Op-Ed | A defining moment for Sunnyside Yards and New York's economy | amNewYork

"Sunnyside Yards is one of the largest untapped development opportunities in the country—a plan to deck over an active rail yard and create a new, transit-oriented neighborhood in the heart of Queens, bordered by Long Island City, Astoria and Sunnyside. For decades, it has been described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Today, amid record high rents and a severe housing shortage, it has become an economic imperative."

"Queens is home to tens of thousands of small businesses—restaurants, contractors, healthcare providers, retailers and tech startups that power our borough's economy. But the housing shortage is constraining the very workforce that keeps these businesses and New York running. They need access to a skilled workforce, yet too many of those middle-income workers cannot afford to live anywhere near their workplaces."

"Mayor Mamdani's decision to prioritize Sunnyside Yards in his meeting with President Trump signals that this long-envisioned project is no longer theoretical. It is now a serious, national-level conversation about how to confront New York's housing crisis while creating thousands of union careers and strengthening our local economy."

Sunnyside Yards is one of the largest untapped development opportunities in the United States, involving decking over an active rail yard to create a transit-oriented neighborhood in Queens. The project has escalated from theoretical planning to national-level priority following discussions between New York City's Mayor and the President. Housing affordability directly impacts business competitiveness, as Queens' tens of thousands of small businesses struggle to retain middle-income workers who cannot afford local housing. Extended commutes and rising costs threaten workforce stability and economic growth. The project addresses this critical challenge by combining housing development with union job creation and economic strengthening.

Read at www.amny.com