After decades of hard work, Willets Point has emerged as a symbol of Queens’ values and its bright future. Steps away from some of the most iconic attractions in New York City — Citi Field, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the No. 7 train — this new walkable, transit-accessible neighborhood is ready for its next chapter.
New Yorkers finally have the opportunity to call Willets Point — the largest 100% affordable development in NYC in four decades — home by entering the housing lottery for the first 880 units ahead of the Feb. 25 deadline.
In a dedicated effort to provide real, tangible solutions to the generational housing crisis our city is mired in, Willets Point Commons will open its doors this spring for longtime New Yorkers, working families, veterans and more — individuals who have long deserved the ability to live affordably and enjoy both state-of-the-art amenities and community-focused infrastructure.
Willets Point Commons provides affordable housing with eligible income ranges from $20,469 to $301,350, pending family size and specific requirements.
Twenty percent of apartments are set aside for Queens Community Board 7 residents, offering a real opportunity for our neighbors to secure long term affordable housing in the neighborhood they already call home. Ten percent of apartments will go to veterans or municipal employees, with 5% being set aside for those with mobility challenges and 2% for those with visual and hearing access needs, guaranteeing equity among hardworking New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds.
When complete, the result will be a vibrant neighborhood featuring a new public school, more than 150,000 square feet of public open space, space for local businesses, a new hotel and Etihad Park — the future home of New York City Football Club and the city’s first professional soccer stadium. With more than 14,000 jobs created and more than $6 billion in economic impact generated, Willets Point will be one of the most transformational victories in the history of the World’s Borough.
Beyond the housing, which will ensure residents can live in quality homes without the fear of rising rents and safety concerns. This new neighborhood also addressed critical infrastructure upgrades for Queens’ future such as new streets, signage, sidewalks, curbs, trees and lights installed alongside water mains, hydrants, sewers and utilities. In addition, the project area has been elevated out of the 100-year floodplain, ensuring safety for residents now and for generations to come.
Willets Point is a stunning example of what is possible when the public and private sector — City Hall, HPD, HDC, EDC, Queens Development Group (Related Companies and Sterling Equities), NYCFC, and more — come together and prioritize building with a laser focus on the future of our families. With the Queens community at the forefront of this development, Willets Point embodies the response that is needed all over the city.
As Queens borough president, I’ve dedicated my career to improving infrastructure, expanding affordable housing and strengthening economic development. Willets Point is central to those efforts and more.
I firmly believe Willets Point will deliver for our neighbors and serve as a model of how our city can grow with affordability, equity and community at its core. I encourage anyone that qualifies to apply to be one of the first to be a part of this legacy for generations to come.
Richards is Queens borough president.
