Poll: West Side Redevelopment Is on Target

NEW YORK CITY-According to a poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, New York City voters overwhelmingly agree with a plan for West Side redevelopment—if it can be done without raising taxes. A reported 85% of the 1,159 registered voters polled said while, they supported elements of the West Side redevelopment plan, they were not in favor of the proposed new home for the New York Jets football team.”It surprised me that they said ‘yes’ to all the pieces,” Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, tells GlobeSt.com. “It didn’t surprise me that people were against a stadium.” He notes that a proposal to move the Yankees to the site also received opposition.

Sixty percent oppose using tax dollars to build the stadium, however that figure drop to 53%, “if the only tax dollars used came from the increased tax revenue from new office and apartment buildings in the surrounding neighborhood.” When it comes to the other components of the so-called “Convention Corridor,” 80% were in favor for expansion of the Javits Convention Center–also if it is done without raising voters’ taxes and 71% were for rezoning the area to encourage development. However, only 33% feel that added business taxes would cover the development costs. In fact, 58% said it is “not too likely” or “not likely at all.”

The Westside Redevelopment is a 40-year endeavor encompassing both private and public projects.