senator gianaris urges city to include park space as long island city grows
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. - Senator Michael Gianaris urged the Departments of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Transportation (DOT) to renovate public land located underneath the Queensboro Bridge ramps between 23rd Street and Thompson Avenue, turning it into public space. This would reflect a proposal made in a 2001 Department of City Planning study
“Long Island City is one of our fastest growing neighborhoods and we must ensure community needs are met as we grow. More public park space must be part of the planning process and utilizing this parcel would be a great way to start.” said Senator Michael Gianaris.
Assemblywoman nolan supports lic under-ramps public space
Located on their website, the Court Square Civic Association has asked for all of the DOT lots that are currently located under the bridge to be assigned for public space...I ask that your administration respond to these requests.
"Last April [2018] I wrote to you about the need to have more green space in the court Square and Long Island City communities. My community has few parks and green spaces. I ask that the use of the air rights be renegotiated so that open space and new schools be provided in this area...” - Assemblywoman Nolan
Long Island City Ramps Project Approved by City Council
We are grateful to Council Member Van Bramer and our fellow community members for coming together to ensure that the very real needs of our neighborhood were taken into consideration as part of today's vote. We're excited to creatively adapt this underutilized pulic land as members of the park's advisory board.
A new elementary school and public open space will be created in exchange for approval of the controversial project.
On October 24, 2018, Council Member Van Bramer announced that the developer Lions Group NYC and the City reached a deal in which the land under the Queensboro Bridge approach ramps next to the project sites will be converted into approximately 50,000 square feet of public open space. The developer will fund $5.5 million for the design and construction of the public space under the ramps. https://www.citylandnyc.org/long-island-city-ramps-project-approved-by-city-council/
"...Western Queens lacks public gathering places and walkable retail corridors that are characteristic of a vibrant urban realm.”
2018, Queensborough President Office: Strategic TechPlan for Western Queen
Community Board 2’s Land Use Committee, largely spoke out against the project during an overview presented in April, ultimately voted no on the proposal unless the developer returns with a project that considers community needs [such as lack of public green space].