Though the death of Willets Point feels all but inevitable, there’s one last hope for those who would rather not see the rugged Queens area converted into a shiny new hotel/restaurant/retail complex. A group including State Senator Tony Avella, a Queens Democrat, local businesses, and the non-profit NYC Parks Advocates are suing the city to stop redevelopment, arguing that a section of Citi Field’s parking lot that would house a shopping mall is technically part of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. As Curbed points out, the city was aware of potential conflict with the parkland when it set out its plan for Willets Point. In fact, Citi Field itself is technically built on the park, as was Shea Stadium. We’ll see what the court says.
(Photo: numbphoto)
