via EDC
June 29, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
The Sunnyside Yard Steering Committee held its first meeting this week, signaling the start to the 18-month master planning process for a potentially massive development at the Sunnyside Yard site.
The approximately 35-member committee, made up of local leaders and stakeholders in an array of disciplines, met yesterday to begin discussing the master planning process and their role in helping the project’s technical consultant team design it, according to the city.
The city did not provide a breakdown of what was discussed in the first meeting, but noted that the committee will help provide a fresh perspective on what can and should be built over the 180-acre site, including outlining priorities for the first phase of potential development.
Sunnyside Yards Steering Committee (Click to Enlarge)
The committee, as first announced in May, will also work to figure out how to best engage the public in several interest areas related to development, ensuring that the existing communities priorities are made clear during the mater planning process.
Public meetings, workshops, and canvassing are all engagement activities the steering committee will likely conduct for public input.
The steering committee will also meet about every three months during the master planning process, which concludes roughly by the end of 2019, but could take up to two years.
“We are confident that the Steering Committee will help create an inclusive plan that could deliver on good jobs, affordable housing, open space and improved public transit in Western Queens,” said Cali Williams, Director of Sunnyside Yard, in a statement. “This is just the start of a conversation and we look forward to engaging New Yorkers in envisioning this unique site.”
The master plan, to be developed by the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, along with other engineering and planning experts, is expected to detail features like residential units, affordability, schools, parkland, and more at the site, along with development phases and a potential timeline to carry the plan out.
The city, along with Amtrak, first announced their intention to produce a master plan for the site in May, just over a year after the Sunnyside Yard Feasibility Study was released.
The study said over 80 percent of the yard could potentially be decked over and developed with up to 24,000 residential units, 19 schools and 52 acres of public parks.
The yard has long been eyed for development, with Amtrak approaching the city in 2014 to discuss the possibility of a large-scale development above the yards.
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43 Comments
Make this historic land! Its probably the only way to prevent the realtors/politicians molestation!
I think this should not only be built, but every building should be 70+ stories and we should open up the boarders and let more people in . This neighborhood is empty, it’s underpopulated and needs more people .
Land use Steering Committee,… I am worried here they are local stakeholders, regional thinkers and technical experts. What they are money grubbers, real estate industry people, CB-2 land use chairperson who is a VP and works for a RE Fund, the same people who have reviewed, approved the plans and permitted small hotels to be built in our district now housing hundreds of homeless in our neighborhood. Thousands of new apartments to be built – with the ultimate plan of moving NYCHA families into Sunnyside yards new apartments and tearing down the projects along the East River Waterfront, Ravenswood, to make room for luxury housing, etc. This has already been discussed in Real Estate circles as costs to refurbish the NYCHA housing upwards of $31 Billion dollars cheaper to relocate, warehouse/seal apartments with the excuse of asbestos/lead contamination, already happening….
that’s what much of NYCHA originally was.
Woodside Houses Guy
Just make sure that NYCHA is kept completely out of this.
Before anything can be built a huge problem would need to be solved: how will all these people get to Manhattan everyday? 7 train?? hahahahaha!! Transportation first.
I’m with original Gardens Watcher and support the train yard park project
Love the idea. Good opportunity for me to get a chance to look at the property and we can get it done.
wow. appears that the southeast Asian community is not a part of this working group
Build a subway line and you’ll get 80% approval for this project. If you can’t build a subway line over train tracks and pre-existing tunnels, then you can’t build one anywhere. Build another line!!!!
you aint getting me to move for you to get on the 7 train. keep waiting another 30 minutes.
I’d support housing the 2x as dense if it means there would be a large public park similar in size to McCarren.
Developments should be 100% mixed-use though. If you don’t you’ll put more strain on the trains.
I have loved this plan since day one. Progress!
I figured the Trump family would be involved with this much real estate at stake. Maybe you’ll call it Trumpville?
No it’ll be called
L.i.c’ss. A.s.s. For lic, sunnyside, astoria.
There needs to massive open public space/ parks but with the amount of schools, apartments etc being proposed I’m not holding my breadth. This is Western Queens’ last chance at becoming a real destination in the city similar to other neighborhoods- Park slope, Williamsburg etc. without the parks it will be just an extension of how awful Court Square is now- There is literally no reason to be there other than the multiple train lines to the city.
I am the original Gardens Watcher, not the fake troll who said it was a “good plan”. Interesting that no one has ever stole my name until this story posted.
I know the Original Garden Watcher so who is trying to pull a fast one?
a non-negotiable 100 acres of continuous park sound good. that way, there is something good in it for queens, which should be the only reason at all for development which without infrastructure and that green space will wreck our lives, and remove the sky. will the the people we pay to lead us and steward the city now, and in the future work for us or for developers?
Just so long as there is plenty of parking, eh dwarf brain?
Immoral Society – yep, queens neighborhoods still need parking, ya putz. Where will those trucks that deliver your small-batch-hand-picked-local-artisanal coffee beans park?
If you didn’t know, these things don’t magically appear. Local amenities come with parking needs.
Inappropriate comment no need to call myovne names
I hope you’re referring to “dwarf brain”
Developers $$$
Good, more housing.
Any proposal will need a new rail line. Perhaps a trunk that branches after the yard. Can send the G and a new train down northern Blvd. Can also connect it to the abandoned Rockaway branch, giving Western Queens a one seat ride to JFK.
I’d love it if they opened the Rockaway line. It would be the height of stupidity to remove a mass transit option in favor of a tourist attraction.
There is a push to build the park but it sounds like it’ll get squashed. The right of way is too important to give up.
I’d support a trail alongside the rail route though.
Hey–stupid question, but what is the Rockaway Line? I don’t know anything about it.
Is it this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockaway_Beach_Branch#Passenger_service
You are correct but to all those who want to reactivate the line as a subway extension, good luck with the NIMBYs who have literally extended their property fences into the right-of-way.
Radical Idea built no frill housing that is affordable for people making under $35 a year, and some for people making under $25k…1 bedroom for $750-1000 a month no amenities just an elevator basic sears w/d stove refridge, nothing luxury maybe a community pool and play area, nothing luxury i repeat nothing luxury
that’s what much of NYCHA originally was.
Woodside Houses Guy
and we desperately need tens of thousands more basic housing units. Remember some of us are just not impressed with “luxury” countertops stainless appliances and a doggie valet in the complex. Some of us are fine with thick carpeting to keep the noise down and who cares about parquet floors? Saving $500 a month in rent is far more important then Faux luxury hipsterism.
Smart move by Committee organizers to not include elected politicians who would likely distort the process to suit their personal agenda.
You’d rather have un-elected people control this? Like Robert Moses?
I take it you’re not a fan of the late Master Destroyer?
Make it into one of the most beautiful and sustainable park the world has ever seen.
This will be a great project for the community. I support 100%!
Mr LaBarbera and Carlos Scissura are among the builders invested lobbyists here. Others have bland titles, but guess who will make money in the group?
As well, policing and educational, parks and traffic and congestion interests are absent. A new precinct and firehouse, roads and rail station?
City investments would cost billions, with a b, up front, and should. In fact, a new small town. Please stop now. Air and sky are not at the table
24,000 residential units, 19 schools and 52 acres of public parks and 1 Trader Joe’s
Good plan. Looking forward to seeing the progress.
Oh what a surprise! There’s another “Gardens Watcher” out there spreading false posts to steer public opinion in favor of this boondoggle project. Could it be the committee, or the Mayor’s office or another pol, or even the trades who stand to make big bucks? Who’s monitoring this site anyway? Or is it just a bunch of trolls?
I’m keeping an eye on you both
Is that a threat from a non-Sunnysider?