Well-Planned Growth for Hunters Point and Long Island City
Well-Planned Growth: A Community Vision for Hunters Point and Long Island City
Presentation for: Hunters Point & Long Island City Community April 2018
Hunters Pt & LIC Community Court Square Civic Association | Hunters Point Civic Association CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Hunters Point Community Coalition | Long Island City Coalition Well-Planned Growth for Hunters Point and Long Island City
• Who’s involved? • Where are Hunters Point and Long Island City? • What’s happening right now? • What’s wrong with that? • What’s already happened? • What’s our vision for the future? • What can I do now?
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Who is involved? Not-for-profit organizations collectively representing residents, property owners and business owners of the LIC community
• Court Square Civic Association Championing holistic development - infrastructure, green space, schools Advocating for a livable neighborhood • Hunters Point Civic Association Improving the quality of life - education, transportation, parks Advocating for responsible development • Hunters Point Community Coalition Promoting community-based planning since 1995 Assisting in environmental planning and protection • Long Island City Coalition Promoting community-driven progressive change at all levels Helping transform community ideas into actions
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Where are Hunters Point & LIC?
• In western Queens on the East River • Between Midtown Tunnel and Queensboro Bridge • Across from UN • Near the south end of Roosevelt Island • Approximately ¾ square miles Hunters Point & Long Island City Map and Satellite Photo Google Maps, February 2018
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Queens Queens Plaza Court Square Queens West & Hunters Point South Greenpoint, Brooklyn
East River
Roosevelt Island United Nations Queens Midtown Tunnel Manhattan
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Hunters Point & Long Island City Satellite Photo Google Maps, February 2018 What’s happening right now?
“… by far more • 5 major waterfront developments are proposed apartments East River Tennis Club/“Lake Vernon” LIC Waterfront Mixed-Use Redevelopment (EDC) than any other Life Sciences Hub (EDC) neighborhood Anable Basin - Proposed Rezoning in the Paragon Paint - BSA Variance Application country…” • 3 large-scale planning efforts are underway “Top U.S. Neighbor- Long Island City Core Rezoning (DCP) hoods that Got the Hunters Point North - Waterfront Access Plan Revisions (DCP) Most Apartments After Sunnyside Yards Overbuild (EDC) the Recession,” RentCafe.com Blog, May 26, 2017 • While other massive developments continue Queens Plaza Court Square Queens West Hunters Point Hunters Point South
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s wrong with that? Overdevelopment, spot zoning and piecemeal planning mean:
“Long Island City residents are living with the outcomes #7 at rush hour John Murray of rezonings that or other aren’t compre- hensive and don’t take into account the whole neighborhood or Overflowing schools the whole of the Overcrowded subways Packed parks community’s needs.”
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, City Limits, April 2018 CSO at Anable Stalled library Basin or other
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Inadequate infrastructure Risks of flooding Inadequate public services What’s wrong with transportation? Overcrowded subway platforms & trains, delays, tough commutes
“Any rezoning in Long Island City must take transportation, schools and culture Court Square Station & Trains at Rush Hour into account. Photos by CSCA, April 2018 7 trains already suffer from crowding and delays. If we want to add more people to the neighbor- hood, we must improve public transit.”
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, 2017
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s wrong with the parks? Packed parks, overcrowded playgrounds, little recreational space
Long Island City is ranked with the 43rd lowest ratio of park and playground acres to residents out of 51 neighborhoods in NYC.
New Yorkers for Parks, City Council District Profiles, 2015
Crowding at parks and playgrounds Photos by HPCC, April 2018
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s wrong with the schools? Overcrowded schools, inadequate funding, schools in floodplains
“Asked about school overcrowding, Van Bramer said…that he’s secured funding for 14 new schools with 5,000 seats but that the neighbor- hood is still ‘in desperate need of schools’ due to the rapid pace of development…”
Citi Limits, April 2018
LIC Community fights for schools Photo by Nautilus International March 2018
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s wrong with infrastructure? Overflowing storm outfalls, backed up sewers, outages during storms, no green infrastructure
“Reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) with Green Infrastructure…
Reduce combined sewer overflows with Sewage & Stormwater high-level storm overflows in 2016: sewers” BB-022 - 18 events with 1 million gallons Brooklyn-Queens Water spilling into Anable and Wastewater Basin Initiative #8 & #9, A Stronger, More BB-021 & BB-023 - Resilient New York, 26 events each with page 266, City of New 29 million gallons York, 2013 spilling into the LIC waterways Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO) on East River Photo by Nautilus International, February 2016 Data from NYC Department of Environmental Protection Photo of sewer overflow into Newtown Creek by RiverKeeper Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s wrong with flooding? Risks to life, critical infrastructure overwhelmed, damages to property, shoreline erosion, business disruption, utility outages “Create an implementation plan for comprehensive flood-protection improvements on public and private property along the Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Long Island City coastlines.” Flooding at high tide on a clear day in Gantry State Park on the East River Photos by HPCC, April 2018 Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront Initiative #5, A Stronger, More Resilient New York, page 257, City of New York, 2013
Hunters Pt & LIC Community Flooding & storm surge during Superstorm Sandy CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Photos from LIC Climate Coalition Presentation July 2018 October 2012 What’s wrong with City services? Insufficient public facilities like libraries, inadequate City services
“Overdeveloped… and underserved”
Thomas Paino, RA Executive Director Hunters Point Community Coalition
LIC community rallies for STOP signs near schools Photo from www.LICPost.com , January 2017
$43M Unfinished library in Queens West Warekar, Tanay. “Queens’s Steven Holl-design library is delayed yet again.” Curbed.com, May 2, 2017. Photo via Field Conditions.
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Trash instead of street trees Empty pits instead of street trees Photos by CSCA, April 2018 Photos by CSCA, April 2018 What’s happening right now? Five major waterfront developments are proposed:
East River Tennis Club / “Lake Vernon”
Life Sciences Hub (EDC)
LIC Waterfront Mixed-Use Redevelopment (EDC)
Anable Basin Rezoning
Paragon Paint
Hunters Point Waterfront Satellite Photo Google Maps, February 2018 Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 East River Tennis Club
Views of Proposed Development from the East River • 900 (or 1,100) dus and Hunters Point • Two 28-story towers Cornell, Katy. “A Closer Look at the Yet-To-Be-Built ‘River East’ Residential Plan from Peter Poon & four 8-story lofts Architects.” CityRealty.com (August 29, 2016). • 1.2M sf Renderings by Peter Poon Architects. • 2 acres open space
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 EDC - LIC Waterfront Project
• TF Cornerstone designated as developer • 4.5 acres • 1.4M sf total • 1,000 dus • 300,000 commercial
(min) RenderingfromEDC NYC • 2-3 towers (350’-
500’ tall + 150’ if Drive, mixed-use) th View View 44 along
Site Plan & Aerial Photo with Location in Red Hunters Pt & LIC Community NYC EDC. RFP to CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 developers (February 2016) NYC Board of Education Building at 44th Drive looking north from Vernon Boulevard Chen, Jackson, “Long EDC- Island City bidding to become city’s life LifeSciNYC science hub,” Real Estate Weekly, • 2 acres of NY City- February 14, 2018 owned land • 585,000 sf existing Board of Education offices & logistics • 300,000 sf goal for new lab & office space for R&D • 0 sf open space • $100M in NYC Capital Funds including City- owned land • Tax abatement incentives
Left: Site Location on Land Use Map Right: NYC Board of Education Building looking northeast from 44th Drive NYC EDC. “LifeSci NYC” RFEI to Hunters Pt & LIC Community developers (January 23, 2018) CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Anable Basin
Above left: Overview of proposed Above right: Proposed massing combined with EDC LIC Waterfront Project Rezoning massing looking west Below: Incremental shadows cast on East River and open spaces https://www.anablebasinlic.com/ • 15.4 acres, 3 acres MAS Comments on Environmental Impact of Anable Basin Rezoning underwater • 5.8M sf total = 10.8 FAR without lands underwater • 3,650 - 5,000 dus • 3.1 acres open space • Six towers from 350’ to 695’ tall
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 New York Panel on Climate Change
• Sea levels could rise by more than 2.5 feet by mid- Overview of proposed massing looking west century https://www.anablebasinlic.com/ • The probability of Rendering of proposed Anable Basin looking an increase in west https://www.anablebasinlic.com/ intense hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin is more likely than not (over 50%) • Flooding as severe at today’s 100-year storms will be up to Above: 100-Year Flood Zone will affect 75% of buildings within a half mile by 2050 five times more Based on New York Panel on Climate Change projections likely in New York’s MAS Comments on Environmental Impact of Anable Basin Rezoning low-lying areas within 30 years
Anable Basin contributes to flooding inland Hunters Pt & LIC Community https://www.anableb CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 asinlic.com/ (2018) Revised Plan looking west Rendering by SHoP Architects 2017
Paragon Paint
• BSA Variance Appln • 248 dus • 30% @ 130% of AMI • 26-story tower (292’)
Comparison: original 2015 & revised 2017 BSA proposals Drawings by SHoP Architects
Street level view of original BSA proposal looking northwest at corner of Vernon Boulevard and 46th Avenue Rendering by SHoP Architects, 2015 Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Adding up the Waterfront 5:
• Total # of new apartments = 5,550 - 7,100 apts • # of new residents = 14,430 - 18,460 people • Total acres of open space = 6.1 acres • Open space per 1,000 resident = .4 - .85 acres (NYC’s goal is 2.5 acres per 1,000) • Total open space per apartment = 37 - 48 sf / per apt (smaller than your kitchen) • # of new school children = 3,000 - 3,875 kids • Total new school seats proposed = 1,328 seats (1/3 of new school seats needed)
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s happening right now? Three large-scale planning projects:
Long Island City Core Rezoning (DCP)
Hunters Point North (DCP)
Sunnyside Yards Overbuild (EDC)
Long Island City Satellite Photo Google Maps, April 2018 Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 LIC Core Study:
Stated Goals: • Commercial Development • Affordable Housing (MIH) • Livability • Economic Opportunity
LIC Core Study Left: Context Area Right: Public Open Spaces and Significant Streets NYC Department of City Planning/Queens “LIC Core” Public Meeting 31 January 2017 Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Hunters Hunters Point North Left: Diagram of proposed Point waterfront access and public open spaces North: Below: View looking west to East River waterfront from LIC community • Private towers NYC Department of City Planning (2017) walling off the East River • Limited public access to the waterfront • Minimal new open space
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Sunnyside Yards Overbuild:
• 180 acres with up to Aerial Photo of Sunnyside Yards looking SW Photo: New York City Economic Development Corporation 85% overbuilt • 20.3M to 29.8M sf total floor area • 14,000 to 24,000 dus • 31 to 52 acres of open spaces
Test Cases of potential development: (from top) Residential; Live/Work/Visit; and Destination Sunnyside Yards Feasibility Study February 2017, pg. 127-129 Schematic representation of overbuild Sunnyside Yards Feasibility Study, Feb. 2017, pg. 74 Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Adding up the Waterfront 5 plus
“…The aggregate Sunnyside Yards: open space described provides approximately .97 • Total # of new apartments = 19,550 - 31,100 apts acres per 1,000 residents. While this • # of new residents = 50,830 - 80,860 people is below the recommended CEQR target of • Total acres of open space = 39.1 - 58.1 acres 1.25-acres per 1,000 residents, the quantity is equal to • Open space per 1,000 residents = .48 - 1.26 acres or above what is provided by other (NYC’s goal is 2.5 acres per 1,000) large-scale developments in New York City” • Total open space per apartment =
Sunnyside Yard Feasibility Study, NYC 55 - 129 sf / apt EDC, February 2017 (about the size of your kitchen)
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What’s already happened? Other massive projects continue…
Queens Plaza Upzoned 2001 (DCP)
Court Square Upzoned 1986 (DCP)
Queens West 1992 (QWDC)
Hunters Point Upzoned 2004 (DCP)
Hunters Point South 2009 Long Island City Satellite Photo Google Maps, April 2018 (EDC) Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 1986 - Court Square + 2001 - Queens Plaza Upzonings Satellite Photos of New Between 2000 and Construction at Court Square & Queens Plaza 2010 the population from West (top) and in Queens Census from East (bottom) Google Maps, 2018 Tract 1 increased 261 percent.
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 1992 - 2018 NYS Queens West
• 74 acres (minus 30 Aerial View of Queens West looking east from the East River acres to NYC in Google Maps, 2018) 2009) • 4.8M sf total • 4,700 dus • 13 acres open space • 2 schools • 11 towers (390’ tallest)
Queens West Project Plan Hunters Pt & LIC Community https://esd.ny.gov/queens-west- CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC development-corporation-subsidiary Presentation July 2018 2009 - Hunters Point South
• 30 acres • 5,000 dus • 11 acres open space • 1 school Aerial View of Hunters Pont South Phase 2 looking south from the East River Waerkar, Tanay. “Hunters’ Point South phase 2 moves forward with plans for 1,200 apartments.” Curbed NY (October 20, 2017). Rendering via ODA.
Hunters Pt & LIC Community Aerial View of Hunters Point South CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC looking north from the East River Presentation July 2018 NYC EDC, “General Renderings” (March 17, 2009) What’s our vision for the future? Well-planned growth means a neighborhood that is …. • Livable Parks, playgrounds, sports fields & landscaping Schools, libraries, day care centers & after-school programs Transportation of all kinds Community gathering places & programs Arts and culture • Sustainable Benefits both existing and new residents & businesses Distributes economic development fairly Protects and restores the natural environment Encourages energy-efficient buildings & renewable use of resources • Resilient Proactive about climate change - sea level rise & increased storms Community services - job training, emergency preparedness State-of-the-art infrastructure that encourages innovation Shared and inclusive decision-making
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 What can I do right now? • Raise awareness • Educate friends and neighbors • Participate in community organizations • Support enlightened elected officials • Help with funding and fund-raising • Demand well-planned growth
This Land is Our Land - Public Land for Public Use: The LIC community rallies against private development of public properties on 44th Drive March 2018
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018 Thank you!
Here’s how to reach us:
• Court Square Civic Association www.courtsquarecivic.org • Hunters Point Civic Association www.hunterspointcivic.org • Hunters Point Community Coalition [email protected] • Long Island City Coalition www.liccoalition.org
Hunters Pt & LIC Community CSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICC Presentation July 2018