Rendering of 35-01 Vernon Boulevard. Image Credit: NYC CPC.

On April 13, 2022, the City Planning Commission voted to approve an application that would facilitate the construction of a nine-story mixed use building at 35-01 Vernon Boulevard in Astoria, Queens. The requested rezoning area consists of the northern portion of the block with 35th Avenue to the north, Vernon Boulevard to the west and 9th Street to the east. The two-story manufacturing building currently located on the project site is home to an auto parts business that is relocating to the Bronx.

The building will have 107 units, and 26 permanently affordable units at Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Option 1, which requires 25 percent of the units to be offered at an average of 60 percent area median income or less. The building will also contain retail and light manufacturing space. The manufacturing space will be designed for “maker space” providing working space for small business and local artists for creative works like photography, woodworking and videography. A majority of the local manufacturing spaces are geared toward larger manufacturing. 

The project was approved by the Queens Borough President, Queens Community Board 1, and received support from several members of the public who had testified about Astoria’s need for affordable housing and creative spaces for artists. For CityLand’s prior coverage of this application and more details about the building, click here.

The City Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve of the application. 

The City Council will now review the application. 

By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)