The low-slung, industrial stretch of Vernon Boulevard that winds along the Astoria waterfront is slowly giving rise to large residential developments, like Alma Realty’s 17-story, two-tower complex under construction next to Ravenswood Generating Station. Now another developer has filed plans for a 101,000-square-foot apartment building at 11-02 30th Drive, on the corner of Vernon Boulevard.
It would reach only six stories but occupy most of the block between 30th Drive, 30th Road, 12th Street and Vernon Boulevard. There would be 142 apartments spread across 101,801 square feet, producing rental-sized units of 716 square feet. Confusingly, the filing lists “ground” and first floors, which will both have apartments. The ground floor would hold 29 apartments, topped by 24 units each on the second through fourth floors, and 20 units on the fifth floor.
Plans also call for a courtyard and community space on the ground floor.
The parking would be a 46-space garage in the cellar—far less than the 71 spots required by the zoning code. The developer may expect to benefit from the mayor’s planned zoning tweaks, which will cut parking requirements for affordable housing.
Since the development is located in an inclusionary housing zone, it may get a density bonus in exchange for including some below-market units. This site also comes with at least 237,000 square feet in development rights, and we expect more filings in the coming months.
The permits also lack any kind of flood proofing measures, even though this property sits about 20 feet from the East River and on the border between flood zones 1 and 2.
Long Island City-based Criterion Group is the developer, and engineer Nyron Hall filed for the permits. Shibber Khan, who heads Criterion, picked up the 120,000-square-foot assemblage for an impressive $57 million last October, according to Crain’s.
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