Developer To Demolish Florist For Housing, Application Shows

REGO PARK, QUEENS — A developer plans to mow down a family-owned and operated florist in Rego Park in order to build housing.

Florist Hills and Garden Center, located at 68-19 Woodhaven Boulevard — also addressed as 85-3 68th Road — is slated to become a 133-unit, 7-story apartment building, with commercial space and 60 parking spots, according to plans filed with the Department of Buildings on Tuesday. YIMBY was first to report the story.

An employee at Florist Hills told Patch they didn’t know about the building application, which is still under review. Demolition permits haven’t been filed yet, plans show.

The building’s developer told YIMBY that tenants — alluding to the flower and garden shop — will be in the space through the end of the year. The project doesn’t anticipate having city-approved plans until the beginning of 2022, YIMBY reported.

The proposed 70-foot building was filed as an affordable housing job, but the number of affordable units was not disclosed in the plans.

This isn't the only instance of buildings in the neighborhood being demolished for housing: Just last week a developer filed permits to demolish a neighborhood funeral home for housing. In May, similarly, the owners of a three building complex in Rego Park, including a historic theater-turned-synagogue, filed permits to demolish the site to make way for luxury housing.

Critics have pushed back against these projects, arguing that buildings with historic significance shouldn’t be demolished for housing.

Developers and project proponents however, argue that housing is "desperately needed" in Rego Park — as area City Council Member Karen Koslowitz puts it.