NEW YORK—A major Queens waterfront project is being sent back to the drawing board.
Astoria Cove developers are reworking their affordable housing numbers in conversation with Astoria council member Costa Constantinides in hopes of getting through the last hurdle before the project is approved.
Astoria Cover developer 2030 Astoria Developers has plans for a five-building, 1723-unit development on the Hallets Cove peninsula in Astoria, Queens. The proposal includes a new supermarket, school space, retail, and waterfront access.
It is also what may be the first major development required to provide affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s housing plan. The city has set a goal to build 80,000 and preserve 120,000 affordable units over the next decade.
One of the new rules set to reach this goal is requiring developments involving re-zonings to set aside a portion of the apartments as affordable units. Previously, these units were typically created under an opt-in program where the developer received tax abatements in return for the units.
Thus, Alma has set aside 20 percent of the units for affordable housing and that plan was approved by the City Planning Commission.
“That has never been done before,” said 2030 Astoria Developer’s attorney Howard Weiss at a City Council committee hearing Monday. The project also needs to pass through City Council to be officially approved.
But council members argue the units are not actually affordable.
At a four-hour hearing at City Hall, several interest groups brought up a myriad of reasons to reject the project, from a bad track record to being too expensive.
Traditionally, the council will vote to follow the council member representing the district of the project. In this case council member Constantinides said the project, as is, will be rejected.
Average Income
The community has been divided on the Astoria Cove project. The nearly-2 million square foot project shares the peninsula by Hallets Cove with Astoria Houses, a public housing complex.
Astoria Houses residents have had several meetings with 2030 Astoria Developers and are in favor of the project, which they were told would have affordable units set aside for them.
However, that may not be the case.
