Queens, NY —

Two Queens city councilmen are accusing developers of using scare tactics to to get residents to sell their homes. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports:

Reporter: The councilmembers say downzonings - intended to preserve neighborhoods threatened by over building - have made developers desperate for land. In Holliswood Queens, 6,000 residents received letters stating that zoning changes would cause their property value to go down. Councilmember David Weprin represents the area and says the letters used inflammatory and misleading language:

Weprin: Now is the time to cash out, do not wait, you'll get you're best price now.

Reporter: Similar mailings have also been sighted in Flushing, and in neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Staten Island. City Success Corporation sent out the mailings in Queens and has said it was targeting owners of vacant lots who stand to lose money if they don't sell before zoning changes take place. For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez.