Astoria Development: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

[Chris]

As everyone seems to know there is a ton of development going on in Astoria, with every block seemingly having a new building being thrown up.    I thought this would make an interesting topic and I will start things by mentioning two projects I've been curious about.

The first is an apartment building that was put up on one of the most charming blocks in Astoria, I think it is 36th Street between 30th and 31st Avenues.   The apartment building is mid-block on the east side of the street.   It is tall and skinny.  This block has the houses set back from the streets with gardens in fronts.   Lots of trees add shading and it is charming but this clown who put up this apartment building knocked down one of the existing building and threw up this real tall apartment building that was completely out of scale, if not character, with the other buildings on the block.

The building has been up for a few years now but I remember walking down the block when it was under construction and other homeowners on the block had hung bed sheets out of the second-floor windows with nasty things written about them referencing the new building that had an adverse impact on the block.   I don't know why the city doesn't have tougher zoning laws to prevent an eye-sore like that building or why the property owner who built it doesn't have a moral obligation to build something that more matches the character and scale of what is already there.

If memory serves me correctly on there were two developments on Vernon Blvd. and 31st Avenue right by the water near or across the street from the Sculpture Garden.    There was a new aparment/co-op development going up on the northeast corner of 31st and Vernon and directly across the street, on the same side of Vernon Blvd. (the southeast corner of 31st and Vernon) is an old industrial building that was a furniture factory at one time in its long history.   I think that this building was and maybe still is for all I know (I haven't been over there in a while) being converted from industrial use into apartments/co-ops but I'm not 100% sure.   It is a haul from the subway, but offers great views and it is a building that offers great charm.

Oh, one other cool conversion is the old block-long Eagle Manufacturing Plant on 21st Street and Astoria Park on the other end.  I don't know what the exact cross streets are.   I don't even know if that Eagle facility was in use before the conversion.  If it was being used, it was underused because I never saw much activity there when I'd jog by.

Some entrepreneurial sort must have bought the property and is converting (or has already converted) the former industrial building into apartments or co-ops.    It is a real imposing building that kind of doesn't quite fit in to the otherwise tranquil residences in that part of Astoria, but I'd glad they didn't knock it down and it has found another use as residences.   It would be a great place to live being literally across the street from the park.

[C-J]

Oh, one other cool conversion is the old block-long Eagle Manufacturing Plant on 21st Street and Astoria Park on the other end.  I don't know what the exact cross streets are.   I don't even know if that Eagle facility was in use before the conversion.  If it was being used, it was underused because I never saw much activity there when I'd jog by.

Some entrepreneurial sort must have bought the property and is converting (or has already converted) the former industrial building into apartments or co-ops.    It is a real imposing building that kind of doesn't quite fit in to the otherwise tranquil residences in that part of Astoria, but I'd glad they didn't knock it down and it has found another use as residences.   It would be a great place to live being literally across the street from the park.

Ther'es a whole thread on this if you look up Pistilli or Riverview.  The general consensus is that the interior construction was done really poorly with cheap materials.

[firelight79]

and that it looks absolutely hideous as compared to the surrounding area

[braun]

I saw a building on Newtown Road close to Crescent Street called Newtown Tower and this doesn't look like it belongs on that block.  There is a nice small house next door and the new building covers up one of the windows on the side of the house.  I feel sorry for the people that live in that house.  they can't look out their window anymore. 

[Chris]

Ther'es a whole thread on this if you look up Pistilli or Riverview.  The general consensus is that the interior construction was done really poorly with cheap materials.

Damn.  I didn't have any idea the Eagle Plant/Riverview Development was so controversial.

[Chris]

A few lots that I am curious about.   I think others have written about the now vacant lot on the west side of 31st Street just north of Broadway where the gas station/car wash was.   Apartments are going up.

Diagonally across the street, on the east side of 31st Street between the parking lot and the building that contains a health club, an industrial building has been knocked down.  I assume it will be more apartments.

God help me, buy why would anyone want to live on 31st Street?   I remember when I was forced to move in '01 and I told a broker I wanted to stay near the train, preferably the N.   Well, the broker took those instructions a tad too literally as he showed me a place right on 31st with the widows facing the platform at the 30th Street station.  I groaned and said I don't want to live here.   

Finally, the gas station on 21st Street right where Astoria Boulevard and Newtown Road intersect is closed.   I assume that will be more apartments.   They knocked down a wood frame door right next door and an apartment building is going up as I write.   

It is getting tougher and tougher to get a seat on the N train, particularly, if you are Astoria bound, you get on after Times Square.   The last two days, Saturday and Sunday nights, I couldn't get when I got on on 57th.   Where are all these people going to fit?

[BookMinstrel]

Damn.  I didn't have any idea the Eagle Plant/Riverview Development was so controversial.

Chris, one weekend when you're in the mood for a lark, go over there and take a tour (say you're interested in buying an apartment and they'll fall all over themselves to show you around). It's truly, truly hideous.

[PJ]

If memory serves me correctly on there were two developments on Vernon Blvd. and 31st Avenue right by the water near or across the street from the Sculpture Garden.    There was a new aparment/co-op development going up on the northeast corner of 31st and Vernon and directly across the street, on the same side of Vernon Blvd. (the southeast corner of 31st and Vernon) is an old industrial building that was a furniture factory at one time in its long history.   I think that this building was and maybe still is for all I know (I haven't been over there in a while) being converted from industrial use into apartments/co-ops but I'm not 100% sure.   It is a haul from the subway, but offers great views and it is a building that offers great charm.

regarding the building on the corner of vernon, down from the sculpture park,

i had the opportunity of doing a walk threw of the whole building, its huge, it will be amazing once it is completed, as of now it is gutted out completly, it has a GREAT view from the roof, i also got an inside scoop on some other things that will be added in the future, its going to be exclusive,  all i can say for now, start saving

[Chris]

I noticed that on the southside of 30th Avenue between 32nd and 33rd Streets there is a building that is completely empty.   To further pin the building down it is between the two green grocers.   Most recently there was a clothing store on the ground floor (before that it was an electronics store) that went under a year or so ago.    I think a Fortune Teller was on the second and top floor, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

In any event, the building has all the signs that it is coming down.   I wonder what will go up if something does go up.

And does anyone know what is going on behind the American Museum of the Moving Image?   I think that is between 36th & 37th Streets and 34th and 35th Avenues.  A couple of year ago they leveled the buildings that were there and it is now an empty lot.   There is also a parking lot on the site and there is an abandoned car repair place on the northeast corner of 36th & 34th Avenues.  Clearly something is going to go up there. 

[firelight79]

The lot behind the museum has been used for filming. The stepford wives tented the area off while filming. It will also be incorporated into the museum's planned expansion. This lot is the view from my stoop. I'm on the 37th street side.
the auto repair place has been closed for about a year and a half maybe 2. it's had a for sale sign on it for a while. I don't think anyone is too keen on buying it as you can see the parts in the front where there used to be gas pumps. god only knows what's underneath.

[mcdirk]

what is the museum doing?  what's the expansion going to be?  (just more space?)

[firelight79]

honestly i have no idea.
i've been reading that they're going to expand and use the lot. but exactly for what purpose has yet to be written.
if i can find any of the articles i've read (which hasn't been recently) I'll add them here.

[mcdirk]

Thanks!  I'd love to see anything you find on it.  I'll start digging around myself as well.

[Chris]

I don't know what is going up, but I noticed that scaffolding has been put up around that defunct lumber store that is on Astoria Blvd. between 33rd and 32nd Streets.   The "for sale" sign is still on the building so who knows what is going on.

And just like Manhattan if you don't walk on a block for a month you'll see construction.   I took the M60 as far as Steinway and noticed that on Astoria Blvd. in the 30's there are some apartments/houses going up.   Last time I was by they weren't there.   I can't even remember what they replaced.

[Chris]

Another lot under development is at the intersection of Queens Blvd./Northern Blvd. and Jackson Avenue in Queens Plaza.   It is right next to that gas station on the corner.   I don't know what is going up there.