Related, Sterling Equities seek chair certification for 1,100 units, part of Willets Point’s redevelopment
Stephen Ross’ Related Companies and Sterling Equities through the Queens Development Group, LLC, along with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, are seeking chair certification to facilitate the construction of 840,000-square-feet of development which would include 1,100 dwelling units in Willets Point, Queens.
The plans have been in the works for a decade now. Initial off-site infrastructure work to support development at Willets Point started in 2011 and was completed in 2014.
The development would occur in two phases. the first phase would include approximately 840,000-square-feet of residential use (1,100 affordable units), 21,000-square-feet of retail, 4,540-square-feet of community facility use, and approximately 1 acre of publicly-accessible open space. The second phase, for which there is no designated developer, would provide for the development of additional portions of the required open space in conjunction with the development of an adjacent, approximately 700,000-square-foot commercial building with ground-floor retail on a 2.3-acre parcel along Seaver Way (formerly known as 126th Street) immediately north of the to stage one development.
The first phase of development would also include the construction of a 650-seat K-8 public school built by the NYC School Construction Authority on a separate, approximately 1.6-acre zoning lot northeast-adjacent to the site, for which is still being planned.
The project and rezoning would affect the following blocks, portions of blocks and former mapped streets within the District: within Block 1833, Lots 103, 111, 117, 120, 141, 143,151, and a portion of 155; within Block 1826, Lots 1, 5, 14, 18, 20, 31, 35 and a portion of Lot 200; and within Block 1827, Lot 1. All lots within the affected area were rezoned in 2008 to C4-4 within the District.
According to the plans, two 12-story buildings would be developed and one nine-story development during the first phase.
According to a report, construction of affordable housing and the school is expected to begin in 2024.