11-Story Astoria Development Plan Goes Before Borough President

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A proposal for a new 11-story apartment building in Astoria will go before Queens Borough President Donovan Richards this week, as it makes its way through the city's multi-step review process.

The application to rezone 30-02 Newtown Ave. will be discussed at a public hearing Thursday morning hosted by the Queens Borough President's Office, according to the meeting agenda.

Developer MEDREP Associates, run by the Finkelstein family, put forth plans for a building that would rise 11 stories on one side and six on the other.

Inside, there would be more than a hundred apartments, 8,400 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a to-be-determined community facility, records show. Twenty-six apartments would be permanently affordable under the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.

Earlier this month, Queens Community Board 1 voted 19 to 11 to recommend approving the applications, the Astoria Post reported. Some critics said the building was too large, and others said more apartments should be made permanently affordable.

The Queens borough president's hearing is the next step in the land-use review process, also known as ULURP. Richards will issue an advisory opinion on whether or not the City Planning Commission and City Council should approve the rezoning applications.

Those who wish to testify Thursday about the proposal may register for speaking time by clicking here or calling (718) 286-3000. Anyone who wants to submit written testimony must email remarks to planning@queensbp.org by 5 p.m. Thursday.

The hearing will be livestreamed on the Queens borough president's website.