10 Halletts Point, 26-01 First Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 26-01 First Street by Carter Horsley

This handsome, rental development in Astoria at 10 Halletts Point was erected in 2018 and has 404 units.  It is the first of seven buildings in a $1.5 billion, riverfront complex that is planned to contain 2,020 apartments, 20 percent of which will be affordable. 

This building, which has 22-story and 17-story towers on a common amenities base, was erected by The Durst Organization, which took over the project in 2013 from the Lincoln Equities Group. 

Dattner Architects designed the 10-acre complex, which will have a riverfront park, a large supermarket.  It is across from Gracie Mansion in Carl Schurz Park. 

Spacesmith is the interior designer and the lobby has murals by Jason Middlebrook. 

This building will meet LEED Gold criteria. 

According to an February 23, 2019 article by Sebastian Morris at newyorkyimby.com, "under these strick guidelines, 10 Halletts Point supports energy-saving building mechanicals, on-site water treatment systems, robust recycling programs for residents, and high-efficiency window that reduce temperature loss and heat gain within the structure."  "To help meet these standards," the article continued, "The Durst Organization and Dattner Architects worked closely with Vidaris, a global consultancy firm that specializes in façade design, sustainability, and energy efficiency, to source green building materials and interior furnishings." 

According to a Feb. 15, 2019 article by Jane Margolies in The New York Times, "Durst broke ground for 10 Halletts Point in 2016, just in time for the expiration of the 421a program, which had long provided tax breaks to developers building affordable housing." 

"Work on the rest of Halletts Point," the article continued, "halted until a replacement program kicked in, and now the larger development - which will include two all-affordable buildings built on the campus of the nearby Astoria Houses, a public housing complex sprawling over several blocks - is waiting for bond financing." 

The master plan for the site calls for 32- and a 26-story towers to be erected just west of 10 Halletts Point, according to the article in The Times. 

Halletts Point is just above the northern tip of Roosevelt Island. 

It is about a mile away from the Astoria Boulevard subway station for the N and W lines, but the development will run a shuttle to it and a Citi Bike dock and the Astoria Ferry stop.

Bottom Line

A handsome, major mixed-use development with many amenities on 10 riverfront acres in Queens across from Gracie Mansion.

Description

The towers and base of this building have a copper-colored aluminum façade.  Both towers have slightly projecting wings with mostly glass façade and the top of the taller tower has a perforated top as does the podium base.

Amenities

This smoke-free building has 25,000 square feet of amenities including the Brooklyn Harvest Market, a fitness center, a "tot spot" playroom, a library, co-working spaces, concierge, resident manager, revolving art exhibitions, party room with chef's kitchen, and attended garage.  The building is pet-friendly.

Apartments

Apartments have 9-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and many corner windows, vented kitchens, under kitchen cabinet lighting, and washers and dryers. 

Apartment 301 is a two-bedroom unit with a 30-foot-long living room with an open kitchen. 

Apartment 645 us a corner two-bedroom unit with an entry foyer that leads to an angled, 20-foot-long living room with an open kitchen.  

Apartment 1540 is a two-bedroom unit with a 21-foot-long living room with an open kitchen. 

Apartment 426 is a one-bedroom unit with an entry foyer next to a 12-foot-long home office and a 24-foot-long living room with an open kitchen. 

Apartment 1541 is a one-bedroom unit with a 22-foot-long living room with an open kitchen. 

Apartment 736 is a studio unit with a long entry foyer and a 21-foot-long studio with an open kitchen.