Queens West
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Urban development |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Long Island City, Queens, New York City , United States |
| Parent | Empire State Development Corporation |
Queens West represents a revitalization area situated along the East River in Long Island City, Queens, New York City. Positioned on Hunter's Point just south of the Anable Basin, this initiative is a collaborative effort between the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD). The project’s execution is managed by the Queens West Development Corporation (QWDC), a subsidiary of ESD founded in 1992.
History
Originally unveiled by the Port Authority in 1983, the plan aimed to transform Long Island City's largely dormant industrial waterfront, much of which was classified as brownfield land. Early proposals envisioned 11 residential towers comprising approximately 4,500 units on , complemented by of state parkland, a public library, two educational institutions, and retail space totaling .
Although legislation authorizing development was enacted between 1983 and 1984, progress encountered setbacks due to difficulties acquiring parcels of land and complications involving underwater property. By 1989, with only one-third of the necessary land secured by the Port Authority, the Empire State Development Corporation became involved. The following year, the scope expanded to include 6,300 apartments, a hotel, office facilities, and a school within 15 buildings, allocating roughly 80% for residential use and 20% for commercial purposes over an area featuring of open space.
The finalized master plan incorporated three office towers, a hotel, residential apartments, and designated waterfront space amounting to , intended for phased construction. Development commenced with Hunters Point Community Park to qualify for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aimed at housing projects. The opening of Gantry Plaza State Park occurred in May 1998, with further expansion completed by July 2009. The park is home to the renowned Pepsi-Cola sign, which received landmark status from New York City in April 2016. Additionally, Queens West contains the Hunter's Point Community Library.
In May 2009, control over was transferred to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) for the Hunter's Point South project. This development concluded in 2014 with the addition of 5,000 residential units, an 11-acre park, and close to 140,000 square feet dedicated to retail and community amenities.
In November 2018, Amazon.com announced plans to establish one of its proposed Amazon HQ2 headquarters near Queens West in Long Island City, intending to create jobs for 25,000 employees. Nevertheless, Amazon retracted its proposal in February 2019 following opposition from local communities.
Transportation
Situated westward of the Long Island City station on the Long Island Rail Road and adjacent to the Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue station on the New York City Subway's line, Queens West benefits from multiple transit connections. The area also includes the Long Island City ferry terminal served by NYC Ferry’s Astoria route, enhancing commuter options and facilitating broader regional access.