Willets Point stadium, housing development gets final approval

WILLETS POINT, Queens (PIX11) -- It is a done deal!

The Queens Borough Board voted to approve the land lease agreement for Phase 2 of the Willets Point redevelopment.

The New York City Council had already approved the project in April, but pursuant to 384(b)(4) of the New York City Charter, the Borough Board had to vote.

Phase 2 includes the building of a professional soccer stadium, a 250-room hotel and 1400 affordable housing units. Construction has already begun on phase one, which includes 1100 affordable apartments.

"We scored a huge GOOOAALLL for Queens! What better place to have a deal like this done than in the most diverse county in the United States, Queens," Queens Borough President Donovan Richards told PIX11 News after a brief meeting Wednesday night.

"during an affordable housing crisis, to be able to put thousands of units online, of 100% affordability, 15% set aside for what will now be the formerly homeless is a big win," Richards added.

There has been no official date set yet for groundbreaking on Phase 2.