WNYC Newsroom: Community Protests Against Possible Changes to Queens West Project

NEW YORK, NY May 16, 2007 —Community groups and elected officials held a protest against possible changes to development of the 5-thousand unit Queens West project, in Long Island City. Activists say the middle-income housing complex is at risk of being turned over to a non-profit entity formed by the Real Estate Board of New York and private developers.

REPORTER: But Brad Lander of the Pratt Center for Community Development says members of the Real Estate Board can't be trusted to develop the site.

LANDER: So as an organization they have no track record. the city's affordable housing developers have a track record that's in the hundreds of thousands of units. and again the members have a track record of building high rise luxury high rise in Manhattan. “

REPORTER: He also said the city had to be more transparent about its plans. Developer Stephen Ross of the Real Estate Board told the New York Times that discussions with the city were at an early stage but that he wanted to keep costs down at the site.