New York, NY – NYC kicked off housing week by unveiling a sweeping proposal to build approximately 3,000 homes and 60 acres of public space on the site of the former Flushing Airport in College Point, Queens.
The development is projected to generate $3.2 billion in economic activity over the next 30 years, creating over 1,300 union constructions job and 530 permanent careers.
“For too many decades, this valuable land has sat vacant, but our administration said it was time to change that. We issued a landmark executive order to build housing on city-owned sites like this one and now, we are excited to announce we will create around 3,000 new homes at the site of the former Flushing Airport,” said Mayor Adams.”
Thousands of new homes will be built on this city-owned land with sustainable design elements and high-quality, park-like landscaping to integrate the buildings into the surrounding wetlands environment. This project will be completely built by the unionized building trades using union pension fund dollars with construction beginning 2028.
“The redevelopment of the former Flushing Airport will deliver thousands of affordable and accessible homes that are financed by, built by, and lived in by union workers, as a result of our partnership with Cirrus and Mayor Adams,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “Thanks to this generational program, this project and others like it will continue to reinforce labor’s historic role in boosting the middle class, generating family-sustaining careers, and providing our communities with economic stimulus. Hardworking New Yorkers, like our tradesmen and tradeswomen, deserve to live comfortably and raise their families in the city they serve. We are grateful for the collaboration from Mayor’s Office, NYCEDC, Cirrus, and LCOR on forging a path for this particular development and look forward to seeing this unique approach to housing continue to come to fruition and improve the lives of countless New Yorkers.”
The former Flushing Airport has not been active since the airport was decommissioned in 1984 and has largely reverted to nature. Cirrus-LCOR’s proposal will utilize sustainable design elements, including a commitment to explore the use of mass timber construction and high-quality park-like landscaping that is accessible to the public and sensitively integrates the buildings into a modern wetlands-environment. This project, a model for urban construction, will be built with 100 percent union labor.
Paul Capurso, executive secretary-treasurer, New York City District Council of Carpenters said “This is a win for New York’s working families. It’s going to be built union, putting hundreds of our skilled carpenters to work with fair wages and strong labor standards. At the same time, it will deliver the kind of affordable, quality housing our city desperately needs.”
“This transformative project to build working class housing will be built by the members of Building Trades. As a union, we have the simple belief that if you build something, then you should be able to afford to live in it,” said Robert Bartels Jr., business manager, Enterprise Association of UA Steamfitters Local 638.
“This proposal is exactly what working New Yorkers have been waiting for — thousands of new homes, good union jobs, and a healthier future for our communities,” said Joseph Azzopardi, business manager and secretary treasurer, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. “
“Our pension funds, a trust from our members, are more than dollars. Investing them in workforce housing projects like this is financially sound and morally right,” said Thomas Gesualdi, president, Teamster Local 282.
“This transformative project is a testament to what union labor can achieve when vision meets opportunity,” said Eric Meslin, president and business manager, Sheet Metal Workers Local #28.
“Investing our union pensions in projects like this builds workforce housing, dignity, stability, and solidarity for generations of workers,” said Joesph Nolan, business manager, Ironworkers Local 580.
John Jovic, business manager, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local Union #12 said that “This housing will be built by Building Trades Union Labor and clearly demonstrates that workforce housing and union labor go hand in hand.
“Local 7 Tile Marble Terrazzo of NY/NJ is proud to be part of these future housing projects that will bring affordable housing to middle-class workers in the NYC area,” said William Hill, president, BAC Local 7 Tile Marble Terrazzo of NY/NJ.
