Flushing Commons will deliver significant benefits to the Flushing community and the borough of Queens, which was reinforced by nearly unanimous votes of approval for the project at the local community board, NYC Planning Commission and the NYC Council. These include:

• A total private investment of approx. $900 million, which will create 2,600 union construction jobs and 1,900 permanent jobs (including high-quality building service jobs as part of the developer’s agreement with SEIU 32BJ).

• The Green at Flushing Commons, an acre and a half of public, landscaped open space – larger than the plaza at Rockefeller Center – in the center of a congested downtown with no public open space.

• Construction of a state-of-the-art new home for the Flushing YMCA. This will allow the Y to offer a wide array of new community and youth programming for thousands of families in the community.

• A clean, modern and safe 1,600-space underground public parking garage (built in two phases) with below-market rates. This new garage will include 850 more parking spaces than the amount required by zoning, and will double the number of short-term parking spaces currently available in Muni Lot 1.

• 140 units of affordable housing (plus a daycare center) at Macedonia Plaza, a 100% affordable project by the Macedonia AME Church now nearing completion in the northeast corner of Municipal Lot 1, adjacent to Flushing Commons.

In addition, in response to community concerns about potential impacts of construction on local businesses, the City, NYC Economic Development Corporation and local elected officials created a $2.5 million small business assistance fund that will provide financial assistance, marketing, communications support and low-interest loans. The fund is being administered by Asian Americans for Equality in partnership with the City and working closely with the development team.