NEW YORK | 26th Avenue and 2nd (StudioV) | FT | FLOORS ( X Towers)

[chris08876]

Two large-scale developments are being planned for more than seven areas of Queens waterfront, Crain's has learned. And along with two other massive projects—known as Halletts Point and Astoria Cove—the mixed-use complexes are set to transform part of a gritty peninsula west of Astoria into a new community along the East River.

The two sites are separately owned plots north of 26th Avenue between Second and Fourth streets. Together, they are bigger than a city block. They sit between Alma Realty's 1,723-unit Astoria Cove project, which was approved last year, a park called Whitey Ford Field, and the 2,400-unit Halletts Point, which the Durst Organization is developing after purchasing a majority stake in the venture from Lincoln Equities.

"The important thing here is there's an opportunity to integrate the entire waterfront in that part of Astoria," said Jay Valgora, principal at Studio V Architecture, which is drawing up the preliminary plans for both projects.

When complete, they will fill in some of the missing pieces of a waterfront greenway that will run all the way from Astoria Park in the north down to Rainey Park in the south, a stretch of about 2.5 miles. Because the designs are preliminary, the precise density and height have not been decided, according to Mr. Valgora. But he noted whatever mixed-use projects rise on the sites would be on a scale commensurate with the neighboring complexes already in the works, which have towers topping out at around 32 stories.

In addition to the two new projects, Studio V has done the master plans for both the Durst and Alma developments, meaning the firm is almost singlehandedly redesigning the peninsula, which is also home to a public-housing project called Astoria Houses.

"We hope this can be a new model for an equitable and sustainable community," Mr. Valgora said.

Along with thousands of units of market-rate and affordable housing, plans call for new schools, retail and amenity spaces, a ferry landing and new streets connecting the community to the rest of the borough.

Durst has also announced that the firm plans to generate its own power on-site and build a water treatment plant to ease the burden on the city's frequently overwhelmed sewer system.

Because the two parcels are zoned for manufacturing, the owners will need to apply to the city to allow housing to be built there, which requires a trip through the public-review process. The developers and Studio V are in preliminary talks with stakeholders as to what might be built on the site.

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http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article...TATE/150729893

[NYguy]

Nice connection of the two developments.

[tdawg]

I would love to see this area develop into a mini version of Hunters Point in LIC but the lack of subway connections might hinder it, although that doesn't seem to have hurt the W'burg waterfront growth.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by tdawg

I would love to see this area develop into a mini version of Hunters Point in LIC but the lack of subway connections might hinder it, although that doesn't seem to have hurt the W'burg waterfront growth.

I wonder when NYC will get the Japanese style subway pushers?

Subways are getting pretty bad from Queens/Brooklyn to Manhattan on any given day.



Figure Americans need work, and there's a fine job indeed. Although it might be an excuse for some pushers to focus on the women only.

Well, for sake of supply, more developments like these are needed. Plenty are already in the pipeline for the South Bronx and Queens along with Brooklyn. More the merrier. People want to live here, and if you build the units, they will fill in pretty quickly. Almost too quick...

8.6 million here we come; if not there already.

[chris08876]

Aerial of the area: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7770...!3m1!1e3?hl=en