Fit for Queens

Langan Plays Integral Role in Transformative Willets Point Redevelopment

Willets Point rises like a phoenix from the Valley of Ashes, a nickname for the industrial area popularized by “The Great Gatsby.” The 23-acre area adjacent to Citi Field was long known as an auto body graveyard—until now. Thanks to the collaborative project team led by Related Companies and Sterling Equities, Willets Point is currently undergoing a transformation from forgotten area to flourishing neighborhood.

Langan has supported this complex project for more than a decade, beginning with navigating the client through the Brownfield Cleanup Program. Since then, the team has designed thousands of linear feet of utilities, incorporated green infrastructure like bioswales and a green roof, and completed comprehensive surveys of the property and surrounding roadway network.

The project team and stakeholders recently celebrated an important construction milestone for Phase 1: the first two apartment buildings have topped out, delivering 880 affordable housing units. Once fully redeveloped, the mixed-use neighborhood will encompass 2,500 units of affordable housing, 115,000 SF of open space, a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium for NYCFC, a 650-seat school, a 250-room hotel, retail spaces, and much-needed infrastructure improvements.

“Willets Point is an ideal project for Langan because it enables our team to show the value of our integrated services on one of the most complicated sites in New York,” said Michele O’Connor, Senior Principal, Langan. “We are proud to help transform a neglected area of Queens into a welcoming, mixed-use neighborhood that invests in its community, drives economic growth, and brings together locals and visitors in the heart of ‘the world’s borough.’”