A large trapezoidal lot at 48-18 Van Dam Street in Long Island City may soon serve as the new headquarters for International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 813, a union that represents a variety of laborers in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Before the project can begin, the Department of City Planning will need to approve zoning text amendments to permit the construction of a mixed-use commercial building that is above the currently allowable height and density.
Scope of work includes an addition of four floors to the existing two-story building for a final height of six stories. Beyond office space, the property will also create 877 square feet of private open space and over 22,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. When complete, the building will comprise 239,758 gross square feet.
The rendering shows the industrial structure expanded with a design reminiscent of International Style office buildings, with vertical masonry columns breaking up a glass façade consisting of clear and opaque paneling.
In addition to the Teamsters union, the building will also house Paper Products, Miscellaneous Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, Helpers, Messengers, Production and Office Workers Local 27 Pension Fund, Local 813 I.B.T. Pension Trust Fund, and five related trust funds.
Existing conditions at 48-18 Van Dam Street
Existing conditions at 48-18 Van Dam Street – Photo by 42 Floors
Proposed Van Dam Street East Elevation at 48-18 Van Dam Street
Proposed Hunter’s Point Avenue South Elevation for 48-18 Van Dam Street
If the zoning text amendments are approved, it is expected that the two neighboring buildings will be also be redeveloped for office and retail use. Combined they would yield up to 159,657 square feet of office space, 32,701 square feet of local retail space, and 158 accessory parking spaces.
Upon review of the developer’s Environmental Assessment Statement, a required analysis to determine the effect of the project on the surrounding area, the Department of City Planning has requested modifications to existing proposals in relation to air quality, existing hazardous materials, noise, and open space. Specific requirements include site sampling for potential hazardous compounds in the existing soil, relocation of HVAC mechanicals to a higher elevation to mitigate potential impacts on air quality, the inclusion of non-operable windows to reduce noise pollution, and shared access to newly created open space by all three buildings.
At present, it is unclear when construction might break ground.
Site map of 48-18 Van Dam Street
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Oh boy, this is going to cost triple and take two decades long.
“The rendering shows the industrial structure expanded with a design reminiscent of International Style office buildings, with vertical masonry columns breaking up a glass façade consisting of clear and opaque paneling.”
Bwahahaha. The rendering shows a sad attempt to look like a mediocre late ’50s cheap bulk office building. This is really weak.
Foreboding is the architectural style. This is one of the least attractive building projects that could be built. Hopefully someone in the union will wake up and realize this and correct this awful mistake..
What is the point of trying to reuse that pathetic little base? Just gross. All of it.
Union leaders today are the legal extension and heirs “de facto” of the mobsters of yesterday
where is DJT when we most need him????