What is in Store for Willets Point and the Mets…
By Matt Pignataro ~ November 29th, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
According to an article in Friday’s Daily News, a Brooklyn judge tossed out a lawsuit against the city by property owners in Willets Point.
“The city has no right to deny sewers and other essential services to a neighborhood so it can drive down property value and condemn it on the cheap,” said Michael Gerrard, the lawyer for the Willets Point Industry and Realty Association.
I think any Mets fan would have to agree the ’70-acre industrial area is a dump.’
On his blog TedQuarters.com, Ted Berg writes, “I can attest that the ones with places to go in the immediate vicinity before and after games make for a much, much more pleasant experience.”
I would certainly agree with Ted’s quote. I’ve been to eight MLB ballparks ranging from Coors Field, to Safeco Field, and to Chase Field, with all having places to hang out and grab a bite to eat within walking distance of the stadium. It truly makes the trip to the park a more pleasant experience and less stressful. You can grab a beer across from Safeco at the Pyramid Brewery, try green chili at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant next to Coors, or hang out at Alice Cooper’s Cooperstown near Chase.
The city needs to tear Willets Point immediately, as I don’t believe it’s helping draw in revenue, but draw it away. If the city adds bars and restaurants around the surrounding aparts, Willets Point could be that ‘hang out’ spot before or after games. Willets Point’s surrounding area of chop shops is depressing to look at, let alone think about.
Greg and I will debate trading for Roy Halladay/Josh Johnson, trading prospects, and the most pathetic New York sports team on the Mets Hot Stove Report tonight at 7 PM, click here to listen live.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Spoken like a selfish asshole. People OWN that property and the government has no right to take it away from them because some lame ass baseball fans don’t like to look at it.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
June
Don’t the car owners who lost their vehicles to those “chop shops” have a right to their property too? I agree, but, lets face it, those businesses are doing nothing for the area. Not a fan of eminent domain, but also not a fan of chop shops