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Rendering of Downtown Far Rockaway via Marvel Architects Rendering of Downtown Far Rockaway via Marvel Architects
As busy as real estate development has been in Manhattan, the outer boroughs have hardly sat quietly. Proof of that may be found in Downtown Far Rockaway, where a 2017 rezoning is bringing exciting new development to the area. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation announced financing of nearly 800 new affordable housing units in January 2020, and Marvel Architects is currently hard at work on Rockaway Village, an ambitious project to bring a total of 1,700 new affordable housing units to the area. The first phase alone will include three buildings measuring between eight and 15 stories as well as a new plaza and an underground parking lot; the second phase will include two new multi-family buildings with a combined total of 316 units, 224 of which will be affordable.
These projects and others in the community stand to benefit from the redevelopment of John F. Kennedy Airport, which was thrown a lifeline when the airport’s lease was extended to 2060, giving developers more time to secure financing and complete extensive construction projects. The redevelopment master plan calls for the consolidation of the six buildings into four modern, easy-to-navigate terminals, a centralized ground transportation center, and highway improvements to ease bottlenecks and reduce travel time to the airport. The completion of these projects remains several years away; in the meantime, see renderings of new residential development coming to other parts of Queens as well as Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Several of the new buildings planned and underway in the Downtown Far Rockaway master plan (NYC HPD)

51-08-Roosevelt-Avenue-01 Rendering via Architects Studio, PC
As the Hunter’s Point section of Long Island City undergoes a building boom, it’s getting harder to ignore the neighboring Sunnyside. Local designer Architects Studio, PC would agree with that--they have just released renderings of a 14-story mixed-use building. The site is just down the street from the 52nd Street - Lincoln Avenue 7 stop, but there is good quality of life to be found close to home: It is a short walk from several restaurants, and the project calls for a three-story school. The 90 apartments on top feature oversized windows and private balconies.

44-15-College-Point-Boulevard-01 Rendering via Architects Studio PC
The past year has sadly seen many beloved restaurants closing their doors, but Flushing’s beloved Kane’s Diner served its last meal in May 2019, long before the first coronavirus case appeared and after more than 50 years in business. The Kane family sold the property to Long Island-based developer Kenny Liu for $13.6 million, and his plans for the site have been revealed. Renderings by Architects Studio, PC show a seven-story, 39,000-square-foot mixed-use building. The ground-floor retail space is clearly defined, and the 42 apartments on top have floor-to-ceiling windows; select units have private balconies.

2410-Honeywell-Avenue-01 Rendering via Samuel Wieder Architects
Brooklyn-based designer Samuel Wieder Architect has been especially prolific in its home borough, but now turns its attention to the Bronx: Renderings for a seven-story building known as “Project Honeywell,” located across the street from the Bronx Zoo, have been revealed on Instagram. The building has a two-story black base, a red brick facade, and what appears to be a dark gray penthouse floor.

270-Nostrand-Avenue-01 Rendering of 270 Nostrand Avenue via BRP Companies
270 Nostrand Avenue used to house a nursing home run by CABS Nursing Home Company (“CABS”), but has been the site of controversy as of late. CABS ran into financial trouble starting in 2009; in June 2015, they sold the Bedford-Stuyvesant property for $15.6 million to NNRC Properties LLC. The entity is part of the Allure group, which some may remember from the Rivington House nursing home in Manhattan, and in 2016, CABS sued the developer for misrepresenting its intentions for the building. In 2018, Allure reached a settlement with the state and the nursing home was demolished.
More recently, Allure is planning to transfer ownership of the site to BRP Companies, an affordable housing developer. BRP Companies is seeking a rezoning so they can build a 14-story, 487-unit rental on the site with 144 affordable units, retail space, community facility space, an interior courtyard, and 176 parking spaces. Brooklyn’s Community Board 3 has expressed concerns about the building’s height and whether the affordable units would truly be affordable for neighborhood residents.

264-Pacific-Street-01 Rendering of 264 Pacific Street via Owen Realty
Work appears to be winding down on 264 Pacific Street, a seven-story mixed-use building in Boerum Hill. The project is being developed by a joint venture that includes Owen Realty, and Emerald Creek Capital provided $11.5 million in construction financing in summer 2018. Kutnicki Bernstein Architects is the designer of record.

Some sites list the 24-unit development as a condo, but the lack of an offering plan and average apartment size of 754 square feet are highly indicative of rentals. Either way, amenities are to include a bike room, storage, on-site parking, and a roof deck. Future residents will also benefit from being a short distance from popular local restaurants and several subway lines that promise a quick commute to Manhattan.

373-Knickerbocker-Avenue-01 Rendering via Mojo Stumer
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Architect Mojo Stumer has released renderings of 373-379 Knickerbocker Avenue, a new mixed-use building described as “a core part of the community.” These show a six-story building with a long-format gray brick facade, large punched windows at upper levels, and what appears to be a penthouse-level terrace. New York Real Estate Journal reports that the project will feature ground-floor retail, two floors of community facilities, and 10 rental apartments on floors 4-6. Construction was expected to start in summer 2019, but permits are not on file with the Department of Buildings.

3160-Villa-Avenue-01 Rendering via Asset Realty
After numerous design meetings, real estate group Asset Realty determined that a 12-story, 66-unit rental building would be the best use for its property at 3160 Villa Avenue. Renderings depict a reinforced concrete building with oversized windows and several private balconies, and the apartments within will have high-quality finishes and energy efficient appliances. Moreover, in 2019, the developer applied for and received a 421a tax abatement that allows it to offer 30% of the units as affordable housing. The building previously on-site was demolished in 2020, and completion of the new building is anticipated for 2022.

573-Emerald-Avenue-01 Rendering via Magnusson Architecture and Planning
A three-building complex is set to bring a total of 498 units, new amenities and commercial space, and robust pedestrian activity to East New York. The second phase of the project, located at 573 Emerald Avenue, will be a 160-unit affordable housing building designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning and aiming for zero site generated carbon through total electrification. Heating and cooling will be provided to apartments and common spaces through Variable Refrigeration Flow heat pump with heat recovery; ventilation for common spaces will be supplied through Energy Recovery Ventilators, and the domestic hot water system will be an all-electric four-part plan. The project is currently in early design stages, but has already been named a NYSERDA Building of Excellence.

MAP Architects
Amenity-rich, award-winning rental The Rheingold is named in honor of the company that once operated on its site, but 10 Montieth Street was not the only Brooklyn property the brewery owned. It also had a lot across the street, which will be the future home of 94 affordable senior housing units. Non-profit group Southside United is developing it, and the design by Magnusson Architecture and Planning will be built to Passive House standards. Features like a reinforced concrete rain screen, solar canopy, large rear garden, and rooftop hydroponic farm were instrumental in its designation as a NYSERDA Building of Excellence.

100-33-Ditmars-Boulevard-01 Rendering of Grand Central Condominiums via Peter Poons Architects
Peter Poons Architects describes this concept at 100-33 Ditmars Boulevard, across the street from the newly expanded and improved LaGuardia Airport, as “a home for travelers,” but residents may not want to leave. The 13-story building allows for uninterrupted views of the airport and the Manhattan skyline, and the 207 studio through three-bedroom units feature floor-to-ceiling windows (with sound-insulating glazing) and seamless layouts leading to private balconies with wood-look sunscreens. Moreover, to capitalize on the zoning restrictions of the site, a deck has been added to above the roof level of the adjacent Aloft Hotel, providing an open garden terrace for residents. The project sits on a three-story parking garage plinth with 225 spaces for cars, commuter vans, and long-term parking for travelers.

414-Gerard-Avenue-01 Rendering of Lyra via The Domain Companies
In January 2021, ground broke on Lyra, a mixed-use, two-building development to rise on a former brownfield site at 414 Gerard Avenue. The Domain Companies is developing the project in partnership with Vorea Group, and approximately 30 percent of the 544 units will be affordable to households earning 80 to 130 percent of the area median income. The brick facade will be underscored by a highly sustainable infrastructure that will include rainwater harvesting, solar panels, vehicle charging, and a co-generation plant; with these elements, LEED Platinum certification is all but assured. Completion is estimated for early 2023.
Construction starting in February 2021

215-East-144th-Street-01 Rendering via The Domain Companies
Directly across from 414 Gerard Avenue (see above), 445 Gerard Avenue will be home to the other building in the Lyra development. Renderings show a gray brick facade, and this building will present the same eco-friendly features as its neighbor. Developer Domain Companies has cited investments in new charter schools and office space, not to mention the city’s $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, as factors that drew it to the Mott Haven neighborhood.