The 25,000-seat venue, privately financed at $780 million, is one aspect of the Willets Point Revitalization Plan. Aside from New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, the project would include the city’s largest 100% affordable housing development in 40 years (estimated 2,500 units) amid pedestrian-friendly, 21st-century urban planning principles. It will also include over 40,000 square feet of public open space, a 650-seat school, a 250-key hotel, and ground-floor retail shops.
See, what these guys are doing is building on land that is not parkland, and trying to make the neighborhood better. One might argue that a casino would take this new cool neighborhood and make it worse for the people who live there as a casino would bring additional traffic to the area….whereas those looking for outdoor space can enjoy the 40,000 square feet that comes along with the soccer stadium.
Hopefully our local politicians will realize that handing over parkland to a billionaire is not in the best interest of the community.
One thing I will say about these soccer renderings – it’s unclear to me where people are going to park, unless something is worked out with the parking lot by Citi Field. Also I worry about traffic traveling that final block if the parking is over by the soccer field.
Now add in a casino, and this could be a traffic nightmare!
UPDATE: I see the Queens Eagle discussed the parking…
The Mets agreed to allow New York City Football Club to use their parking lot, which is owned by the city but leased to the Mets, during games. Should Cohen be awarded a casino license and construction on the lot begin at some point in the coming years, (New York City economic development corporation president and CEO Andrew) Kimball dismissed the idea that the two projects may clash.
“All I can say is, in the various scenarios of what the future might hold, there will be just as much parking as there is today to meet the needs of Citi Field for the Mets and for future soccer games here,” he said. “That’s not an issue.” (via Queens Eagle)
