City looks to develop long-abandoned Flushing Airport site
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The 80-acre empty wetland in College Point once known as the Flushing Airport may have a developer as soon as 2026.Photo courtesy of New York City Economic Development Corporation
By Noah Powelson
Forty years ago, the Flushing Airport closed its runways for good. In the decades that followed, the 80-acre site has sat vacant and reverted to the empty wetland it once was. But that all might change soon.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation released a request for proposals last week seeking pitches for a long-term lease or sale of the land where the former airport resided. The proposed development site consists of 80-acres of land along 20th Avenue in College Point.
The EDC said they are hoping for a wide variety of proposals, and that they are required to review the land for any potential housing developments as part of Mayor Adams’ Executive Order 43.
“Today's release of the RFP for the former Flushing Airport site is a direct result of Mayor Adams' Executive Order 43 and our commitment to leaving no stone unturned in addressing New York City's housing crisis,” First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer said. “This 80-acre, underutilized parcel in College Point has the potential to deliver much-needed housing, jobs, community spaces, and more.”
In the release, the EDC said respondents may propose alternative land uses through rezoning, but doing so may require approvals from federal, state, and city agencies.
“At long last, Mayor Adams and NYCEDC will put this massive public asset to work for the benefit of Queens residents and the entire city,” NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball said.
“New Yorkers want a safer, more affordable city, with open space and community amenities and the development of neglected, underutilized sites like the former Flushing Airport in Queens will deliver just that,” he added.
The EDC is accepting questions or inquiries on the site through Feb. 7, 2025.
The deadline to submit proposals is March 20, 2025. The EDC said the goal is to name a developer in 2026.
