here's a closer look at the iron triangle & a look back at citifield construction (taken 6/08):
after work in flushing, queens one day i made a plan to check out the willet’s point neighborhood to see shea, citifield construction and mostly to walk around the interesting & endangered 'iron triangle.'
sooo...what the heck is the iron triangle? well here is my fav wiki blurb about it: a recent hunter college study found that Willets Point was a "unique regional destination" for auto parts and repairs.
imo it's pretty much a dead ringer for 'la frontera' aka the usa/mexico borderland, except more dense. you can read more about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willets_Point%2C_Queens
and here is some timely blog news about the strongarm gentrification changes in store (the city has been trying to do this for years, but with citifield up it looks like it will happen):
Eminent Domain + Relocation Services for Willets Point?
Thursday, June 12, 2008, by Robert
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Eminent domain may be coming to Willets Point, aka the Iron Triangle or iTri, the little corner of Queens near Citifield that the city wants to turn into a $3 billion mixed used development with hotels, apartments, retail and a convention facility. The Daily News got hold of 790-page "blight study" of the area. This is interesting in that such documents usually precede efforts to condemn and seize property. The study says that Willets Point is a "burden on the health of the city's residents and economy." In the meantime, a look at the New York Economic Development Corp. website reveals the city has issued an RFP for a Willets Point Relocation Services Specialist. It notes that "Approximately 60% of the land is occupied by owner-occupant business, with the remaining 40% occupied by tenant businesses. These businesses would need to be relocated." The deadline for submitting a bid to help relocate businesses is June 23. There is a long road ahead, including a city land use process and what are likely to be numerous and complicated lawsuits, before a single chop shop business moves a hubcap.
• Eminent domain bid seen as study slams Willets Pt. [NYDN]
• Willets Point Relocation Services RFP [NYEDC]
• Willets Point Rendered, Local Love Included [Curbed]
http://curbed.com/archives/2008/06/1...lets_point.php
the iron triangle overview --- from the #7 train heading west from flushing:
well....so there’s your iron!
citifield from the platform
shea
on the ground
southeast corner
looking at the eastside of the new stadium along 126th st,
the iron triangle is just across the street
yes i peeked in the fencing
Northeast corner
ok enough of that, presenting……the iron triangle mascot!
in we go…..let’s enjoy the colorful grit while we can!
unh, no dumping? seriously?.....oh, they must mean bodies.
heading back to the station
a weekday day game getting started
A final platform view
I had to go to the queens museum a couple days later so here’s a bonus view from the corona park/arthur ashe stadium side of the platform that we won’t have for much longer:
Finally --- How can I resist a few shots from the ride home, right?
*** hello citifield, goodbye shea & stay tuned willet’s point condos coming soon :-P ***