Via the Associated Press ...

A $3 billion plan to turn a blighted 23-acre "valley of ashes" next to the New York Mets' stadium into retail, hotel and residential space won city council approval Wednesday.

The New York City Council vote was the final step in a land use review process for the project in Queens' Willets Point neighborhood and allows the Queens Development Group to move forward. The group is a joint venture between Sterling Equities Inc. and Related Companies.

The neglected, polluted neighborhood has to undergo environmental testing and cleanup before work can begin. New construction would start following the demolition of existing structures.

Read the full story at WABC-TV's web site.