Planning the future together at Sunnyside Yards
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MARCH 13-MARCH 19, 2020 17
BY ELIZABETH LUSSKIN AND
SHARON GREENBERGER
With public land an increasingly
scarce proposition,
and the demands of a
rapidly growing population
placing undue strain on our
existing infrastructure,
smart planning that safeguards
the long-term future
of New York City and Queens
is more important than ever.
But any plans for the future
should be borne out of a collaborative
conversation with
the community.
That’s why when New York
City and Amtrak embarked
on one of the largest possible
public planning opportunities
in the city, they chose to
create an advisory committee
comprised of a broad base
of stakeholders. The group’s
mandate was not to rubber
stamp or own the plan, but
to advise on an inclusive
process and to give honest,
sometimes very challenging
feedback. We had the honor of
co-chairing this committee of
40 New Yorkers and watching
the process of public engagement
shape the plan being released
today.
This 18-month public process
was designed to do three
things: 1) engage the community
in thinking holistically
about their immediate
needs for the area; 2) look
ahead to the next generation
of New Yorkers; and 3) maintain
and protect critical rail
operations. Planning efforts
included regular Steering
Committee meetings, wellattended
public meetings,
four community workshops,
a digital town hall, group interviews
with more than 145
organizations, and more than
100 in-person interviews with
community stakeholders. We
were inspired to see the high
level of civic engagement
throughout the process in
this variety of forums.
The Sunnyside Yard Master
Plan Steering Committee
gave important advice on this
process, to facilitate a broad
based and direct approach to
assessing the best solutions
for our community. Together,
this group of community leaders,
advocates, policy experts,
and elected officials began by
drafting Guiding Principles
for the project, which were
then refined through the public
engagement process. We
have watched as those principles,
the subsequent feedback
from the Steering Committee
and the robust public engagement,
have shaped the framework
for growth for the neighborhood,
city and region.
We see the public input reflected
in the reality that this
plan is not about maximum
density, but rather about enhanced
livability and a balance
of uses in a sustainable
community. It’s worth noting
that the proposed first investment
is for a new regional
transit hub, Sunnyside Station,
a civic central hub and
major new open space, in response
to the priorities clearly
articulated in the public
process.
This long-term framework
is a starting point to guide
future decisions and projects
that will deliver public
goods to strengthen Western
Queens and the city. The work
is far from done. The City and
Amtrak are now forming a
nonprofit governance entity
in partnership with elected
officials, community representatives,
and other key
stakeholders to ensure that
the master plan priorities are
followed, and that the public
will always have a seat at the
table.
As the largest remaining
undeveloped public space in
New York City, both centrally
located and sitting within
the heart of Western Queens,
Sunnyside Yard presents a
unique opportunity to build
a stronger New York, and responsible,
ambitious, inclusive
planning must continue
to be at the heart of that process.
We encourage residents
and stakeholders to continue
engaging at every stage to
help create a brighter future
for Western Queens and New
York City.
By Co-Chairs of the Sunnyside
Yard Master Plan
Steering Committee Elizabeth
Lusskin, president of the
LIC Partnership and Sharon
Greenberger, president and
CEO of the YMCA of Greater
New York.
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