The stretch of western Astoria that runs next to Hallets Point and south of Astoria Park hasn’t seen much new residential construction, but the development tide has begun to turn in the solidly middle-class neighborhood. A six-story building is coming to 8-29 Astoria Boulevard, mid-block between 8th and 12th streets.
Back in 2003, Sal Faraone helped open the Brooklyn Motor Inn on Hamilton Avenue in industrial Red Hook, above an entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. “‘People come in and say, ‘Is it dangerous, this neighborhood?'” he told the Times. “They don’t know it’s up and coming.” Now Faraone hopes to build another hotel in a forlorn industrial area. He’s filed plans for a four-story inn at 110 South Bridge Street in Richmond Valley, Staten Island.
In January, the 32-story BAM South tower at 300 Ashland Place (then known as 286 Ashland Place), in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, topped out. Since then, nearly all of the façade pieces have been installed, as seen in photos by our friend Tectonic.
Fifteen years ago, complaints began rolling into the city Department of Buildings about the abandoned, double-wide brownstone at 52 East 126th Street in East Harlem. The building was vacant and in danger of collapsing, callers said. Squatters had taken up residence, and neighbors saw addicts and prostitutes coming and going. The block even banded together to seal the building. But it looks like the collapsing brownstone won’t be around much longer. Nonprofit social services agency Odyssey House has filed plans to develop five stories of supportive housing on the lot between Madison and Park Avenues.
The 79-story tower headed for 23-15 44th Drive in Long Island City will likely become the first supertall building in Queens.
