Innovation QNS Passes Key Council Vote As Affordable Homes Increase

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Astoria's transformative Innovation QNS rezoning unanimously passed a City Council subcommittee on Thursday after more affordable homes were added, clearing a key hurdle that bodes well for the project's eventual approval.

The Council's Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee voted 7-0 to advance the five-block proposal, which would add a dozen new buildings and thousands of apartments to a low-rise, five-block stretch of southeastern Astoria.

Notably, City Council Member Julie Won said following the vote that the number of affordable units had been increased to 1,436. That would be over 300 units more than the previous total of 1,100 and more than double the original proposal of 711.

More market-rate apartments have also been added, bringing the project's total to nearly 3,200 housing units, up from 2,800, according to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams's office. The added housing was achieved by converting space that had been reserved for offices and community facilities, subcommittee chair Kevin Riley said during Thursday's hearing.

Riley also said that residential density has been reduced in certain parts of the project, "to better reflect the existing neighborhood context."

Thursday's vote sends Innovation QNS to the Council's full Land Use Committee, which is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon. If it passes there, it could face a final vote by the full Council the following day.

Under the most recent plans, Innovation QNS would build 2,800 apartments and two acres of green space on the five blocks between 37th Street and Northern Boulevard, north of 36th Avenue.

Its developers — Silverstein Properties, Kaufman Astoria Studios and BedRock Real Estate Partners— had previously committed to making 40 percent of units affordable, relying on city subsidies for 15 percent of that total. But Won has called that promise insufficient, saying last month that the city had not committed to the funding.

Won, who has opposed Innovation QNS until now, spoke more positively about the project on Thursday than ever before, saying in a statement that her office has been "negotiating daily to secure unprecedented levels of affordability for my immigrant and working-class community."

Of the affordable homes, 500 will be listed at 30 percent of the area median income (about $32,040 for a two-person household), and 157 units will be reserved for formerly homeless people. The project would also include a $2 million fund to provide legal services for tenants in the surrounding area, according to Won's office.

Developers could not immediately be reached to confirm the changes. Under longstanding Council tradition, Won's colleagues will likely follow her lead when Innovation QNS comes to a final vote.

"I am diligently finalizing negotiations for commitments from the developer and the Mayoral administration," Won said Thursday. "As the council member, I will utilize every accountability measure to ensure that our community wins are actualized."

While Won's opposition had put the project in doubt this summer, supporters of Innovation QNS — ranging from Mayor Eric Adams to powerful labor unions like Local 79 and 32BJ — have sounded increasingly optimistic in recent weeks about its chances of passing, as negotiations continued behind closed doors.

A labor union rally outside City Hall scheduled for Thursday morning was canceled, as one labor source said backers decided it was not necessary.

"Growing support inside City Council, with a path to yes," the source said.

Also weighing in late Wednesday was U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district is a few blocks away from the rezoning site. In a statement, she said she supported efforts to increase the number of affordable units, but stopped short of saying that Innovation QNS should be rejected without those changes.

"Substantial public subsidy of affordable housing would be an historic and welcome investment in Western Queens," Ocasio-Cortez said.

Related coverage:

• Won Still Against Innovation QNS As BP Blasts 'Weirdo' Opponents
• Innovation QNS Increases Affordable Apartments In Bid For Approval
• Innovation QNS Rezoning OK'd By Planning Commission, Heads To Council
• Huge Innovation QNS Rezoning Rejected By Board, But Battle Continues
• Despite Changes, Innovation QNS Voted Down By Astoria Board Committee
• Astoria's Innovation QNS Opponents, Supporters Clash At Public Hearing