Some Willets Point Auto Shops Shuttered, Others Continue Business as Usual

This Saturday, Iron Triangle tenants faced the city’s deadline to agree to move, or lose city money to help with relocation. The New York Times also noted that demolition would begin for the planned mega-mall over this weekend. A trip to Willets Point yesterday showed no sign of demolition, and many auto body shops still open for business. There are, however, rows of shuttered businesses, especially on the blocks closest to Citi Field. According to CBS, city marshals showed up this Friday to padlock the businesses that agreed to move out. Now, the city is only offering six months rent to the existing auto body shops — after January, the offer dwindles down to nothing. (Tenants continue to rally for a six-month extension for relocation.) At this point, it looks likely that the city will use eminent domain to clear more of the 62 aces of land.

Last Wednesday, the Queens delegation of the City Council voted in favor of selling the land to the developers for $1. Construction on the first phase of the project — retail and office space, a 200-room hotel and a temporary parking lot — isn’t expected to begin until next year.

Click through to see photos taken yesterday of the empty businesses…