45th Avenue properties City collecting proposals for Sunnyside Yards feasibility study Mayor Bill de Blasio is moving full steam ahead with his plan to create 11,250 housing units over Sunnyside Yards, although Gov. Andrew Cuomo has voiced opposition to it. The city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced Friday a request for proposals for a yearlong comprehensive feasibility study for building over the rail yards. The agency is collecting proposals until March 20. The study will examine the prospect of decking the enormous rail yard, and building homes, schools, open spaces and community facilities for the neighborhood as well as improving public transportation and infrastructure, while not interfering with train operations in the yards. “This is the first step in understanding whether development of the Sunnyside Yards is possible, and what it could contribute to the city and surrounding communities,” de Blasio said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to deliver on our vision of a more affordable city and smart development that responds to the needs of surrounding neighborhoods.” De Blasio first announced his plan for the yards during his second State of the City address in January, but hours later Cuomo disagreed with using the yards because of long-term plans for it. But Cuomo is not the only politician to oppose developing Sunnyside Yards. When an idea to build a new Jacob Javits Center over the rail yards surfaced last year, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan didn’t immediately respond favorably to that plan. Both shared concerns of major development in the area without first addressing issues current residents are facing, including lack of sufficient public services. State Sen. Michael Gianaris addressed Community Board 2 earlier this month about the proposal as well, and stated similar concerns. “Any talk of thousands of new housing units at Sunnyside Yards should be secondary to meeting our significant existing infrastructure needs,” Senator Gianaris said. “Western Queens is already in need of many more schools, parks and open spaces, and vastly improved mass transit, particularly on the 7 line. As this process unfolds, I look forward to working with the community to ensure our voices are heard loud and clear when it comes to Sunnyside Yards.” Building over the yards is a key part to de Blasio’s goal of building and preserving 200,000 affordable housing units — 80,000 of which will be new construction — in the next 10 years. There are nearly 200 acres of land at the site, 113 acres that are owned by Amtrak, 66 by the MTA and the remainder by private owners, according to the EDC’s request for proposals. The EDC is working with Amtrak, which is in favor of development over its section of the yards. Photo courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield FreshDirect selling mega LIC facility ahead of Bronx move As online grocer FreshDirect is getting ready to pack up and exit Long Island City, the company is listing its massive Queens waterfront facility for sale. FreshDirect has hired Cushman & Wakefield to sell its facility at 23-30 Borden Ave. ahead of its move to the South Bronx, which was approved last year. The grocer bought the facility in 1999 and is hoping to sell and then lease back the property from the new owners for about a year while it begins to wind down operations in Queens. The manufacturing and storage complex is in high demand because of recent trends in city real estate, according to Bob Knakal, chairman of New York Investment Sales for Cushman & Wakefield, who is heading marketing for the property with David Chkheidze. “In recent years, the progression of the New York City real estate market has exerted upward pressure on the value of repositioning the city’s once-thriving industrial, warehouse and manufacturing properties,” Knakal said. “As a result, the demand for this product type has never been greater and continues to attract the attention of a rapidly transforming distribution industry.” The building has about 276,705 square feet of space and 406,552 buildable square feet under current zoning regulations. Contamination cleanup of former 5Pointz graffiti mecca coming soon Environmental remediation of the former Region 2 office at 47-40 21st St. in Long 5Pointz site, the next step to transform the Island City. former graffiti mecca into a massive housing The site is tainted by metals in soil, development, is set to begin soon following including mercury, lead and zinc, according a public review. to DEC, as well as organic compound After investigating the Long Island City site, which comprises an entire block bounded by Jackson Avenue, Davis Street and Crane Street, developer Jerry Wolkoff and his firm G&M Realty LP proposed a remedial plan. The investigation results were reviewed by the New York State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The agencies found that the site “does not pose a significant threat to human health and the environment.” DEC is accepting written comments from the public about the proposed cleanup plan by G&M Realty until April 11. Residents can review the plan by reaching out to DEC’s contaminants. The nearly three-acre site was historically known as the Neptune Meter Company, which manufactured water meters from the 1890s until the 1970s. It became the graffiti mecca later and also hosted other tenants. Following public comments, the state agency plans to revise the cleanup plan, and then the state Department of Health must approve it. After that, G&M Realty can begin cleaning up the site. About two months ago, The United States Patent and Trademark Office denied Wolkoff’s application to trademark the 5Pointz name for the apartment towers planned for the site.
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