8 THE QUEENS COURIER • NOVEMBER 14, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Group launches program for
future of the LIC waterfront
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Nearly one year after Amazon
announced it would build its HQ2 campus
along the Long Island City waterfront,
before scuttling the deal six months later
aft er the “lack of collaborative relationships
with state and local offi cials,” a public
engagement process for the future of
the 28 acres of land around Anable Basin
has been framed.
Your LIC announced the launch of its
outreach program with an online engagement
and four public workshops will be
held over the next few months to gauge
the community’s priorities for waterfront
development from community resources
including schools, recreation and culture
to comprehensive neighborhood planning
including infrastructure, housing
and mobility.
“Creating a vision for a great community
starts with shared goals. We’re excited to
bring LIC together to start talking,” said Dr.
Gail Mellow, Community and Workforce
Development Advisor to Your LIC. “Th is is
an opportunity for all of Long Island City.
We want to engage everyone in the community.
Since many people cannot attend
a workshop in person, our online activities
are designed to engage the broadest group
of residents possible.”
Mellow, the former president at
LaGuardia Community College, had
been named by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and
Mayor Bill de Blasio to co-chair the workforce
subcommittee for the Community
Advisory Committee, with Urban
Upbound co-founder Bishop Mitchell
Taylor, soon aft er Amazon chose Long
Island City in a nationwide sweepstakes.
Th e e-commerce giant vowed to create
25,000 good-paying jobs over 10 years,
with a plan to grow to 40,000 over 15
years.
“Th is is an inclusive, community-led
process that puts Long Island City residents
needs front and center,” Taylor said.
“It is important for everyone in Long
Island City to get involved and have their
voices heard, either online or at one of our
Public outreach will begin on the future on Long Island City’s waterfront nearly a year after Amazon chose the site for its planned HQ2 campus.
public workshops.”
Th e online engagement will run from
Nov. 19 through Nov. 23, and the fi rst
workshop will be 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the
Jacob Riis Settlement, located at 1025 41st
Ave. in Long Island City. Other online
engagement activities will precede each of
the public workshops planned for the next
few months.
Th e fi rst workshop will include discussions
on topics such as empowering area
entrepreneurs, including M/WBEs, training
to build careers in high-growth sectors,
and access to supportive resources
to overcome barriers to employment
and enable individuals to advance professionally.
“Th is is a completely new approach to
planning and engagement,” Simon Baron
Development President Matthew Baron
said. “If you aren’t able to join us in person,
you can seamlessly join the conversation
about the future of your community
online. We look forward to working with
all residents, businesses, and stakeholders
for years to come.”
Over the summer, the City Council
gathered stakeholders with property at
the proposed Amazon HQ2 campus to
create a unifi ed planning approach for the
future of the site to better meet the needs
of the community. Your LIC was formed
to carry out that process.
“As a family-owned company founded
by Queens natives, we know what
an incredible opportunity the waterfront
presents and we think it’s critical for any
plan to refl ect the community’s needs
and vision,” TF Cornerstone Principal
Jeremy Shell said. “By launching a series
of in-person workshops and online conversations,
everyone has the opportunity
to have a say in the future of the neighborhood.”
Visit YourLIC.nyc for more information
on the workshops and to be part of the
online conversation.
“This public engagement process
will ensure that our framework is one
that is driven by the residents of Long
Courtesy of Governor’s offi ce
Island City,” L&L MAG CEO Mary Anne
Gilmartin said. “We look forward to having
an open dialogue with the entire community
to create the type of waterfront the
Long Island City community deserves.”
Plaxall, which was partnering with TF
Cornerstone to develop the HQ2 campus,
did not join the Your LIC group,
and have recently met with community
groups about post-Amazon development.
“We’ve been part of this community for
more than 70 years and spent a lot of time
talking with our neighbors about the need
for comprehensive planning and thoughtful
development along the waterfront, and
about our property’s potential for jobs and
workforce development, aff ordable housing
and resilient waterfront open space,”
Plaxall Managing Director Paula Kirby
said. “We remain committed to pursuing
a vision that builds on LIC’s history as a
center for innovation and creativity, and
to working with the city and the community
on a plan to make Anable Basin an
integral part of the future LIC waterfront.”
With the purchase of glasses,
contact lens e l.
2 Boxes of Lenses Frames & Lenses
$100OFF
DESIGNER FRAMES
PLUS FREE 2ND PAIR
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
Must present prior to purchase. Offer valid at this
location only. Not valid with any other offers, sales,
vision plans or packages.
Offer ends 12/31/19
offers, sales, vision plans or packages. Must present
prior to purchase. Offer valid at this location only.
Offer ends: 12/31/19
������������������������������brand clear sphericalLenses/*Contact
lens fitting additional. Not valid for Toric lenses. Not valid with
any other offers, sales, vision plans or packages. Must
present prior to purchase. Offer valid at this location only.
Some restrictions apply, see store for details.
Offer ends: 12/31/19
Select frames with clear plastic, single vision lensas
vision plans or packages. Must present prior to purchase.
Offer valid at this location only. Some restrictions apply,
see store for details
Offer ends: 12/31/19
ALL EYE EXAMS
INCLUDE
GLAUCOMA &
CATARACT SCREENING
NOVEMBER
SALES
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
