On the eastern edge of Queens in Richmond Hill, waves of new immigrants have slowly pushed up demand for larger apartments, like the ones planned for a big vacant lot at 121-01 Jamaica Avenue. Permits were filed today to construct two four-story buildings across from the 121st Street stop on the J/Z, which will help breathe new life into a largely commercial stretch beneath the elevated tracks.
The first new filing, at 121-01 Jamaica Avenue, will have 10 apartments divided across 6,838 square feet of residential space, as well as 928 square feet of ground floor commercial space. Next door at 121-03, plans call for seven apartments, including a duplex on the top two floors, spread across 7,126 square feet of residential space. That shakes out to an average unit size of 1,018 square feet—perfect for families or roommates. It will also include 700 square feet of ground floor retail.
The developer likely split the development into two buildings to sidestep parking requirements, since the zoning code in this part of Queens waives parking for new buildings with 10 apartments or less. It’s also encouraging to see small retail spaces that’ll likely cater to the area’s burgeoning South Asian community.
Jamaica-based owner Mehdizadeh Mansour is behind both buildings, and Royal Engineering, P.C. will be responsible for the design.
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Permit applications must be submitted at least sixty days in advance of the proposed event so that the information supplied in the application may be verified and so that the agency can notify and coordinate action with officials of other jurisdictions and agencies responsible for health, safety and welfare. The sixty-day time limit is also necessary to comply with SEPA review requirements to identify any potential environmental impacts and mitigation. This requirement for an application to be filed sixty days prior to an event may be waived in rare circumstances where arrangements can be made in a shorter time while still complying with all other requirements of this section.