The Skyline Tower has just claimed the crown of the tallest building in Queens (the concrete structure topped out in October, and the parapet above went up over the past week), yet a similarly-sized contender is already catching up nearby. Sven at 27-29 Queens Plaza North has climbed nearly 50 stories high, approaching its projected 737-foot, 64-story pinnacle. Reflective glass, sectioned in two-story bands, now covers the building’s lower half. The rental property, developed by the Durst Organization and designed by Handel Architects, will hold 957 units, nearly 300 of which would be affordable.
Sven, formerly known as Queens Plaza Park, anchors the northern end of the rapidly-growing Court Square skyline in Long Island City, and already dominates the Dutch Kills Green, a small square at the east end of Queens Plaza. Sven rises directly behind the landmarked Bank of Manhattan Company Building, a 14-story, crenellated clocktower that had dominated the local skyline since 1927. Today the high-rise looks rather diminutive, flanked by towers such as ALTA LIC and Aurora (the latter also a product of Handel), and now overshadowed by Sven itself. The rising skyscraper defers to both its older neighbor and the Green with a gracefully curved, concave facade, the building’s signature feature.
Sven (Rendering credit of Handel Architects)
(CityRealty)
The landmark, incorporated into the new development with 50,000 square feet of commercial space, and the Long Island Rail Road lot to the north supplied the development rights to push Sven to an impressive 978,000 square feet, making it not just one of the tallest, but also one of the largest buildings in the neighborhood. When complete, Sven will surpass the iconic, 673-foot-tall One Court Square (former Citibank Building) to become the second-tallest skyscraper in the borough.
As expected at this stage of construction, the official website remains a sparse teaser, but the building’s self-evident perks speak for themselves. Floor-to-ceiling windows will offer 360-degree skyline panoramas that will look out as far as Brooklyn and New Jersey from the upper floors. The Queens Plaza station at the foot of the building and the nearby Queensboro Plaza offer five-minute access to Midtown via the E, M, N, R, W, and 7 trains, while the bridge allows for easy driving, biking, or even walking commute across the river. The shopping and dining districts in Long Island City and nearby Sunnyside and Astoria also lie within walking distance.
Sven’s rental prices remain to be released, yet we can make an estimate based on the building’s neighbors. ALTA LIC currently lists one studio for $3,114/month. Aurora offers a one-bedroom unit for just $3 more, at $3,117/month. Across Dutch Kills Green, Jackson Park lists three one-bedrooms averaging $3,261/month, and a three-bedroom for $5,800. Nearby Tower 28 offers a two-bedroom pad for $3,288.
Sven. Credit: Ondel Hylton
Sven. Credit: Ondel Hylton
(CityRealty)
Sven. Credit: Ondel Hylton
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