According to the New York City Economic Development Corp., theultimate goal of the plan is to create an expanded Flushing core,with the river linking Downtown to Willets Point and creating acohesive whole. "Building on the recommendations of the preliminaryframework, we now have a viable plan to make Flushing a dynamic anddiverse mixed-use community with inviting public spaces and strongconnections to the waterfront," says EDC president Andrew Alper. Headds that the planning process for this framework took more than ayear and that already several efforts to implement the plan'srecommendations have begun. Others are expected to begin soon.Alper also says that community outreach efforts at Willets Pointare progressing. The EDC will soon draft a Request for Expressionsof Interest to solicit a range of ideas that represent "soundinvestments and economic benefits to the surroundingcommunities."

Another aspect of the plan encompasses ways to make the areamore pedestrian friendly as well as various streetscapeenhancements for both the public benefit and to attract retail tothe area. Some improvements will begin this summer to create adistinctive image for the Downtown streetscape and lay thefoundation for future enhancements to the pedestrianenvironment.

Other changes to the traffic network will be required as well,the survey found. They will be necessary to "improve mobility,decrease congestion, and minimize conflicts between vehicles andpedestrians." Recommendations include converting portions of Main,Prince and Union streets to one-way, widening sidewalks on MainStreet, and creating a right-hand turn from Northern Boulevard ontoPrince Street. A follow-up traffic analysis is in the works. Theplan calls for redevelopment of Municipal Lot 1, an approximatelyfive-acre site that is the largest city-owned property in Downtown.The plan feels it has potential as a mixed-use development,townsquare as well as a short-term parking locale. A developer could beselected in the fall.