See Photos Of The Massive $2 Billion Redevelopment Proposed For 35th Ave

A humongous redevelopment has been proposed for 35th Ave, between Northern Blvd and 37th St. that would vastly change the quiet stretch of Astoria with several two to 26-story buildings, including a new school, multiplex cinema, apartments, offices, retail and green space.

The proposal comes from Kaufman Astoria Studios (who, of course, already sit in that space), Silverstein Properties, and Bedrock Real Estate Partners, and they’ve called the project, which clocks in at a whopping 2.7 million square feet, “Innovation QNS.”

It will include 2,700 units of mixed-income housing, of which 700 units will be permanently affordable housing, 250,000 square feet of office space, 200,000 square feet of retail, a 90,000-square-foot community facility, a 80,000-square-foot elementary school and, of course, the new movie theater, according to the Commercial Observer.

“The plan also includes nearly two acres of thoughtfully programmed open space, community health and wellness facilities, dedicated senior housing, an arts and culture hub, a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema, a new full-service grocery store and enhanced streetscapes,” the architecture firm ODA New York website reads of the project. This includes farmer’s markets, an art-gallery garden, courtyards and a zen garden, according to Commercial Observer.

It’s still in the beginning phases; they are receiving public feedback and will present it to the New York City Council next year. If all is approved, it will take an additional 10 years to complete. One City Council member, Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents Sunnyside, Woodside, Astoria & LIC, has already expressed his disapproval.

This proposal envisions luxury towers, some as tall as 26 stories, surrounded by two- to six- story buildings in a working class neighborhood. We do not want or need Hudson Yards East in #Astoria! https://t.co/o6vGUG4DfE

— Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) July 2, 2020

Can you imagine this taking over the neighborhood? See the renderings of what it would look like below:

 

4 Comments

Chris Sahar July 23rd, 2020

The message this says to working class New Yorkers get out we don’t want you but we’d gladly pay your barely livable wages to satisfy our rich clientele.

You know what should be done? The federal government should raise income taxes on the top 10% bracket to 1970’s level when it was about 75%. At least then they would have to work much harder than now for deductions and loopholes (anmd note that is not historically the highest – the taxes for this group in the 1950’s were well over 75%).

What Astoria needs are the following:

a) Greatly increased street cleaning
b) A general push to have landlords stop hoarding their properties for many years in the hopes they will find a developer to pay ridiculous amounts for their buildings.
c) The need to improve infrastructure in southern Astoria
d) Go through on revising bus routes that are antiquated
e) And enforce stricter, greener building codes that do not overwhelm the area with oversized buildings as has been done to Queens Plaza which looks like an erector set built by a sadist.

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Carole Reyes July 18th, 2020

We dont need or want this in Astoria. We just want a quiet, peaceful neighborhood to retreat from Manhattan. This crazy development is ruining the charm of Astoria besides why build luxury apt when everyone is moving away from the city now. We don’t want Astoria to turn into Manhattan. You’re big ideas are NOT wanted here.

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Sally Kumar July 17th, 2020

Hi how can I put my name on list for one of those affordable unit . Have been living in Astoria for more than 35 years, Would be nice to get a two bedroom apt that ican afford with my income! Thanks Sally

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Astoria born and raised July 16th, 2020

Another Kaufman project that doesn’t care about the neighborhood but just their pockets. It’s disgusting

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