"After years of hard work and community involvement, the Department of City Planning has begun the public review process for the Flushing Commons project, an $800 million privately financed project that will transform a five-acre parking lot into a dynamic mixed-use, LEED-certified urban center that will include housing, new retail options, improved parking facilities, hotel or office space, and a new state-of-the-art YMCA, all anchored by a 1.5-acre landscaped 'town square.' Together with the Macedonian African Methodist Episcopal Church's affordable housing component of the development, it will create approximately 2,000 permanent jobs and 2,600 construction jobs, mostly for local residents.

"The continued input from City representatives, local elected officials and community leaders, combined with the commitment from the developer, which is investing more than $800 million in private capital, is a great example of what can be accomplished when the public and private sector collaborate. We look forward to continuing to work with community representatives, the local Community Board, the Borough President, the City Planning Commission and the City Council as the project goes through the public review process."