Nine stories not enough, city planners approve four more at "Target" building

[Shelby2]

I'm so confused about the status of this project. Here's a long story about the whole conflict that was published yesterday, but does not necessarily clarify what's happening now:
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/01/queens-target-jackson-heights-amazon-zoning-gentrification/580717/

What I got from the article is that the plans for Target are proceeding. It doesn't exactly say that, but it says that QNU tried to have the developer's building permit annulled. They requested that the judge either shut down the project entirely or impose a temporary stop-work order until the ruling by the city’s Board of Standards and Appeal, expected in March. However, the the Supreme Court judge refused to issue a stop-work order and deferred the case back to the Board of Standards and Appeal.

"A few days after the community trial, community members packed a New York State Supreme Court room on January 10, in support of QNU’s suit against the developers. They argued before the judge to have the developer’s building permit annulled. Construction on the project has begun and QNU says that with the case pending the developers have been fast-tracking construction efforts at the site in a race against the clock. They requested that the judge either shut down the project entirely or impose a temporary stop-work order until the ruling by the city’s Board of Standards and Appeal, expected in March.

The Supreme Court judge refused to issue a stop-work order and deferred the case back to the Board of Standards and Appeal."

Thanks for the close read. I think you're right. I am confused about what the current proposal is exactly though-- e.g. how many stories? The rendering on the latest article on YIMBY looked like it was only 2 or 3.

I was confused by that as well.

[JHMNY]

I think Target is valuable to many residents, and many residents want it here. The problem is the Queens Neighborhoods United group makes a lot of noise and is trying to make people believe that all area residents are against Target. And that is simply not true.

I absolutely prefer Target over a bunch of 99 cent stores.

Queens Neighborhoods United is making a lot of noise, but we also have political figures like Jessica Ramos and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez who have expressed their anti-Target views citing the potential for gentrification.

I'm in agreement about preferring the Target over more 99 cent stores. I don't have statistics, but I think many immigrants will also support the Target, as they do some of the other shops along 82nd Street like the Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. Again, this is solely based on my observations. The one argument I'm interested in hearing more about is the issue relating to access to Elmhurst Hospital. 

[JK resident]

Did you know that the whole area around 82nd Street was designated an Opportunity Zone by NYS which means they get huge federal and state tax breaks?

https://esd.ny.gov/opportunity-zones

[dssjh]

rich developers never spend their own money, just ours.

[JK resident]

Why 82nd and not 74th Street? It seems only the connected to the Governor get these tax breaks. Did the community get consulted as to which areas should be included?

https://therealdeal.com/2019/02/06/this-ny-lawmaker-is-going-after-opportunity-zone-incentives/