Deputy Mayor Steel Presents New York City Strategic Growth Plan

Hunters Point South Development Project cited as an example of investment in the future.

Community Meeting Announced for January 12, 2012 at 6:30 pm.

Deputy Mayor Steel Presents NYC Economic Development Strategy at York College December 7, 2011   Hunters Point South development project cited as an example of strategic investment by NYC..   York College Journalism students ask Deputy Mayor Steel tough questions     Full video coverage and follow up Q&A are available in the left column in 4 segments of approximately three to five minutes each. deputy_mayor_steel_20111207_01 deputy_mayor_steel_20111207 q_and_a_deputy_mayor_steel_20111207 york_executive_breakfast_intro_20111207

Long Island City, New York December 7, 2011 - Deputy Mayor Robert Steel presented the NYC Economic Development Strategy at an Executive Breakfast in Jamaica at York College on December 7, 2011. OurLIC was at the event and presents a full video of the presentation with this article. HIGHLIGHTS Deputy Mayor Steel has worked for Mayor Bloomberg for the past year and a half. NYC is growing faster in population than other major US Cities.  It will have an increase of 1,ooo,ooo population between now and 2035. This creates opportunities as well as stresses on the system. By comparison, the Deputy Mayor presented a case that most major cities in the US have declined in population. The key trend is that the country has moved South, West, and to the Suburbs.  Dispite these trends, NYC is growing. The Mayors PlaNYC calls for focus in twelve areas.  For  each, there is a plan that was originally developed in 2007. It was refreshed and updated in 2011. Housing and Neighborhoods Parks and Public Space Brownfields Waterways Water supply Transportation Energy Air Quality Solid Waste Climate Change New York City is about half the economic engine of New York State. While there is a headline unemployment of 8.8% or 8.9%, "our unemployment challenge is much worse than that" according to the Deputy Mayor.  He referred to certain segments of the population, such as men of color in the Bronx, where the unemployment population is more like 40%. In addition, Steel drilled down on the concept of "churn rate" among the unemployed. He explained that in prior recessions, the churn rate was high, and that in this current recession, there is a phenomenon of low churn rate. That occurs when an individual's long term unemployment is very high. It is not a rolling unemployment, but rather one where a few stay unemployed for a long period. It relates to "how long the average person is out of work". It is much different when someone is out of work for 12 months vs 3 months. There are FOUR KEY PILLARS of the Economic Development Plan Improving Quality of Life Creating a Pro-business Environment Invest in the Future Innovation and Economic Competitiveness. Education is a "driver". Deputy Mayor Steel presented details and examples of each of these FOUR PILLARS. One example was the Hunters Point South section of Long Island City. In a statement to OurLIC after the presentation, Deputy Mayor Steel said “Hunters Point South will be the largest affordable housing development in New York City in four decades, and we are thrilled that the 950-unit first phase will be 100% affordable. This means that even more low-, moderate- and middle-income New York families will soon be calling the Queens waterfront home. We will be breaking ground on the first housing phase next year.” Previously, the portion of affordable housing for the Hunters Point South plan was announced at 80% affordable. The city committed to a minimum of 60% affordability overall for all phases. A spokes person for the Deputy Mayor advises OurLIC that "No decisions have been made beyond that for the additional phases." In follow-up to questions raised about the announced "100% affordable",  Community Board #2 Chair Joe Conley told OurLIC: "I have confirmed with NYC HPD the Hunters Point South 'overall' development plan is not changing. When the city announced the selection of the developer for the first building the city was asking for 80/20. 80% affordable and 20% market. The development team that won the RFP stated that they can can archive 100% affordable, in the first phase, under the guidelines established in our recommendation, specifically multiple levels of income bands. The first phase of the project will be all affordable, but with more than half of the units targeted for middle-income households, which will be of an income of about $100,000 to $130,000 a year." "I believe than plan for the first building remains the same when the winning development team was announced by the city, and that is 25% of affordable units for families of four with an income of $100,000.00 a year and 75% below that mark in various income bands, teachers, municipal workers, seniors, etc" For additional information go to [ OurLIC NEWS  SPECIAL REPORT: City Sets Hunters Point South Development Plan at 100% Affordable for Phase One  ] There will be a community meeting sponsored by Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, City Council Member Jimmy VanBramer, Community Board #2 Chair Joe Conley at MoMA PS1 at 6:30 pm, January 12, 2012. HPD will be there with the development team for the first phase to give an update and answer questions about Phase 1 residential. MoMA PS 1 will also open art exhibits for free to residents that evening.. Watch here for further HIGHLIGHTS of this presentation and comments by Deputy Mayor Steel about Hunters Point South.   Deputy Mayor Steel Presents NYC Economic Development Strategy at York College December 7, 2011 Hunters Point South development project cited as an example of strategic investment by NYC.. York College Journalism students ask Deputy Mayor Steel tough questions

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