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New York City last week announced $ 180 million in new spending in Long Island City to strengthen public transit, repair the sewer system and attract new high-paying jobs . It now seems that the expenses have been partly deliberately programmed.
Amazon is about to enter into an agreement to name Long Island City, a rapidly growing neighborhood on the western outskirts of Queens, as one of two venues that can accommodate up to 50,000 employees in its workforce. constant expansion, according to two people informed about the negotiations.
The other site planned by Amazon is outside the Crystal City area in Arlington, Virginia, in the suburbs of Washington, according to one of the people informed.
[Ensavoirplussurcomment[Readmoreabouthow[Ensavoirplussurcomment[ReadmoreabouthowAmazon is approaching an agreement to set up a head office in Queens.]
The arrival of Amazon to Long Island City could finally make New York a technological hub comparable to its West Coast rivals. However, some residents worry about the effects of so many new arrivals on the area's glittering apartment towers and low-rise buildings, already strained by rapid growth.
According to an analysis done by the city, 41 new apartment buildings have been built since 2010. Last year, more new apartments were built in Long Island City than in any other neighborhood. from New York. The reasons, in large part, are its proximity to Manhattan, its relatively low cost and its views.
"You can almost reach Hunters Point Park and feel like you're going to touch Manhattan's 34th Street," City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said of the proximity to downtown Manhattan. There is also a collection of equipment custom designed for employees in the technology sector: the MoMA PS1 contemporary art center, several breweries and a place where you can learn trapeze.
The north of the neighborhood is also home to the Queensbridge Houses, the largest social housing project in the country.
Proposed locations for Amazon buildings in the neighborhood were not clear.
A person informed of the discussions said that city officials had taken Amazon executives to search for a new headquarters, called QG2, three times in the region, in April, July, and September. In one case, he said, they visited Citi Bikes, the local bike sharing program; in another, they took the sun on one of the new fast ferries in the city.
"Whether it's Amazon or something else, we're growing," said Elizabeth Lusskin, president of LIC Partnership, the local development company. "You must plan thoughtfully."
The entire building – and the new residents who accompany it – put pressure on the infrastructure of the area. Depending on the city, new schools are needed and the subways are packed.
"Train 7 is overloaded today and we can not sell Long Island City as being rich in transportation," said Van Bramer, cautioning. "The people working at Amazon are going to compete for space on this train."
It was not clear if discussions with Amazon included promises to improve or expand transit options. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's office declined to comment on the company's plans, which have not yet been formally announced. A spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio also declined to comment. Cuomo and Blasio met separately with Amazon executives at the end of last month, according to two people familiar with the talks.
But the new spending plan of the city, made public last Tuesday, included an opportunity to increase transportation options that could involve a new train stop in the heart of the region.
"Working with M.T.A./L.I.R.R.R. Amtrak will also look into the possibility of creating a new railway station on Queensland Boulevard in Sunnyside Yard, "reads the city map, referring to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Island Rail Road, which use all two of the spaces in the neighboring marshalling yards.
A person informed of the discussions said that even though the plan was being developed, city officials wanted to be certain to publish it before Amazon made its decision.
The local community council members were concerned about the effects that an Amazon head office might have on cultural institutions, manufacturing operations and other local businesses. already under the pressure of rising land costs.
"There was mewing before," said Sheila Lewandowski, 54, a long-time resident and director of the Chocolate Factory Theater, an arts organization in the region facing the threat of displacement.
And then, she added, there is the sewer issue. Half of the new spending proposed by the city, about $ 95 million, is for sewers.
"We have sewer problems," Lewandowski said. "They're backing up. If we want to bring this big company, we will do better to invest a lot more in infrastructure. "
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