ALTA LIC, 29-22 Northern Boulevard: Review and Ratings

Review of 29-22 Northern Boulevard by Carter Horsley

This very handsome, 43-story apartment building at 29-22 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City was completed in 2018.  It has 467 rental units of which 297 are regular rental units and 199 are furnished co-living microsuites with hotel-style services by Ollie on the tower's second through the 15th floors. 

The highly prominent tower is known as Alta LIC. 

It was built by Simon Baron Development and Quadrum Global. 

Stephen B. Jacobs was the architect and interiors were designed by Andre Kikoski.

The tower is convenient to several subway lines.

Bottom Line

A stunning, asymmetrical rental tower in the Queens Plaza section of Long Island City facing the Queens approach to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge and the Manhattan midtown skyline.

Description

With its large, light-colored, stepped base with varied fenestration rising to an uneven glass crown with uniform windows, this tower bundles tremendous visual energy even though it is not a "SuperTall."  Its location, moreover, at the Queens end of the great, frilly Queensboro Bridge looking back at Manhattan's SuperTall alley on 57th Street is marvelously dramatic and memorable. 

This is what this new architectural generation is about: individuality and confidence that context is not as important as refined originality.  You don't care that it does not use conventional formulas and motifs as long as it exudes a great deal of grace and energy.

Amenities

The smoke-free building, which has a concierge, has a 27,000-square-foot package of amenities available to all residents in the building. 

The second floor has a co-working lounge, a game hall with stadium seating and an event room with speakers and screening facilities. 

The fourth floor is a fitness center with an indoor lap pool, a golf simulator and yoga studio.  

The 38th floor has a great lawn, grilling stations and an outdoor movie screen. 

The top floor has a lounge with fireplace, event space and a landscaped roof deck. 

The building also has a dog run, a veterinary clinic, dog-walking and pet sitting. 

Apartments

The market-rate apartments above the microsuites gave studios averaging 516 square feet, one-bedrooms averaging 723 square feet, two bedrooms averaging 1,138 square feet and three-bedrooms averaging 1,317 square feet. 

They have 9-foot ceilings, oak floors and washers and dryers.  Their kitchens have Caesarstone countertops and stainless steel appliances. 

The two-bedroom D line has an entry foyer that leads to a 15-foot-long living room with an open kitchen with a breakfast bar. 

The one-bedroom K line has a 17-foot-long living room with an open kitchen with a breakfast bar. 

The studio B lines has a 17-foot-long studio space with an open kitchen. 

The 169 microsuites contain 422 bedrooms and have complimentary cable and WIFI, weekly towel and linen services, regular replenishment of Malin & Goetz bath amenities and events curated by live-in managers.