City Planning approves Astoria Cove development
The City Planning Commission voted on Monday to approve the controversial Astoria Cove housing development, which had previously been rejected by Community Board 1 and Borough President Melinda Katz.
The complex will be 2.2 million square feet and includes a supermarket; an elementary school; a children’s play area; 84,000 square feet of public open space; and 1,700 apartments, 20 percent of which have been proposed to be affordable.
A rendering of the proposed Astoria Cove development.
Astoria Cove consists of five mixed-use buildings, set to be built on 26th Ave. between 4th and 9th streets, that will rise from six to 32 stories. It is estimated that it would take ten years to complete construction, at which point the complex would be the second largest housing development on the Astoria waterfront.
Ten out of 13 commissioners approved the complex, even though both Katz and CB1 rejected the development, calling for more affordable housing and stating the influx of people would cause a number of infrastructure issues, particularly regarding transportation.
Now the proposal will head to City Council for public hearings and another vote.
Councilman Costa Constantinides, who represents Astoria, said that “the City Planning Commission’s vote is only the start of this process.”
“While the new housing stock is sorely needed, the development must work for all Astorians,” he said. “When the project comes before the City Council, we will work with the developer and focus on providing ample affordable housing, dramatically increasing public transportation capacity on and off of the peninsula, and keeping the development within the fabric of the community.
“The development, done correctly, has the opportunity to be a transformative moment for us but only if built to the highest standards,” he added.
After the vote was announced, 2030 Astoria Developers, who are heading the project, said they will continue to gather feedback from the community in order to ensure that everyone “will share in the benefits of our investment in the community.”
“Astoria Cove will bring significant investment, good-paying jobs, hundreds of units of affordable housing, local stores and shops, and an expansive open space network to a community that has been neglected for too long,” the statement read.
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