Willets Point Takings Abandoned by NYC at Eleventh Hour

The City of New York has withdrawn its efforts to use eminent domain to acquire properties within a 62-acre “Iron Triangle” in the Willets Point section of Queens near Citi Field and downtown Flushing.

The condemnations were scheduled to proceed to hearing next week, but the Bloomberg administration instead halted the takings of several private property owners, represented by our Owners’ Counsel colleague, Michael Rikon.  According to the New York Observer, the City is close to reaching agreement with developers for portions of the property, who hope to provide a mixed-use development in the area.  However, the development will either proceed without the properties owned by Mr. Rikon’s clients, or may include their properties but only if they willingly agree to sell now that eminent domain has apparently been taken off the table.

More on this story is available on our colleague Robert Thomas’s Inverse Condemnation Blog.

Thanks to Robert on his excellent summary, and congratulations to Mike Rikon on yet another victory for private property rights!