Well-Planned Growth

Hunters Pt & LIC CommunityCSCA | HPCA | HPCC | LICCPresentation July 2018

Court Square Civic Association | Hunters Point Civic AssociationHunters Point Community Coalition | Long Island City Coalition

Well-Planned Growth: A Community Vision for Hunters Point and Long Island City

Presentation for:Hunters Point & Long Island City CommunityApril 2018


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?


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, schoolsAdvocating for a livable neighborhood

• Hunters Point Civic AssociationImproving the quality of life - education, transportation, parksAdvocating for responsible development

• Hunters Point Community CoalitionPromoting community-based planning since 1995Assisting in environmental planning and protection

• Long Island City CoalitionPromoting community-driven progressive change at all levelsHelping transform community ideas into actions


• 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 milesHunters Point & Long Island CityMap and Satellite PhotoGoogle Maps, February 2018

Where are Hunters Point & LIC?


Roosevelt Island United Nations Queens Midtown Tunnel

Queens Plaza Court Square Queens West & Hunters Point South Greenpoint, Brooklyn Queens

Manhattan

E a s t R i v e r

Hunters Point & Long Island City Satellite PhotoGoogle Maps, February 2018


What’s happening right now?• 5 major waterfront developments are proposed

East River Tennis Club/“Lake Vernon”LIC Waterfront Mixed-Use Redevelopment (EDC)Life Sciences Hub (EDC)Anable Basin - Proposed RezoningParagon Paint - BSA Variance Application

• 3 large-scale planning efforts are underwayLong Island City Core Rezoning (DCP)Hunters Point North - Waterfront Access Plan Revisions (DCP)Sunnyside Yards Overbuild (EDC)

• While other massive developments continueQueens Plaza Court SquareQueens West Hunters PointHunters Point South

“… by far more apartments than any other neighborhood in the country…”

“Top U.S. Neighbor-hoods that Got the Most Apartments After the Recession,” RentCafe.com Blog, May 26, 2017


What’s wrong with that?Overdevelopment, spot zoning and piecemeal planning mean:

“Long Island City residents are living with the outcomes of rezonings that aren’t compre-hensive and don’t take into account the whole neighborhood or the whole of the community’s needs.”

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, City Limits, April 2018

Overcrowded subways

Inadequate public servicesRisks of floodingInadequate infrastructure

Packed parks Overflowing schools

#7 at rush hour John Murray or other

CSO at AnableBasin or other

Stalled library


What’s wrong with transportation?Overcrowded subway platforms & trains, delays, tough commutes

“Any rezoning in Long IslandCity must take transportation, schools and culture into account. 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

Court Square Station & Trains at Rush HourPhotos by CSCA, April 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 playgroundsPhotos by HPCC, April 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 schoolsPhoto by Nautilus International March 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 high-level storm sewers”

Brooklyn-Queens Water and Wastewater Initiative #8 & #9, A Stronger, More Resilient New York, page 266, City of New York, 2013

Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO) on East RiverPhoto by Nautilus International, February 2016

Sewage & Stormwater overflows in 2016:

BB-022 - 18 events with 1 million gallons spilling into Anable Basin

BB-021 & BB-023 -26 events each with 29 million gallons spilling into the LIC waterways

Data from NYC Department of Environmental ProtectionPhoto of sewer overflow into Newtown Creek by RiverKeeper


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.”

Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront Initiative #5, A Stronger, More Resilient New York, page 257, City of New York, 2013

Flooding at high tide on a clear day in Gantry State Park on the East RiverPhotos by HPCC, April 2018

Flooding & storm surge during Superstorm SandyPhotos from LIC Climate Coalition

October 2012


What’s wrong with City services?Insufficient public facilities like libraries, inadequate City services

$43M Unfinished library in Queens WestWarekar, Tanay. “Queens’s Steven Holl-design library

is delayed yet again.” Curbed.com, May 2, 2017. Photo via Field Conditions.

“Overdeveloped…

and underserved”

Thomas Paino, RAExecutive DirectorHunters Point Community Coalition

Trash instead of street treesPhotos by CSCA, April 2018

LIC community rallies for STOP signs near schoolsPhoto from www.LICPost.com , January 2017

Empty pits instead of street treesPhotos 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 PhotoGoogle Maps, February 2018


East RiverTennis Club

• 900 (or 1,100) dus• Two 28-story towers

& four 8-story lofts• 1.2M sf• 2 acres open space

Views of Proposed Development from the East Riverand Hunters PointCornell, Katy. “A Closer Look at the Yet-To-Be-Built ‘River East’ Residential Plan from Peter Poon Architects.” CityRealty.com (August 29, 2016). Renderings by Peter Poon Architects.


EDC - LICWaterfrontProject• TF Cornerstone

designated as developer

• 4.5 acres• 1.4M sf total• 1,000 dus• 300,000 commercial

(min)• 2-3 towers (350’-

500’ tall + 150’ if mixed-use)

View

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4th

Driv

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DC

Site Plan & Aerial Photo with Location in RedNYC EDC. RFP to developers (February 2016)


EDC-LifeSciNYC• 2 acres of NY City-

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 MapRight: NYC Board of Education Building looking northeast from 44th DriveNYC EDC. “LifeSci NYC” RFEI to developers (January 23, 2018)

NYC Board of EducationBuilding at 44th Drive looking north from Vernon Boulevard Chen, Jackson, “Long Island City bidding to become city’s life science hub,” Real Estate Weekly, February 14, 2018


AnableBasin Rezoning• 15.4 acres, 3 acres

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

Above left: Overview of proposed massing looking westhttps://www.anablebasinlic.com/

Above right: Proposed massing combined with EDC LIC Waterfront ProjectBelow: Incremental shadows cast on East River and open spaces

MAS Comments on Environmental Impact of Anable Basin Rezoning


New York Panel onClimate Change• Sea levels could

rise by more than 2.5 feet by mid-century

• The probability of an increase in 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 five times more likely in New York’s low-lying areas within 30 years

Anable Basin contributes to flooding inlandhttps://www.anablebasinlic.com/ (2018)

Overview of proposed massing looking westhttps://www.anablebasinlic.com/

Rendering of proposed Anable Basin looking west https://www.anablebasinlic.com/

Above: 100-Year Flood Zone will affect 75% of buildings within a half mile by 2050 Based on New York Panel on Climate Change projections

MAS Comments on Environmental Impact of Anable Basin Rezoning


ParagonPaint• BSA Variance Appln• 248 dus• 30% @ 130% of AMI• 26-story tower (292’)

Comparison: original 2015 & revised 2017 BSA proposalsDrawings 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

Revised Plan looking westRendering by SHoP Architects2017


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)


What’s happening right now?Three large-scale planning projects:

Long Island City Satellite PhotoGoogle Maps, April 2018

Long Island City CoreRezoning (DCP)

Hunters Point North(DCP)

Sunnyside Yards Overbuild(EDC)


LICCore Study:Stated Goals:• Commercial

Development• Affordable Housing

(MIH)• Livability• Economic

Opportunity

LIC Core StudyLeft: Context Area

Right: Public Open Spaces and Significant Streets

NYC Department of City Planning/Queens

“LIC Core” Public Meeting 31 January 2017


HuntersPointNorth:

• Private towers walling off the East River

• Limited public access to the waterfront

• Minimal new open space

Hunters Point NorthLeft: Diagram of proposed waterfront access and public open spacesBelow: View looking west to East River waterfront from LIC communityNYC Department of City Planning (2017)


SunnysideYards Overbuild:

• 180 acres with up to 85% overbuilt

• 20.3M to 29.8M sf total floor area

• 14,000 to 24,000 dus• 31 to 52 acres of

open spaces

Schematic representation of overbuildSunnyside Yards Feasibility Study, Feb. 2017, pg. 74

Test Cases of potential development:(from top) Residential; Live/Work/Visit;

and DestinationSunnyside Yards Feasibility Study

February 2017, pg. 127-129

Aerial Photo of Sunnyside Yards looking SWPhoto: New York City Economic Development Corporation

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CN/20180329/REAL_ESTATE/180329879/AR/0/AR-180329879.jpg


Adding up the Waterfront 5 plus Sunnyside Yards:

• Total # of new apartments = 19,550 - 31,100 apts

• # of new residents = 50,830 - 80,860 people

• Total acres of open space = 39.1 - 58.1 acres

• Open space per 1,000 residents = .48 - 1.26 acres

(NYC’s goal is 2.5 acres per 1,000)

• Total open space per apartment =

55 - 129 sf / apt

(about the size of your kitchen)

“…The aggregate open space described provides approximately .97 acres per 1,000 residents. While this is below the recommended CEQR target of 1.25-acres per 1,000 residents, the quantity is equal to or above what is provided by other large-scale developments in New York City”

Sunnyside Yard Feasibility Study, NYC EDC, February 2017


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(EDC)Long Island City Satellite Photo

Google Maps, April 2018


1986 -Court Square +2001 -Queens PlazaUpzoningsBetween 2000 and 2010 the population in Queens Census Tract 1 increased 261 percent.

Satellite Photos of New Construction at Court

Square & Queens Plaza from West (top) andfrom East (bottom)

Google Maps, 2018


1992 - 2018NYSQueens West• 74 acres (minus 30

acres to NYC in 2009)

• 4.8M sf total• 4,700 dus• 13 acres open

space• 2 schools• 11 towers (390’

tallest)

Aerial View of Queens West looking east from the East RiverGoogle Maps, 2018)

Queens West Project Planhttps://esd.ny.gov/queens-west-

development-corporation-subsidiary


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 RiverWaerkar, Tanay. “Hunters’ Point South phase 2 moves forward with plans for 1,200 apartments.” Curbed NY (October 20, 2017). Rendering via ODA.

Aerial View of Hunters Point South looking north from the East RiverNYC EDC, “General Renderings”

(March 17, 2009)


What’s our vision for the future?Well-planned growth means a neighborhood that is ….

• LivableParks, playgrounds, sports fields & landscapingSchools, libraries, day care centers & after-school programsTransportation of all kindsCommunity gathering places & programsArts and culture

• SustainableBenefits both existing and new residents & businessesDistributes economic development fairlyProtects and restores the natural environmentEncourages energy-efficient buildings & renewable use of resources

• ResilientProactive about climate change - sea level rise & increased stormsCommunity services - job training, emergency preparednessState-of-the-art infrastructure that encourages innovationShared and inclusive decision-making


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 DriveMarch 2018


Thank you!Here’s how to reach us:

• Court Square Civic Association www.courtsquarecivic.org

• Hunters Point Civic Associationwww.hunterspointcivic.org

• Hunters Point Community [email protected]

• Long Island City Coalitionwww.liccoalition.org

Well-Planned Growth

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