NEW YORK | Innovation QNS | 19 Buildings | 80 ~ 295 FT | 7 ~ 27 FLOORS

[Crawford]

This is great news. Looks pretty good, and replaces crap. Also excellent transit access.

[NYguy]

Starting the approvals process soon...from the EAS





































Some google earth images of the area...

[NYguy]

https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-l...ough-president

Huge Innovation QNS Rezoning Gets Thumbs-Down From Borough President
The Queens Borough President rejected the enormous Astoria development over affordability concerns, further narrowing its path to approval.





Nick Garber
Aug 5, 2022

The transformative Innovation QNS development was rejected by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on Thursday, who said it would cause an "influx of new residents" that would change the character of Astoria and threaten to displace existing residents.

The eagerly awaited decision is only a non-binding recommendation, but could still influence the fate of the controversial project, which will now go before the City Planning Commission before a likely final vote by the City Council.

Richards's recommendation is the latest blow for the project, which is facing skepticism from the local Council member and opposition from the neighborhood community board.

Supporters say it would help alleviate the city's housing crisis by adding 2,800 apartments — including around 700 affordable units — and enliven the neighborhood with new shops, green spaces and a replaced movie theater.

But opponents have alleged the $2 billion project would indirectly displace longtime residents, saying most of the development would be unaffordable for the people who already live in Astoria.

Richards echoed those concerns, saying that "serious discussions" with the developers had not persuaded them to increase the number of affordable units or make the existing apartments more affordable. (Developers disagreed, saying they had promised to up the number of affordable apartments.)

”The influx of new residents who can afford to pay these rents, and the sheer density of the proposed 13 buildings, will drastically alter the character, demographics and housing stability of Astoria and [Community District 1]," Richards said. "Again I ask, who will benefit?"

Richards said the city should reject the project unless developers make a slew of changes, including making half the project affordable and working to get subsidies from the city that would deepen the level of affordability.

The 13-member City Planning Commission will now have 60 days to review Innovation QNS, and could kill the entire project if most members vote against it. But a rejection is seen as unlikely, meaning the final say will likely belong to the City Council.

There, local member Julie Won will have an outsized influence, assuming her colleagues defer to her wishes when voting on Innovation QNS — a standard practice in the Council. Won has not taken a formal stance on the project, but has criticized its developers for what she viewed as inadequate outreach to neighbors.

[Busy Bee]

You fucking id-i-ot!

[pico44]

Donovan Richards is stupid

[JMKeynes]

These morons would rather live in a blighted dump than have “gentrification.”

[DCReid]

Is the neighborhood really that 'bad' that it needs this multi-block urban renewal project lasting years and years?

[chris08876]

It's just a recommendation. The fate lies in the city council!

Mr.Adams needs to get involved.

[JMKeynes]

Originally Posted by chris08876

It's just a recommendation. The fate lies in the city council!

Mr.Adams needs to get involved.

Praise the LAwd.

[chris08876]

There's also some BS going on with Astoria Cove but I think the City Council will greenlight these. Folks complain about lack of housing... and here we have a good opportunity for the community and some object. More office, hotel units, housing, retail... it's all good things. Signs of growth, prosperity and cleaning up areas of blight. If we recall what the clowns in Harlem did, objecting to the affordable housing because they didn't include enough of it... so what did the developer do? They pulled out, they got nada... NADA! Hopefully the same doesn't happen with this.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by DCReid

Is the neighborhood really that 'bad' that it needs this multi-block urban renewal project lasting years and years?

It’s not about the neighborhood being “bad” so much as it is what’s on those lots being developed. It coukd be the best neighborhood in the city, and those lots could still be developed.





Only fools would oppose something because existing residents wouldn’t be able to “afford” it. In stead of “some” affordable units, it seems they would prefer none at all. Fools. It’s a wonder that anything gets built in the city, with a ULURP process that is basically staged to hold developments hostage. This project would be a welcome addition to Queens, but the status quo is all people ever seem to want. They’ll complain about it, of course. But don’t you dare try to change it.

[JMKeynes]

Queens is a borough with a very bright future. I’m glad that this project is alive and well.

[colemonkee]

It does look like it's displacing some affordable units (presuming the residential buildings in the development area are affordable), but doesn't look anything close to 700. Worst case scenario, this is a net gain of 600 affordable units, which feels like a win-win to me.

[BuildThemTaller]

From Patch: https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-l...-heads-council

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Astoria's huge Innovation QNS proposal was approved by the City Planning Commission on Wednesday, giving the five-block development a shot in the arm and sending it to the City Council for a final vote.

The 10-3 vote was the first formal test that the $2 billion proposal has faced, following non-binding recommendations from the Queens Borough President and Astoria's community board — both of whom had said the project should be rejected.

"It’ll lead to a more equitable Astoria with higher quality of life for residents today and those to come," said Commission Chair Dan Garodnick, who urged his colleagues to vote yes.

With 2,800 new apartments — including roughly 700 affordable units — spread across a now-industrial area between 37th Street and Northern Boulevard, Garodnick said Innovation QNS would represent the "largest privately financed affordable housing project in Queens in generations."

[JMKeynes]

Mazel! mazel!

[NYguy]

Well now we’ll see just how the Council will hold it hostage.

[tdawg]

I live not too far from here. To answer the earlier question, it's not a bad area at all. There are some older industrial sections and a long stretch of car dealerships along Northern Blvd but in general the area surrounding Kaufman Astoria Studios (home of Sesame Street and the Museum of the Moving Image) is pretty cool and funky, a great mix of traditional blocks and new construction. Also, not sure what is going on with Astoria Cove in particular but Phase 2 of Halletts Point is well under way (foundation work) and Halletts North was just approved. That whole peninsula is going to look drastically different in 5 years.

[BuildThemTaller]

Originally Posted by tdawg

I live not too far from here. To answer the earlier question, it's not a bad area at all. There are some older industrial sections and a long stretch of car dealerships along Northern Blvd but in general the area surrounding Kaufman Astoria Studios (home of Sesame Street and the Museum of the Moving Image) is pretty cool and funky, a great mix of traditional blocks and new construction. Also, not sure what is going on with Astoria Cove in particular but Phase 2 of Halletts Point is well under way (foundation work) and Halletts North was just approved. That whole peninsula is going to look drastically different in 5 years.

I think the area where this is proposed has very little residential development currently. It's almost all low-density commercial between 35th Ave and Northern Blvd. Almost an entire block is taken up by the Regal UA theater and parking garage while the next one to the east is half taken up by the PC Richard & Sons big-box store and surface parking lot. Most of the stuff to the east of that is a series of garages, auto shops, dealerships, and light manufacturing. It's quite bleak. The areas above 35th, I agree are a neat area.

[chris08876]

I think this will ultimately go favorable when it hits the councils desk. On a side note but 50% affordable unit via Julie Won is unrealistic. Do these folks know that developments need to be profitable to happen?

Anyways, 2800 units will go far for Queens. I think this will get a yes via the council, as the mayor tends to have clout with the council. 700 units affordable out of 2800 units is fair. 50% is pushing it... these hacks have to be realistic. Also what happens when hacks like Donovan Richards are put into power. Out of touch with how a city works. Same with the idiots in Harlem turning down One45.

[BuildThemTaller]

Originally Posted by chris08876

I think this will ultimately go favorable when it hits the councils desk. On a side note but 50% affordable unit via Julie Won is unrealistic. Do these folks know that developments need to be profitable to happen?

Anyways, 2800 units will go far for Queens. I think this will get a yes via the council, as the mayor tends to have clout with the council. 700 units affordable out of 2800 units is fair. 50% is pushing it... these hacks have to be realistic. Also what happens when hacks like Donovan Richards are put into power. Out of touch with how a city works. Same with the idiots in Harlem turning down One45.

They are not as unreasonable as you are painting them. Tiffany Caban just approved one of the Hallets Point developments. She is even farther to the left than Won. Caban understands that one of the issues driving housing costs is the lack of supply. If they want to ease the housing supply issue, they need to find industrial areas like where Innovation QNS is proposed to convert to high density residential. What you hear from Won, Caban, and Richards is politics. They know that their constituents want to see them extracting concessions from the developers. 700 affordable units is a lot and needed in the area. But maybe they can get 800 units from the developers. 1,400 is unrealistic. It's the appearance of being a fighter that they want.