Alma Realty is working on two huge projects along the Astoria waterfront, and now they are venturing much farther east in the borough, to the middle-class neighborhood of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. The Long Island City-based builder has filed plans for a seven-story residential building at 152-26 Union Turnpike, between 152nd and 153rd streets.
The development would rise on a large parking lot in front of the Village Mall at Hillcrest complex, a 14-story, three-building condo project built in 1973. The new building applications reveal that Alma Hopes to build 52 apartments across 45,170 square feet of residential space, for a decently sized average unit of 868 square feet. We suspect that the building will be condos, like its neighbors.
The plans also call for a garage with 53 parking spots—slightly more than one for each apartment. For what it’s worth, the outdated zoning there requires 36 parking spots for 52 apartments. Since this is a condo project in a car-dependent area of Queens, it’s typical for a developer to build as much parking as they think they’ll need. Unfortunately, the closest subway stop is a mile away.
Astoria-based architect Georgios G. Georgopolous applied for the permits.
The public records don’t offer much explanation about how or when Alma acquired the 16,000-square-foot parking lot from the Village Mall condo association. However, it appears that the company acquired the property for an undisclosed amount in 1990.
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Parking spots needed for comfort life, and vehicles are necessary in rush hour now a day.