FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Gov OKs USTA Says project would give economy a boost BY MELISSA CHAN [email protected] The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) now has the governor’s blessing to expand its prized center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation last week allowing the city to give the USTA 0.68 acres of parkland to extend the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The association’s $500 million plans include replacing the Louis Armstrong Stadium, building a new grandstand, adding two parking garages and a new row of tennis courts. It also wants to expand public plazas and promenades to accommodate up to 10,000 more fans daily during US Open tournaments, which are held every year in August and September. “As the site of the US Open, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center brings thousands of fans to New York every year, boosting our tourism industry and spurring local economic activity,” Cuomo said. “New York is proud to showcase the biggest players in tennis at this annual event,” he continued, “and I am committed to making this facility the best it can be to attract and host more events like the US Open.” The governor’s approval follows the City Council’s green light in late July after the USTA agreed to pledge more than $10 million to the park. The deal also called for the USTA to commit to ongoing community outreach programs, create an annual job fair for Queens residents and give 5,000 free Arthur Ashe Day tickets to Queens kids. “The USTA is proud of its rich history in New York, which dates back to 1915,” said USTA President Dave Haggerty. “As the world’s largest annual sporting event, the US Open is proud to bring worldwide attention to the city and state that it calls home and is pleased that this legislation will allow the longstanding tradition to continue.” As previously promised, the USTA will also give the city’s Parks Department back 1.56 acres of its leased land for public use. However, park advocates criticized the swap as giving back some parts of land that were already accessible to the public. Alfredo Centola, a founding member THE COURIER/File photo Governor Andrew Cuomo approved the USTA’s plans to expand the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. of the Save Flushing Meadows-Corona Park advocacy group, said the governor’s approval “sets an extremely bad precedent of what’s to come.” “While we are extremely disappointed, we’re not surprised that our government once again defi es and denies the will of the people and rules in favor of large for-profi t businesses,” Centola said. “This is exactly what New York has become, unfortunately.” During the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP), the six voting community boards affected by the expansion were split on the project. Borough President Helen Marshall in April ultimately recommended the project go forward. Cuomo said the expansion, over 10 years, would create 800 construction jobs and 776 other full-time jobs for Queens residents. Lawmakers said the project would give fans a better experience and the city’s economy a major boost. The 2010 US Open, offi cials say, generated about $756 million. “The US Open is the premier sporting event in Queens, when the eyes of the world are on us,” said Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry. “This expansion will secure the excitement and tradition of world class tennis in our community and state for both today’s tennis fans and those of the future.” USTA offi cials said the project still needs approval from the Parks Department and Public Design Commission before permit applications are submitted to the city’s Department of Buildings. National Tennis Center CEO Danny Zausner said he hopes the project will begin this winter and end by 2018. Board votes to write Cuomo over plane noise Community Board 11 voted unanimously on a resolution to support a bill that would require the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to conduct a noise study after the Federal Aviation Administration approved a new fl ight pattern over the area last year. The bill would determine the effects of aircraft noise on Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and New Jersey residents and would require the Port Authority to hold biennial public hearings. It has already passed the New York State Legislature and has been introduced in the New Jersey State Senate. The legislation needs approval from both state governors and would require the bi-state authority to submit their fi ndings to both state legislatures. Community Board 11 Chair Jerry Iannece said he would soon begin drafting a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo, calling for him to support the bill. Football at Bar 360: A WINNING PAIR! 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