REMARKS
Willets Point project's unique aspects compared to other sports arena developments
2:54:21
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151 sec
Frank Monterisi and Ethan Goodman highlight the unique aspects of the Willets Point project that differentiate it from other sports arena developments like Atlantic Yards. They emphasize the project's progress, teamwork, and commitment to affordable housing.
- The project has already removed 200,000 tons of contaminated soil and is actively building infrastructure
- The first structure being built is 100% affordable housing for 880 families and individuals
- The development team has worked closely with city partners and local stakeholders since 2012 to overcome challenges
Francisco P. Moya
2:54:21
And last question is, look, other sports arena projects in the city like Atlantic Yards famously promised affordable housing, but has yet to deliver on many of those promises.
2:54:34
Can you explain a little bit of how this project is is is different?
Frank Monterisi
2:54:40
I mean, I I think for, you know, for why this product is different from my perspective.
2:54:46
I mean, first, I think, you know, I I I give I I think that I give a lot of credits to the team that's working on this, and that's not just you know, the private development team.
2:54:55
That's the public development team.
2:54:57
You know, we've been working you know, we were designated the developer of this site in 2012.
2:55:02
We've been working with our city partners at EDC for a long time.
2:55:07
We've been working with our local stakeholders yourself and and and others for for for a long time.
2:55:12
I think I think at the end of the day what what makes this project, you know, different.
2:55:16
Look, there's a lot of tough sites in the New York City.
2:55:18
This is a this is a tough site.
2:55:20
We had we in the last 2 years, we removed 200,000 tons of contaminated soil from the site.
2:55:27
You know, you had to remove contamination that has been there for decades.
2:55:31
We have we are right now if you come out to the site, as I know, you know, as I know you have been, but for anybody else that comes out to the site, you'll see infrastructure going in.
2:55:39
We had to rebuild.
2:55:40
We had to build new roads.
2:55:41
We had to put new utilities.
2:55:44
We had to plan all of that with our public partners.
2:55:48
This was this was years years years of of of hard work in the making.
2:55:52
And so I think what, you know, what it what it comes down to is I think that there's there's a there's there's really a teamwork around the site that and we all have to we all have to listen to each other and and figure out the obstacles as we go along.
2:56:04
I think honestly, I think that's That's that's the that's the difference.
Ethan Goodman
2:56:07
And I I I wanna add one of the things, because Frank's too modest to add it.
2:56:11
The major difference, it's coming out of the ground right now.
2:56:14
Like, if you go to Wilots, you're gonna see construction cranes and earth moving, and that's for affordable housing, 100% affordable housing.
2:56:23
And that's before anything else gets built at Willis.
2:56:27
The first structure that's coming out here is gonna house 880 families and individuals in a 100% affordable housing.
2:56:34
And that proof is in the pudding right there.
Francisco P. Moya
2:56:36
Thank you.
2:56:37
And and lastly, Cheryl Riley has shared that that he would like to do a try out among myself for the next season coming up as part of his process.
2:56:51
Thank you so much.
2:56:51
Thank you, Cheer Riley.