Because of Willets Point’s proximity to Manhattan (only about thirty minutes on the 7 train), major highways, the Whitestone bridge, Shea Stadium, and LaGuardia Airport, it has always been an attractive piece of land for potential developers. According to Corel, once in a while business owners would hear that FedEx or UPS were coming to replace the auto-body shops, but it never went beyond being just rumors.
This time, however, the City is moving forward with its redevelopment plans. In about two weeks the proposal will be reviewed as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Process. The City is seeking rezoning of the area from manufacturing and commercial use to commercial and residential structures zoning use.
The Willets Point Industry and Realty Association, an organization dedicated to owner development of the area, estimates that 3,000 skilled workers in ironworking and manufacturing, auto repair and serviced businesses might lose their jobs this year because of the redevelopment.
“Where are all the workers going to go? It’s hard to find another job,” said Moe Lopez, who lives in Whitestone, Queens, with his wife and four children. He has worked in a Willets Point auto repair shop for seven years.
“They should relocate everybody if they are going to do it,” said Louis Lorenzo, a Sound Auto Repair’s customer. But he doubts anyone would do it.
The City is working with business owners on a plan to relocate them, New York City Economic Development Corporation's spokesperson Janel Patterson said. "We would like to keep the business in the city," she said.
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