NYC’s first pro soccer stadium to be built in Willets Point, Queens

NEW YORK, NY (04/04/2023) –Today, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination hosted a virtual public scoping hearing on the Draft Scope for the proposed Willets Point Phase 2 Development within approximately 17 acres of the Special Willets Point District in Queens Community District 7.

The proposed project, announced by Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Member Francisco Moya in November 2022, is on the land to the east of Citi Field that has long been contaminated and underutilized, and it will bring significant long-term economic opportunity to a community that has long been underserved. Developed in close collaboration with community leaders, the plan a includes total of 2,500 new affordable homes the largest 100-percent affordable, new construction housing project in New York City in 40 years and the City’s first soccer-specific stadium along with over 40,000 square feet of public open space, a 250-key hotel and neighborhood-serving, ground-floor retail shops

Led by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, on behalf of the City of New York, the Queens Development Group, the New York City Football Club (NYCFC), the project is expected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating 1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200 construction jobs.

Support for the transformation of Willets Point is broad and deep, with dozens of local residents, affordable housing advocates, labor, community leaders, soccer fans and elected officials registering to speak at the hearing on the many benefits it will yield. Below is a selection of excerpts from the testimonies they delivered during the hearing or planned to submit in writing:

New York City Councilmember Francisco Moya: “New York City is currently facing a severe housing crisis. The transformation of Willets Point will help us build our way out of this crisis. It’s a model that puts housing first and will yield the City’s largest entirely affordable housing development in the past 40 years — in a corner of my neighborhood that has been underserved and left to languish for too long. The entire project will be built with union labor bringing good jobs, and help alleviate the burden of our neighboring schools which are overcapacity. The completely privately-financed Major League Soccer stadium, the first of its kind in New York, will serve as the economic engine making this entire vision possible — giving Queens a whole new and dynamic community where our fellow New Yorkers can afford to live, and where many others will want to visit.”

Candis Tall, Executive Vice President, 32BJ SEIU: “Willets Point has it all. A project that focuses on housing that is completely affordable, good paying jobs and even a new school. This project is the perfect way to build the future of New York City. Our members need good jobs, our members need housing, and our members are going to be excited to watch championship soccer right here in Queens. We need projects like Willets Point.”

Emily Klein, Senior Policy Associate, Community Preservation Corporation: “In the midst of a city and statewide housing crisis, innovative strategies to redevelop parts of New York City that currently are underutilized are needed more than ever. As more and more New Yorkers face rent burdens and struggle with housing instability, we must ask ourselves: what are we building and who are we building it for? The redevelopment of Willets Point answers those questions clearly: we are building affordable housing for low and middle-income New Yorkers who need it most. On behalf of CPC, we wholeheartedly support the proposed scope for Phase 2 of the Willets Points Redevelopment.”

Larinda Hooks, President of the East Elmhurst Civic Association: "One of the things that is most welcome about the proposed plan to transform Willets Point is that it grew out of the recommendations from Willets Point Task Force, convened in 2018, chaired by Councilman Moya — this is an important precedent for any large scale development in honoring community input. That input called for land to be set aside for public facilities, open space, and housing with a range of affordability levels. Our community also knows that affordable homes alone aren’t enough. To thrive, our neighbors need steady jobs, access to reliable transit, good schools, and open space. Thankfully, this plan takes all of this into account, and deserves our support." 

Thomas J. Grech, president and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce: “As an original member of the Willets Point Task Force that has long advocated for the equitable, smart and inspiring transformation of this long-blighted area, the Queens Chamber of Commerce strongly supports this plan as a generational opportunity to create housing, jobs and a true destination for the borough. The synergy of thousands of units of all-affordable housing, a state-of-the-art soccer stadium, and far-reaching economic development makes this proposal a winner that everyone can get behind.”

Jason Osborn, Flushing Resident and affordable housing professional: “Willets Point has always been a vast wasteland that divides the Corona and Flushing communities. I’m glad to see a development finally moving forward that can help link the two communities and provide much-needed affordable housing to Queens. This is an intersection of several communities, including the creation of a new community, but so much of what ties these cultures together— is soccer. So this project just makes sense.”

Xavier Cerda, North Flushing resident and public library employee: “To have another place in the neighborhood that can function as a community space is always important. From my line of work, I can see what kind of benefit the additional 40,000 square feet of public open space available to the community would provide. That’s one of the many reasons I’m in favor of this project. I also care a lot about the environmental remediation this project will implement. Remediation of the area is good for the community because it opens up opportunities and incentivizes folks in the community to care more about the environment there.”

Jenny Lando, Queens resident and public school employee: “I work at a Queens public school. As student-to-teacher ratios have increased, additional school seats are increasingly important. These new school seats will help make it easier for future students to get the attention they deserve. And the proposed new school’s close proximity to several world-class sporting venues could lead to some very unique career days! As a lifelong New Yorker, I can say that this project will help make my community, my borough and my city stronger.”

Sergio Munoz, Queens resident and small business owner: “The area could become a world-class sports destination. With Citi Field and the Billie Jean National Tennis Center right next door, this world-class soccer stadium would encourage even more sports fans - from around the country and the world - to visit Queens. Additionally, Willets Point has long been home to polluting industries, particularly the predatory chop shops that called the area home. The project’s environmental remediation will improve the quality of life for future residents and for neighboring communities.”

Oscar Garcia, Queens resident and NYCFC supporter: “I’ve been a resident of North Queens since 1991 and drive by the site at Willets Point every day. I am a proud NYCFC fan and am a season ticket holder. The club has created a positive and supportive community that me and my family feel a part of. For 100 years, the project site has provided almost no benefit to the community. The longtime industrial uses in this neighborhood have created serious environmental issues on the site. Longtime Queens residents have been waiting decades for a redevelopment project for this site that will finally clean up Willets Point.”

Chelsea Socias, Queens resident and member of NYCFC supporters group: “Since I was young, I remember going to the park with my family and friends to enjoy the outdoors. Every time we go, there are people playing soccer and there are lots of people watching them. Some of the players are former professional soccer players from South America who have come to New York City for a better life. Through NYCFC, I have found a group of supporters that I now call friends and family. On matchdays, you will see me helping lead the club’s supporters group - Los Templados - while playing drums. This club has become like a family for me and I want other Latinas in Queens to have that same experience.”

Written comments on the Draft Scope will be accepted by New York City Mayor’s Office of

Environmental Coordination below until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2023. ###