The housing crisis in New York has resulted in the enactment of policies that are aimed at motivating developers to set up more houses. In the past politicians have been against the setting up of more projects because of gentrification. There is a fear that new housing development will make it hard for low-income people to live in these neighborhoods. An example is the Amazon headquarters that were slated for Long Island City. The project was stopped after a lot of uproar from residents and leaders. This essay will answer questions based on the Amazon headquarters project and Western Queens Community Land Trust’s controversial plans.
New York City and the Queens area in particular would have benefited significantly from the Amazon headquarters. This is because Amazon has in the past shown its willingness to support local communities. In Seattle for example, “the company has a proven track record of funding and creating programs for the needy” (Kilgannon, 2018). The organization would have created affordable housing units that could have helped the people living in Queens. Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos who is one of the richest people in the world. Having such an organization in Queens could have changed the economy of the area. The headquarters would also have created job opportunities for the locals. The area has a high unemployment rate and high poverty levels. Therefore, Amazon dropping its plans for a second headquarter was negative for the Queens area.
The construction of the Amazon headquarters at Queens would have resulted in the gentrification of the area. This is because the company would have brought “over 25,000 workers making salaries in excess of $100,000” (Kilgannon, 2018). This could have resulted in more people moving to the area because of the opportunities presented by Amazon. Another aspect is that people living in Queens earn a median household income of $15, 843. This shows that the opportunities provided by Amazon would not have benefited a majority of the residents of Queens. Further gentrification of the neighborhood would have made life difficult for the residents. Prices of houses and commodities would have increased as a result of the changes. Therefore, the construction of Amazon headquarters in Queens would have changed the composition of the neighborhood.
The Amazon plan for the Queens area involved building the company’s second headquarters. The organization had also promised to create over 40,000 jobs from the project (Kilgannon, 2018). The company had also indicated that it would be a campus that would have benefited the local community. Amazon had also shown a willingness to invest in the community and develop the local workforce. This would have been done through the establishment of a job training center and semi-annual job fairs. The company would have brought significant benefits to all the residents in the area. The benefits from the intended plans would have changed the Queens area. The area has struggled with high unemployment rates and low-income levels. Therefore, the failure to establish the headquarters in the Queens area was a missed opportunity for the locals.
Your LIC plans were born after Amazon reneged on its offer to build a headquarter in Long Island City. The new plans by the consortium of developers would have resulted in infrastructures such as public schools, arts and cultural space, and a workforce training center. The developers also intended to build new affordable housing units and a waterfront. However, due to criticism from various sectors, the project was dropped by the mayor’s office. The plan would have brought positive changes to the city but would have disenfranchised the low-income people. The planners ensured that they conducted workshops to familiarize people with the project. The developers convened “four public workshops and online engagements to listen to views from the community” (Queens Gazette, 2019). This shows that the project creators were aware of the importance of inclusive planning.
The officials at city hall ended the proposed plan by the four developers after a series of meetings. The government indicated that Your LIC project did not deliver on the specified requirements to make Queens a mixed-use community. City hall noted that all private developers must adhere to the identified goals. The decision to cut ties with the group was well-intentioned because the city should protect the community. However, the city could have renegotiated with the group to reach an amicable solution. The area that was meant for development is still idle and the residents are experiencing increased poverty levels. Therefore, even though the project would have been beneficial, the decision to end the project was correct.
With the collapse of Your LIC plan, the city has an opportunity to create developments that adhere to the specific needs of the community. City hall had indicated earlier that the developers were not prepared to create a project that would favor the residents. The city can also recruit new companies that are interested in carrying out the project. The Queens area has a significant challenge with housing. The units found in the area need to be replaced because of age and lack of maintenance. This indicates that a new affordable housing project would be essential for the city. Other crucial developments can also be carried out on the site to change the nature of the area. The challenge is convincing the anti-growth coalitions to agree to the redevelopment of the area. This can be done through extensive community engagements that seek to answer all questions raised by the residents.
A community land trust (CLT) is a private non-profit entity that owns the land on behalf of the community. CLT helps residents to acquire houses at an affordable price, which promotes home ownership (Taylor, 2022). The Queen’s community can benefit from the establishment of a community land trust for the site. The residents can make decisions on the developments that should be made in the area without being pressured by external agents. The community leaders understand what is needed to change the area. Establishing a CLT can be a way of giving the area residents the chance to develop their city.
The City of Yes plan by mayor Adam is intended at modernizing and updating the zoning regulations to enhance various aspects. One of the issues is creating affordable housing, which is a huge problem for the city. The other aspect is promoting sustainability and supporting small businesses. The plan intends to make it easier for hotels to be converted to affordable supportive housing. The YIMBY (yes, in my backyard) versus NIMBY (no, in my backyard) debate is threatening to derail the plans. Those in agreement with the plans point to the need to address the housing crisis while those against indicate that the area will be gentrified.
The change in attitude by leaders is a result of the nationwide problem of homelessness because people cannot afford decent homes. This can be beneficial to the city as it can result in the problem being solved. However, activists are against the need to create more affordable houses. The reason given is that some of the areas will become gentrified forcing people earning low incomes to find alternative means. The city has recorded an increase in the number of people seeking shelter. This shows that the change in attitude by leaders can benefit the residents by adding more houses to the market.
The QNS mega development project was labeled a gentrification accelerator by Julie Won. The statement is true because of the nature of the Queens neighborhood. New developments in the area are likely to change the appearance of the area, which will attract the middle and upper classes. On the issue of member deference, a local council member has the power to reject a project. In the current times, such an event can be problematic because more affordable housing units are needed. Therefore, member deference can delay certain housing projects, which can enhance the homelessness problem within the city.
In summary, the affordable housing sector is thriving because of the increase in demand for houses. The city is forced to create new projects that address the problem. However, criticisms from the NIMBY group have resulted in fewer developments being undertaken. Engaging with those against the projects can be essential in creating a common ground. The statistics show that the number of people seeking shelter has increased considerably.
References
Kilgannon, C. (2018). Amazon’s New Neighbour: The Nation’s Largest Housing Project. The New York Times. Web.
Queens Gazette. (2019). Planning The Future of The LIC Waterfront. Queens Gazette -. Web.
Taylor, K. (2022). Community Land Trust. Investopedia. Web.