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COMMUNITY OP-ED                                                         APRIL 26, 2024     |  The Indian Eye 12


                     SCORING A GOAL FOR





                 AFFORDABLE HOUSING






         Construction for the first phase of housing at Willets is already underway — a year ahead of schedule.
           The first 880 affordable homes are expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The next phase will

             include the remaining 1,400 homes, with 220 affordable homes set aside for low-income seniors

























                   ERIC ADAMS

            n November 2022, our admin-
            istration announced a historic
        Ionce-in-a-generation    transfor-
        mation of the Willets Points neigh-
        borhood in  Queens. This neighbor-
        hood, which was once called the
        “Valley of Ashes” and known for its   The Willets Point project represents the future of New York city, a future in which all New Yorkers can afford to live in a safe apartment that is
        junkyards, is now being transformed
        into a vibrant neighborhood with                 close to a good school, good-paying jobs, outdoor space, and great public transportation (File photo)
        2,500 new all-affordable homes —
        the largest all-affordable housing   five  boroughs  is  the  cornerstone  to   Willets Point to generate $6.1 billion   City Council, including Councilmem-
        project in the city over the last 40   livability and prosperity. I know this   in economic impact as it creates   ber Francisco Moya and Speaker
        years — a  new school, 150,000 square   from personal experience.   1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200   Adrienne Adams, as well as Queens
        feet of new open public space, retail   Growing up on the edge of   construction jobs.                Borough President Donovan Rich-
        space, a hotel, and the city’s first-ev-  homelessness, my siblings and I had   Our new soccer stadium will be   ards, the New York City Football
        er  soccer-specific  stadium  that  will   to take trash bags full of clothes   the first fully electric stadium in Ma-  Club,  Queens  Development  Group,
        be  home  to,  and  privately  financed   to school because we didn’t know   jor League Soccer and the first fully   and all the hard-working New York-
        by, the New York City Football Club.   where we would sleep the next night.  electric professional sports stadium   ers who made Willets Point possible.
            With the City Council’s vote to   No child should have to feel that way.  in New York City. And it is expected   This project will also advance our
        approve phase 2 of the development,   You cannot plan for the future if you   to be ready to open its doors and wel-  ongoing work to build our way out of
        we are one major step closer to vic-  are worried about today.      come soccer fans by the 2027 MLS   our city’s  housing  and  affordability
        tory for all New Yorkers. The Willets   Construction for the first phase   Season. This, along with New York   crisis, including our historic “City of
        Point project represents the future   of housing at Willets is already un-  City co-hosting the World Cup in 2026  Yes for Housing Opportunity” pro-
        of our city, a future in which all New   derway — a year ahead of schedule.  with New Jersey, puts us on the map   posal to build a little more housing
        Yorkers can afford to live in a safe   The  first  880  affordable  homes  are   as a world-class soccer destination.  in every neighborhood. And it will
        apartment that is close to a good   expected to be completed by the end   It also makes Willets Point the   get us closer to our moonshot goal of
        school, good-paying jobs, outdoor   of 2026. The next phase will include   city’s premier sports hub, with the New   500,000 affordable homes over the
        space, and great public transportation.  the  remaining  1,400  homes,  with  York Mets’ Citi Field and U.S. Tennis   next decade.
            When  we  came  into  office  two   220 affordable homes set aside for  Association’s Billie Jean King Nation-  Safe  and  affordable  housing
        years ago, we had a mission: to pro-  low-income seniors. Our new homes   al Tennis Center, which hosts the U.S.  is the key to the American Dream.
        tect public safety, rebuild our econ-  will have in-building laundry, bike   Open, both within walking distance   Willets Point brings us one big step
        omy, and make this city more liv-  storage, a landscaped inner court-  of  the  Mets-Willets  Point  subway   closer to making that dream a reality
        able for hardworking New Yorkers.   yard, and more, as well as LEED   and Long Island Rail Road station.  for New Yorkers.
        Building more affordable housing   Gold certification and all-electric Lo-  None of this could have hap-   Eric Adams is the Mayor of
        in every neighborhood across all   cal Law 97 compliance.  We expect   pened without our partners on the      New York City, NY


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