Queens, NYC Economic Picture Shows Improvements
BY THOMAS COGAN

Another task that must be carried out is job replacement for the job displacement that is taking place in Willets Point in the automotive collision and body businesses that operate there now.

Robert C. Lieber, deputy mayor for economic development, began his address at the Queens Chamber of Commerce St. Patrick's Day luncheon by stating that there were more New Yorkers employed last year than ever before, 3.3 million, and that the unemployment rate was a low 4.5 percent. Though he also made the economic observation that we are in "different times now than a year ago", when continuous success "seemed obvious", he turned from that dark implication to review Queens' several development projects in progress or due to begin soon. By doing so, he created a bright picture of gains that could be made.

In 2007 the elevators at Terrace on the Park, the luncheon site, malfunctioned and both luncheon and an address by Mayor Michael Bloomberg had to be canceled. With all elevators operating this year, the deputy mayor, musicians, dancers and guests all made it to the ballroom level to have an entertaining and informative time.

"It's a terrific time to live and work in Queens," Lieber said, pointing out that residential market values have doubled in the past six years, crime is down by one-third and graffiti clearance has become a principal program of the police and their auxiliary groups. Figuratively touring the borough, he began in Flushing, a big commercial and transportation center, where the Downtown Flushing Task Force was formed in 2002 and dedicated itself to cleaner streets and attractive signage. Lieber said in places like Flushing, the city invests in logistics and creates the impetus for the private sector to invest. There, for instance, space occupied by a municipal parking lot evolved to mixed-use development that should be ready for its uniform land use review procedure (ULURP) later this spring, he declared, drawing applause. The great dream in Flushing, however, is development of Willets Point, which would be a prime example of the city in action, clearing the way for private development. He called Long Island City "New York's next neighborhood", and recalled getting a glimpse of it as he reached mile 14 when running the New York City Marathon last November. In the time gone by since then, he said, leases have been let for 100,000 square feet of residential space. He admired Court Square Place, a residential conversion of an industrial building, as a project built on speculation that is currently 70 percent full. He identified the Queensboro Plaza and Jackson Avenue projects as fully funded and ready for groundbreaking this spring or summer, and said Hunters Point South, the 25-acre housing project with a stress on middle-income housing, which is projected for construction in an old industrial area between Queens West and Newtown Creek, would be ULURP-certified this spring.

In Jamaica, $80 million has been invested by the city in street improvement in the vicinity of the Airtrain station; and the project to build 350 apartments on the old Queens Family Courthouse site is another example of the public sector setting the stage for private development.

Lieber returned to the Willets Point project, plainly something that generates extraordinary interest. He called it a "first of its kind development…from the ground up". He said that "for too long, Willets Point has remained stagnant" with a bad sewer system and other conditions that have rendered the area a pollution problem. Proper sewers and lighting are the forerunners of vast residential and commercial development. Another task that must be carried out is job replacement for the job displacement that is taking place in Willets Point in the automotive collision and body businesses that operate there now. Willets Point presents a situation that has been neglected for too long, Lieber said, but no time should be wasted blaming previous administrations for it, just get on with setting it right. He said the downturn in the economy could make projects such as this one even more valuable. As a fillip, he said he hoped later in the year to celebrate the "World Champion Mets" (cheers and applause for that), who have a grand project of their own near Willets Point: Citi Field, being built beside the old Shea Stadium, where the Mets are playing for a final year.

Following Lieber, Borough President Helen Marshall made some final remarks. She said she has been passing by Willets Point for 50 or more years and is glad something is finally being done about it. Her great hope in the matter is the building of a convention center, which, she cheerfully said, would allow Queens to steal events from the other boroughs.

The next Queens Chamber of Commerce function is the Chamber's annual luncheon, to be held Thursday, April 17 at Antun's in Queens Village.