Updated 11/12/2008 09:28 AM
Willets Point Business Makes Deal With City
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The Willets Point redevelopment plan earned a major victory Tuesday, as one of the area's businesses struck a deal to sell its land to the city.
Feinstein Iron Works, whose owner was a vocal opponent of the redevelopment, signed an agreement with the New York City Economic Development Corporation to sell off more than 36,000-square-feet of property.
By the city's estimates, it will now own about 47 percent of Willets Point's 62 acres.
For years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has pushed to change the mostly industrial area next to Shea Stadium into a mixed-use development, but business owners there repeatedly protested the plan.
The City Council will vote on the plan Thursday. More than half the council members oppose the use of eminent domain to develop Willets Point, but the city has not taken that option off the table.