QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) — A major transformation is taking shape in Queens, turning what was once industrial land into a vibrant new community.
PIX11’s Cory McGinnis got an exclusive tour of the Willets Point redevelopment, where hundreds of families will soon call home.
Walking through one of the brand-new apartments, Citi Field is visible just beyond the window, a reminder of how close the project sits to the heart of Queens.
“This first building here is 880 units of affordable housing,” said Frank Monterisi, Executive Vice President at Related Management Company.
He says the buildings are the foundation of a new community built with care and quality meant to last.
“This is the start of a whole new neighborhood… we built affordable housing at the same quality as we built market-rate housing,” Monterisi added.
The Willets Point development, across from Citi Field, is one of New York City’s largest all-affordable housing projects. Applications are now open through the city’s housing lottery, and residents are expected to move in as early as April.
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The first two buildings include 880 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms and will open alongside a new public green space.
“Personally, I’ve been working on this for almost 15 years,” Monterisi said. “To know what it was like before and to what we’re doing here, we’re very, very proud of it.”
When complete, the full redevelopment will feature 2,500 homes, a new school, open space, retail, a hotel, and the upcoming NYCFC soccer stadium.
Monterisi said the project reflects years of collaboration between developers, city partners, and local residents. “We sat down with our partners in government, listened to people in the area, listened to our community partners, and came up with a great plan,” he said.
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City Councilmember Shanel Thomas-Henry also joined the tour, calling the project a major step forward for Queens families. “This is something that’s going to help new families, existing families grow in a brand-new community that we can call our own,” she said. “I’m super excited to be here and be a part of this project.”
Meantime, crews are putting the final touches on the apartments and preparing to welcome hundreds of new families to Queens’ newest neighborhood.
For information on how to apply for the city’s housing lottery, click here.
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