The first permits are up for a new building at 31-43 Vernon Boulevard in Queens, which straddles the border between Astoria and Long Island City. The site has been dubbed ‘Vernon Tower’ by PACS Architecture, which is the firm designing the project, and the site’s developer is Michael Heletz of Vernon Tower LLC.
31-43 Vernon Boulevard, image from PACS Architecture
31-43 Vernon Boulevard is located directly off of Astoria’s Socrates Sculpture Park, and the development will have unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline; while the location may be less than prime, the vicinity is quickly becoming a hot-spot for construction. At the very least, the views offered from Vernon Tower will be comprehensive and permanent.
Aesthetically, 31-43 Vernon Boulevard falls into the ‘average’ category. The building’s facade will be simple, and its form will enhance a street-scape that was formerly barren; the development’s positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood is more important than its looks, and it will be a net-benefit for Astoria.
31-43 Vernon Boulevard, image from PACS Architecture
The DOB filings indicate the development will span 66,300 square feet in total, with 1,409 square feet to be dedicated to ground-floor retail. The remainder of the building will be residential, with 79 units spanning Vernon Tower’s six floors; the project will stand 61 feet tall. PACS’ page on the site has conflicting information on the number of apartments, noting the development will have 105 units.
31-43 Vernon Boulevard, via Google Maps
Construction is set to begin on 31-43 Vernon Boulevard this spring, though no completion date has been announced.
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