City's EDC selects consultant for Downtown Flushing plan

Real Estate Weekly, Dec 25, 2002

New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) president Andrew M. Alper and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) director Amanda M. Burden announced that the planning firm Cooper Carry, Inc. has been selected to lead a consultant team to provide planning and development feasibility services for Downtown Flushing, Queens, and surrounding areas.

"The Bloomberg Administration continues to support business districts in all boroughs of New York City," said Alper. "Downtown Flushing is a particularly vibrant and diverse business environment in Queens where businesses large and small are looking to invest. This planning and development effort will further enhance the opportunities for continued economic growth in the community while focusing on improvements that address quality of work and residential life concerns."

Amanda M. Burden, director of the Department of City Planning said, "I am pleased that Cooper Carry was chosen to help the city in planning for future development in Flushing. I am confident the team will contribute significantly to improving the transportation network, strengthening Flushing as a business district."

The project area is bounded by 32nd Avenue, Parsons Boulevard, Sandford Avenue and the Flushing River. It also includes the Willets Point peninsula. The goal of the project is to develop a comprehensive, area-wide framework for potential growth in retail, office and residential sectors coupled with transportation, transit, open space and community facilities improvements. Opportunities will also be identified to make better connections between the area's regional destinations, such as nearby Shea Stadium and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and the Flushing River waterfront.

"Downtown Flushing is one of the most active and rapidly developing neighborhoods in New York City," said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. "The selection of a consultant to provide a comprehensive plan that will combine large and small businesses and residents' needs with open space and the waterfront is something we can all celebrate."

The consultant team will work closely with EDC, DCP, other city and state agencies and a working group consisting of local community leaders to articulate a common vision for the future of the area that incorporates the community's short and long-term goals.