of the City of New York, the Queens Development Group (QDG) and New York City FC, the project is expected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating 1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200 construction jobs. Together, the city and QDG have undertaken significant remediation of the formerly contaminated soil at Willets Point, allowing construction of the first 1,100 affordable homes, which have already received public approval. An additional 1,400 additional all-affordable housing units are a part of the Phase 2 project.
The construction of the city’s first Major League Soccer stadium (designed by HOK) will expand Willets Point as the city’s premier sports hub, with the New York Mets’ Citi Field and U.S. Tennis Association Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, both also within walking distance of the MTA’s Mets-Willets Point subway and LIRR station.