The Blog is Back

After a brief hiatus, we’re coming back strong on the nets – count on consistent updates from here on out on the Applied Sciences Initiative and our continuing drive to harness the vast potential of Queens.

Our political support has since grown to include Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY), who is now our honorary chairman, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and New York City Council Chairs of Land Use and Economic Development Leroy Comrie (D-Jamaica/St. Albans) and Karen Kozlowitz (D-Queens).

As we’ll be exploring vigorously in the coming weeks, many different factors will determine who wins the bid to build a technology campus in New York City. What’s more important for Queens residents and all New Yorkers is – how do we benefit from this? How do we best stimulate the economy and attract investment, since it’s our money and our land that we’re giving up for this project? In what ways do the interests of the universities align and collide with those of us who live here?

On the economic front, a pair of recent articles have appeared on nearby Flushing’s economic resilience and even growth throughout the recession, as conducted by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

From the second article, today’s last word goes to District 20 City Councilman Peter Koo (R-Flushing): “We need to change [Willets Point] from an iron triangle to a research triangle,” he said.

Growing Political and Community Support for Silicon Valley 2.0

Over the past two months, our team has been working hard to secure support from elected officials, business leaders, and other members of the community in Queens. Yesterday’s piece in the Daily News documented our ongoing efforts to build awareness for the Applied Sciences NYC Initiative in the greater New York community. Our message is simple: Consider Willets Point, Queens as a site for a new applied sciences campus. It is the only place with the supportive community, the potential development area to grow, and the transportation infrastructure to create the new jobs and industries that will foster the next tech economic center of New York. In other words, it can be transformed into a tech triangle, as described by a blogger for Curbed NY.

Elected officials agree that Queens should receive fair consideration from the City. However, some critics, including the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYEDC), argue that our vision diverges from the current plan for affordable housing, retail and open space. We respectfully disagree, as we have always maintained that a new campus (10-15 acres) could be incorporated into the NYEDC’s overall plan for revitalizing Willets Point. A university would actually be the ultimate anchor tenant for the site.

We will continue to spread awareness about our vision for Silicon Valley 2.0, and encourage stakeholders to join the conversation. After all, we are talking about the future of Queens!

NYEDC Issues Official RFP for Applied Sciences NYC Initiative

Today, as part of his keynote address at the Crain’s Future of New York City conference, Mayor Michael Bloomberg formally announced the release of the Applied Sciences NYC Initiative’s Request for Proposals (RFP). Mr. Bloomberg took the opportunity to provide additional details about the groundbreaking initiative, and what it would mean for the City in terms of job creation, economic diversification, and entrepreneurship development.

The Coalition for Queens believes that Willets Point, Queens remains the best possible location in New York for this type of long-term project and investment. We have the supportive entrepreneurial communities, abundant developable land for future growth, and a well-established transportation infrastructure. Respondents to the RFP will be able to propose any site within the City’s five boroughs. We will be reaching out to universities over the coming weeks to ensure that they understand why Queens, particularly Willets Point, is ideal for an applied sciences campus.

The City had previously issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to which it received 18 responses from 27 educational institutions. Those institutions are expected to submit their responses to the RFP by October 28, 2011. All proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: economic impact and feasibility (40%), respondents’ qualifications and track records (40%), and their connections to the local community (20%). The City will then make its decision by the end of 2011.

For more information, download a copy of the Applied Sciences NYC RFP.