It's been six months since Amazon rescinded its plans to build a second headquarters in New York City. The neighborhood planned for the facility could still see a huge benefit from an ambitious development, according to this opinion.
Carlo Scisurra, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, pens an opinion piece for Crain's New York Business that calls for a new comprehensive plan for Long Island City, six months after Amazon cancelled its plans to build a second headquarters in the New York neighborhood.
The key now is to create a comprehensive plan for the area to ensure the site that Amazon targeted is used intelligently to better Long Island City, the borough and the entire region. To develop this blueprint, all stakeholders must come together—the private owners, city and state officials, and, of course, the local residents. It is essential that the community is involved throughout the entirety of the planning process to ensure that whatever is built benefits the people and businesses that call the neighborhood home.
According to Scisurra, most New Yorkers supported the Amazon plans, reflecting a desire for development in Long Island City. Now the city has to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the site, and "return to a spirit of aspirational planning":
Just imagine: LIC could be the home of what would be New York’s only dedicated soccer stadium, creating a new, vibrant cultural landmark in Queens. It could include other venues and amenities as well, such as a new museum, a much-needed second convention center (to complement Manhattan’s Javits) or a modern park or public space.
Scisurra offers other ideas for how the former Amazon site could be developed, and why it can and should be.
FULL STORY: Plan B for LIC
Amazon Calls the Whole New York Thing Off
The AmazonHQ2 circus is packing up and moving to another city.
Amazon Delivered a Booming Real Estate Market in Queens
The real estate market in most of New York City is sluggish to close out 2018, but for now, Long Island City is going gangbusters.
Regional Plan Association Gives Amazon HQ2 a Thumbs Up
A Regional Plan Association white paper makes that case that New York City and Amazon have mutually beneficial goals with the decision to located the tech company's second headquarters in Long Island City.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.
Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?
Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont