Monserrate, Katz push for Willets approval, housing deal announced, Tully close

Former Borough President Claire Shulman Hugs Hiram Monserrate after he announces his support for the Willets Point redevelopment

City Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-East Elmhurst) and Land Use Committee Chairwoman Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills), who have both been critical of the city’s plan to redevelop Willets Point, enthusiastically threw their support behind the project Wednesday after a historic deal on affordable housing was reached late Tuesday night.

The Queens Council members announced their backing for the project alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan), Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber and former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, who said they expect the majority of the City Council to approve the project Thursday afternoon.

“This is a project for the people,” Monserrate said. “Everyone wins with this project.”

An agreement on the affordable housing  element was struck late Tuesday night which will guarantee that 35 percent of the 5,500 housing units proposed for the Willets Point redevelopment will be available to families earning less than $60,000 per year.

In addition, 800 of the affordable housing units will be set aside for families earning between $23,000 and $46,000 per year, the most that has ever been included in a New York City project.

Bloomberg also said Tully Construction and Tully Environmental, the largest landowners at Willets Point, had agreed in principle to sell their land to the city, which would give the city control of more than 50 percent of the land if finalized.  Eminent domain, however, remains a possibility.

Monserrate to announce ‘unprecedented’ affordable housing deal

City Councilman Hiram Monserrate will announce what he and affordable housing advocates are calling an “unprecedented” deal on low-income housing for the Willets Point project.

Evan Thies, a spokesman for ACORN, said the deal was struck between Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration, Monserrate and the Queens for Affordable Housing Coalition late last night and will guarantee 35 percent of the 5,500 housing units proposed for the Willets Point redevelopment will be available to families earning less than $60,000 per year.

Additionally, 800 of the affordable housing units will be set aside for families earning between $23,000 and $46,000 per year, Thies said.

More on this soon.

Monserrate ‘cautiously optimistic’ he’ll vote for plan

Hiram Monserrate speaks at a rally against the Willets Point redevelopment earlier this year.

The city is on the path to wooing one of its most ardent critics.

City Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-East Elmhurst) — a vocal opponent of the city’s Willets Point redevelopment plan — said in an interview shortly after leaving City Hall Tuesday evening that he is “cautiously optimistic” enough progress will be made on the project for him to vote in favor of it Thursday afternoon.

Monserrate had a several-hour-long meeting on Willets Point with members of the Bloomberg administration Tuesday afternoon where progress on the affordable housing elements and the property acquisition negotiations were the chief topics of discussion.

He said the meeting was productive, and while he would not commit to supporting the plan unquestionably, he felt good moving forward.

“I’m cautiously optimistic we can get to that place,” Monserrate said. “Nothing is finalized, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, but I think we can get there.”