Seth Pinsky, president of NYCEDC, says in a release, that the agreements, which follow on the heels of three others in September and several before that, represent "a significant step toward attaining our goal of transforming the area into an engine of economic growth and the first 'green neighborhood' in New York City. The city now controls almost 24 acres of land in Willets Point. We remain committed to working with the remaining landowners and businesses to reach as many negotiated acquisitions as possible as the project moves through the public review process."

The agreements reached to date with Willets Point businesses encompass about 10 acres of formerly private land, coupled with 14 acres of public streets already owned by the city. In a release, NYCEDC says it's continuing to work on additional agreements before the City Council's vote this month at the conclusion of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. The City Council voted in September to approve the Willets Point master plan.

The announcement of two new agreements follows the Bloomberg administration's announcement on Saturday of auto-related training and job placement programs that will be free to all workers at Willets Point. Car repair shops comprise many of the businesses currently located in Willets Point, and the new initiatives expand the Willets Point Workforce Assistance Plan, coordinated by LaGuardia Community College, according to a release.