Prewar apartment buildings, a cherished New York City staple, compose some of the city’s most delightful neighborhoods. However, even the grandest old dames tend to suffer from woes common to aging buildings, such as dated layouts, lack of common resident services, and obsolete infrastructure. Until a few years ago, the buildings at 38th Street shared the syndrome, even as their lozenge-themed facades of warm red brick remained as charming as ever.

George Michelis, Managing Principal of RockFarmer Properties, acknowledges as much in the press release. “Astoria and surrounding neighborhoods like Jackson Heights and Sunnyside are dominated by these beautiful pre-war buildings that have great bones but unfortunately haven’t been upgraded or amenitized,” Michelis states, adding that at Astoria Lights, the developer “recognized the opportunity to breathe new life” into the building with layouts, finishes, and amenities comparable with new construction.

The addition of the roof deck underscores the yet-untapped potential in scores of other prewar buildings across the city, where the majority of rooftops remain inaccessible. As a whole, Astoria’s subway access (Astoria Lights stands a few blocks east of the Astoria Boulevard station of the N and W trains), vibrant dining and nightlife scene (Steinway Street is a block away), and relative abundance of underdeveloped land are prompting an increasing number of developers to construct new apartments, such as Steinway & Graham and The Rowan, both located nearby. However, Astoria Lights testifies that abundant prewar housing stock in Queens holds just as much promise for 21st-century revival.