Rep. Meeks and GSA Administrator Tour Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building and Highlight Pres. Obama’s FY2017 Budget
New York, NY – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Gregory W. Meeks was joined by GSA Administrator Denise Turner Roth and local elected officials on a tour of the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building. Congressman Meeks and GSA Administrator Roth highlighted the $8.5 million request in President Obama’s FY 2017 budget that would repair and modernize the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building originally constructed in 1989.
“If fulfilled, the $8.5 million request would renovate the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building, thereby benefiting the surrounding community and Jamaica-Queens. In addition to improving the building, this federal investment would create jobs, stimulate our economy, and provide new opportunities for local businesses. Administrator Roth, local elected officials, and I know how significant this could be for our community and I thank them for joining me. I will work with Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand to include this smart federal investment in a final budget passed by Congress and ultimately signed by President Obama,” US Congressman Gregory W. Meeks said.
“Federal buildings can either promote or hinder community development. Sites like Addabbo can be anchors for development, bringing hundreds of federal workers every day to buy lunch, spur retail, and support public transit; or, if poorly maintained, can be islands walled off from the community. By partnering with local stakeholders like Rep. Meeks, we can ensure we maximize federal investments to create an exceptional national resource,” said Administrator Roth.
“I am pleased that the President has requested millions in federal funding to help make sure the Joseph Addabbo Federal Building is being used to its full capability. As it stands, the underutilization of the Addabbo Building is wasteful and unfortunately a drain on the local economy and that’s why it’s so important for the feds to make sure the building’s space is maximized as soon as possible,” said US Senator Charles E. Schumer. “I will continue to fight hard in Congress, along with Congressman Meeks and Senator Gillibrand, to secure this federal funding so that the Addabbo Building can secure and attract new tenants and help boost the local economy in Jamaica.”
“Queens residents should have full access to the Joseph Addabbo Federal Building and we need to make sure there are enough resources for the building to be fully utilized,” said US Senator Gillibrand. “That’s why Senator Schumer, Congressman Meeks and I are pushing for $8.5 million of restoration funds which are included in President Obama’s FY2017 budget, and we’ll continue to fight to make sure the building gets the funds necessary to be renovated and operating at its full potential.”
“I want to extend my thanks to my federal government colleagues Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman Meeks, as the fight to obtain the necessary funding to renovate the Addabbo facility in downtown Jamaica continues.” said State Senator Leroy Comrie. “Jamaica is a major transportation hub with great amenities that will make it desirable for employers to locate to. I hope that the federal government can quickly decide how to completely utilize the Addabbo building and provide the resources necessary to help continue the revitalization of Jamaica.”
“The Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building remains an important part of the revitalization of Downtown Jamaica, and the requested funds are essential to ensure it is used to its full potential” said Councilman I. Daneek Miller. “This revitalization effort will create jobs now and a larger base of employment for hundreds of people that will help stimulate Jamaica’s economy. I would like to thank all my government colleagues who are fighting in Washington for these funds, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Senator Charles Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.”
“The Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building is an anchor for downtown Jamaica that has been underutilized due to its need for repair,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “The area is the focus of one of Queens’ major, innovative and most exciting community development initiatives: Jamaica Now Action Plan, currently underway to stimulate smart growth and improve livability in Jamaica’s downtown core. The repair and modernization of the Addabbo Federal building would be a timely and substantial boon to these efforts. Thank you to Congress member Meeks for arranging this on-site walk-through, and to Administrator Roth for visiting Queens to see the site first-hand.”
The Joseph P Addabbo Social Security Building in downtown Jamaica at its opening in 1989 represented the rebirth of Jamaica Queens with its influx of new federal jobs”. Queens Community Board 12 District Manager Yvonne Reddick stated. “Now with space half empty I am in full support of Senator Schumer’s and Congressman Gregory Meeks’s effort to have $8.5 million in the 2017 Federal Budget Request allocated for the repair and alteration of this building so that new federal and state program can occupy this space.
“Although the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building has served as a reliable anchor in Downtown Jamaica since 1990, it remains underutilized and in need of repairs and modernization. We look forward to an allocation of federal funding which could help this property reach its true potential as both a modern efficient office building for federal employees and an economic engine in Downtown Jamaica,” said Hope Knight, President/CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. We are grateful to this administration for making federal investment in Jamaica a priority.
Source: Congressman Gregory W. Meeks
