OPINION: New development will bring purpose and economic hope to Flushing and its waterfront

The Flushing Creek Waterfront in its current state. Photo courtesy of FWRA, LLC

By Richard Siu, John Liang and William Xu 

As we inch closer to the third month of quarantine, it’s difficult not to look back and remember our flourishing New York City communities, pre-COVID-19. 

Flushing in particular — which attracted countless visitors throughout New York City and beyond thanks to its culinary options, authentic global vendors, minority-owned small businesses and more — remains desolate and in need of a catalyst to help restore what it once was. 

The Flushing waterfront is, as it currently stands, 29 dilapidated, vacant and environmentally contaminated acres sitting idle without a purpose. It is a beacon of hope asking to be utilized and cleaned up, which is why we, FWRA, a group of three developers — all minority-owned and rooted in the Flushing community — want to put forth our time, money and effort to bring the Special Flushing Waterfront District to life. 

Not only will this help our community, but it will create permanent jobs – nearly 3,000 total – and give Flushing what it needs right now — an economic spark that will provide long term financial stimulus and put the flushing community back to work. The project will bring billions in private investment to the neighborhood — something that’s especially important with the area’s history of being neglected with government funding — and create tens of millions in annual property tax revenues alone. Like many other neighborhoods throughout the city, small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy. It is our hope to not just support these establishments, but to give them a place to continually thrive. 

In our new world where open outdoor space is now coveted more than ever, our proposed privately funded and publicly accessible, 160,000-square-foot waterfront esplanade – including an extended shoreline and promenade – will give the community the opportunity to socially distance outdoors safely along the shoreline. It will also alleviate congestion with a privately funded and publicly accessible road network and extensive infrastructure upgrades related to the existing sewer and drainage system. And, most importantly, it will give everyone – in Queens and beyond – a reason to come to Flushing to eat, drink and play again while supporting local businesses. 

It’s understandably difficult to look past the pandemic, but our community will come back together again. Until then, as we slowly begin to reopen, we look to the Special Flushing Waterfront District as something that gives us hope, excitement and a chance to reignite our beloved Flushing community. 

Richard Siu of the F&T Group, John Liang of the Young Nian Group and William Xu of the United Group NY comprise FWRA LLC, a consortium of three Flushing real estate corporations seeking to redevelop a piece of the Flushing Creek Waterfront.