[NYguy]

Giant Mixed-Use Development Planned for Astoria/LIC, Would Bring 2,700 Apartments and Commercial Space





July 1, 2020
By Christian Murray

A development team plans to rezone five city blocks on the border of Long Island City and Astoria in order to erect more than a dozen buildings that would consist of 2,700 apartments, a school, as well as retail and office space.

The real estate team—comprised of Silverstein Properties, Kaufman Astoria Studios and BedRock Real Estate Partners– plans to spend $2 billion to create a new mixed-use district between 37th Street and Northern Boulevard, bound by 35th and 36th Avenues.

The development area, which is little over 8 ½ acres in size, is currently zoned for manufacturing and a rezoning is required before the development can move forward. The plans call for buildings that for the most part would range in height from 10 to 26 stories.

The office space would be concentrated in two buildings on 35th Avenue between 37th and 38th Streets, with some on Northern Boulevard. The larger buildings—primarily residential in nature—would go up by Northern Boulevard and Steinway Street.

The developers said that 700 of the 2,700 units would be “affordable.” They are required to provide affordable housing under the city’s Mandatory Affordable Housing program that requires affordable housing with rezonings. The developers plan to offer the affordable units to people who earn up to 60 percent of the median income level.

Some of the affordable housing would also be offered to seniors. The senior housing would be managed by HANAC, an Astoria-based non-profit.

The existing UA Kaufman Astoria Cinemas on 38th Street as well as the PC Richards building on Steinway Street would be demolished to make way for the development. A new multiplex cinema would be incorporated into the new development and PC Richards is expected to move nearby.

“We are not displacing residents or taking away housing or parking and the businesses that are here today will be relocated nearby or within the development,” said Tracy Capune, vice president of Kaufman Astoria Studios on a conference call.

The project would have a heavy focus on open space, with more than 2 1/4 acres—or 26 percent of the total site area– dedicated toward it.

The developers aim to build a park around the existing Playground Thirty Five at the corner of Steinway and 35th Avenue. Additionally the development would include several urban plazas, gardens and courtyards.

The developers plan to start the ULURP rezoning process in the spring or fall of 2021.

The plans would therefore go before Community Board 1 next year and the city council would likely to vote on it before the end of 2021. The development is located within the 26th Council District which is represented by Jimmy Van Bramer.

The developers aim to break ground in 2023 and complete the entire project within 10 years.