|
STATE
OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
GEORGE E. PATAKI, GOVERNOR
Press
Office
518-474-8418
212-681-4640
http://www.state.ny.us
FOR
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
Thursday, May 21, 1998
GOVERNOR
DEDICATES STATE PARK AT QUEENS WEST'S GANTRY PLAZA
Dedication Marks First Opening of Queens Waterfront to Public
in 100 Years
Governor George
E. Pataki and Queens Borough President Claire Shulman today dedicated
Gantry Plaza State Park at Queens West, the 74-acre residential
and retail project along the East River.
"For the first time in this century,
the people of Queens
will have access to their waterfront," Governor Pataki said. "Families
will have a wonderful new place to spend time together and build
an appreciation for New York's magnificent natural resources.
"Queens
West is an ambitious $2.3 billion project that is sparking the
renaissance of the Queens waterfront and economic growth for
the neighborhood," the Governor said. "It is a joint
effort among the private sector, the federal government, the
State, the City and the Port Authority -- who should all be congratulated
for their efforts in bringing this day about.
"When the
first building, City Lights, opened last fall it was an instant
hit -- who can argue with the magnificent backdrop of the Manhattan
skyline as a place to call home -- there is a brand new, thriving
elementary school right here and before long a second building
will rise along the East River shore," Governor Pataki said.
"In short, Queens West tells the story of New York as we
enter the 21st Century: strong economic growth, good schools
and a better environment for our families to enjoy."
Queens Borough
President Claire Shulman said, "Today we celebrate the reclamation
of this beautiful waterfront site for the community of Queens.
Weeds and train yards have been transformed into this park, a
spectacular centerpiece of the Queens West development that offers
waterfront access, while recognizing the historical integrity
of the site's past.
"We look
forward to the continuing development of the entire 20 acres
of waterfront open space with its magnificent views and the continued
reformation of this underutilized land into a hub of housing,
commercial and retail activity," Borough President Shulman
said.
Gantry Plaza
State Park is located at the end of 48th Avenue at the East River.
The 2.5 acre park will be the first State-operated park in Queens.
The other Queens State park, Bayswater on Jamaica Bay, is operated
for the State by the Audubon Society.
The park incorporates
two historic gantry float bridges, where cargo was moved, and
four piers jutting into the East River recalling the Queens waterfront's
heyday as an industrial power and shaper of the Port of New York.
When completed,
Queens West will occupy 74 acres along the East River with 15
residential buildings totaling 6,400 units, three commercial
buildings offering 2 million square feet of space, a hotel and
conference center and 20 acres of parks and open space.
Mayor Rudolph
W. Giuliani said, "It's wonderful to see the opening of
Gantry Plaza State Park. This new development will provide 20
acres of parks and open space, over 6,000 new residential units,
2 million square-feet of commercial space and perhaps, most importantly,
new jobs. Queens West is yet another example of how private and
public partnership has been able to transform underutilized areas
of the City to benefit all New Yorkers."
Charles A. Gargano,
Chairman of Empire State Development Corporation and Vice Chairman
of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said, This
project is a perfect reflection of Governor Pataki's economic
policies at work in New York's stunning, historic economic turnaround.
Today, we see the first fruits of the transformation of the Queens
waterfront. This is a public-private partnership that will take
us into the next century with economic opportunity, jobs and
affordable housing."
State Parks
Commissioner Bernadette Castro said, "I want to thank Governor
Pataki and Chairman Gargano for all their work in creating this
new State park in Queens. We are so delighted to be opening another
State park to be enjoyed by all the people of New York City and
across this great State."
Charles E. Millard,
President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation
and a member of the Queens West Development Corporation Board,
said, "Governor Pataki, Mayor Giuliani and the City of New
York are proud to provide the residents of Queens and the entire
City with access to the spectacular Queens waterfront. This is
another excellent example of our working together to capitalize
on our assets for the greater good of both the City and State
of New York."
State Senator
Serphin R. Maltese said, "Governor Pataki has the vision,
Governor Pataki has the commitment and Governor Pataki gets things
done for all New Yorkers. Today, he has made a difference for
the people of Queens. I hope everyone takes advantage of this
beautiful new State park."
Assemblyman
Denis J. Butler, who sponsored the legislation creating Queens
West more than a decade ago, said, "This is a day that I
have looked forward to for a long time. It shows when government
at all levels and the private sector join together great things
can be accomplished."
Vincent Albanese,
Chairman of Queens West Development Corporation, said, "It's
a wonderful feeling knowing that a project that had been talked
about for more than a decade is now going ahead full-steam under
the leadership of Governor Pataki. It's a remarkable achievement."
The park will
feature an educational interpretive zone with native tidal march
grasses and other wetlands planting , a children's playground,
a fishing pier and fish cleaning station and a performance lighting
system for outdoor events on the lower plaza .
Oversight for
Queens West is provided by the Queens West Development Corporation
(QWDC), a subsidiary of Empire State Development Corporation,
and is made up of representatives from the State, the City and
the Port Authority. To date, the Port Authority, which pledged
$125 million for Queens West, has contributed $50 million for
land acquisition and design, the City has contributed $30 million
for capital construction and infrastructure and Empire State
Development has provided $3 million for administrative expenses.
On May 23, 1996,
Governor Pataki presided over the groundbreaking for City Lights,
the 42-story, 522 unit co-op developed by Manhattan Overlook
(MO) Associates, which represented the largest loan in three
decades--$85.6 million-- made by the AFL-CIO Housing Investment
Trust and backed by a federal Department of Housing and Urban
Development loan guarantee.
Mellon Bank,
the Dreyfus Corporation and Zeckendorf Realty, LLP are the private
sector partners of MO Associates.
A developer
for a second residential building at Queens West will be named
later this year. Before City Lights opened, the first building,
it had a list of 4,000 prospective buyers and is approaching
a full sell-out of this moderate income family housing.
Queens West
is accessible by subway, car and a ferry which offers daily service
across the East River from East 34th Street in Manhattan.
###
ESD Contact:
Maura Gallucci (212) 803-3740 |
Queens
West Development Corporation
Empire State Development Corporation