Despite Divided Vote, Astoria Apartment Backed At Public Meeting

ASTORIA, QUEENS — New developments in Astoria are often contentious, but a meeting this week about a proposed apartment building was unusually tame.

The public land use hearing on Thursday was a chance for Borough President Donovan Richards to hear community opinions on a proposed apartment at 35-01 Vernon Boulevard before issuing a recommendation on the development (all part of the city's ULURP process).

Only several speakers registered for the event, of whom only one actually gave testimony, and all were in favor of the project.

While community members have largely voiced support for the project, which has been in the works since 2019, nearly one-third of community board member rejected the development — a vote that was much more divided than the last contentious apartment proposal.

This opposing perspective, however, was not heard at Thursday's meeting, which lasted about half an hour and only included positive comments.

Speaking on behalf of two Queens pastors, Victoria Kammer (who was the only speaker) described the project as an "investment that will benefit the community at large," pointing specifically to the second-floor maker space as something that will strengthen the "entrepreneurial spirit of the community."

As a way of paying homage to the formerly industrial quality of the apartment site (it's currently a two-story warehouse), the developer plans to include a community maker space for light manufacturing and other activities on the second floor, likely in partnership with Cornell Tech.

Kammer also read a testimony from a local NYCHA resident, who applauded the development's income-restricted units as an example of the affordable housing that is necessary in western Queens.

As proposed, the building's 26 income-restricted apartments will comply with Option 1 of the city's mandatory inclusionary housing policy, offering some units (in this case nine) to households making as little as 40 percent of the area median income (lower than some of the other options), according to a presentation given to the community board.

The income-restricted units start at $823-per month for a one bedroom with 81 market rate units starting at $2,304 per-month for a one bedroom, the presentation said.

Richards' forthcoming recommendation, which needs to be issued by March 3rd, is advisory, like Community Board 1's. A decision on the building will come down to a City Council vote in the upcoming months.

If the apartment at 35-01 Vernon Boulevard is approved, demolition and construction would last a little over a year, with the building opening as early as 2024, YIMBY reported.