Aerial photograph of the Sunnyside Yard site. Photo via EDC

Almost 200 local residents attended a community information session on the city’s proposal to build 12,000 new homes over the Sunnyside Yard railyard.

The event, hosted by Council Member Julie Won, took place at Sunnyside Community Services Monday evening and represented the first public engagement on the proposed development since Mayor Zohran Mamdani revived plans for the long-stalled project in February.

Mamdani made the surprise announcement on Feb. 27, less than 24 hours after making an unannounced trip to Washington to meet President Donald Trump, where he proposed a partnership with the Trump Administration on a roughly $21 billion plan to deck over the railyard and build 12,000 new homes — half of them under the Mitchell-Lama program — alongside parks, child care centers and other infrastructure.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Amtrak first unveiled the plan in 2019 under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, proposing a 115-acre deck across Sunnyside Yard and the development of 12,000 new homes.

However, the project met fierce local pushback, with elected officials raising concerns that Sunnyside Yard would displace many long-term residents and lead to the gentrification of the surrounding area.

After Mamdani announced plans to revive the project, Won criticized the mayor for “re-proposing a failed housing project in my district.” Won further called on the city to commit to a ULURP process with the City Council and the local community, given the scale of the proposal.

At Monday’s town hall, Won said she supports the development of deeply affordable housing and major infrastructure upgrades, but only if the plan is developed in partnership with the local community.

“There must be a community-engaged plan that is reflective of the visions and aspirations of our neighbors and set a new standard for how we plan and build in western Queens,” Won said.

She further told constituents that the plan remains in the “early stages” and that a “mountain of work” remains before the project comes to fruition.

“Queens. Community members made it clear that they want truly affordable housing, investments in school and transportation, climate resiliency measures and a place at the negotiation table,” she added.

Attendees at Monday’s town hall took part in a survey about the proposed development, with 32% outlining strong or moderate support for the project and 26% expressing strong or moderate opposition. The remaining 32% of attendees said they needed more information and engagement before forming an opinion.

Attendees also expressed several concerns about the project during Monday’s event, including the city’s relationship with the White House, the plausibility of truly and deeply affordable housing and how the community can be part of the decision-making process.

EDC and Amtrak first developed the Sunnyside Yard Masterplan in 2019 to explore housing development opportunities over the 180-acre railyard.

The plan, unveiled in the wake of the failed Amazon HQ2 proposal, ultimately stalled due to a combination of the pandemic, financial uncertainty, and strong local opposition, including elected officials such as U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, State Sen. Michael Gianaris and then-Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.

Won’s office said the master plan is “far from shovel-ready” and still requires a stormwater management plan for covering a basin, community development planning, siting for schools, plans for community infrastructure, refined cost estimates and a timeline, among other plans.

Mamdani said in February that the development would represent the largest single housing development in New York City since 1973. Framing the project as a generational undertaking, the mayor conceded that the plan would take “many, many years.”

“However, we are not daunted by the length of the project,” Mamdani said.

He also emphasized why he brought the idea directly to Washington.

“The city cannot build on these rail yards without the approval and direction of the federal government,” he added.