Affordable Housing Plan Revives Waterfront
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Silvercup Studios is poised to build an expansion of its existing studio complex along the waterfront not far from where Borough President Helen Marshall cut the ribbon recently reopening Queensbridge Park following a $1.4 million renovation.

Plans to build 5,000 units of affordable housing along the East River waterfront in Long Island City, announced last week by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will go a long way toward completing development of the swath of land stretching north from Newtown Creek.

The 24 acres of land that will be purchased from the Port Authority to provide the site for the mayor's housing plan is joined on the north by the luxury residential housing already built as part of the Queens West development.

Above that point, Silvercup Studios is poised to build an expansion of its existing studio complex along the waterfront not far from where Borough President Helen Marshall cut the ribbon recently re-opening Queensbridge Park following a $1.4 million renovation. The mayor noted this in his announcement of the new affordable addition to the city's housing stock.

"The development of Queens West into a major affordable housing development with world-class open space and vibrant retail amenities will serve as an extraordinary component of our pursuit to create affordable housing throughout New York city and revitalize the waterfront in all five boroughs," the mayor declared.

Also emphasizing waterfront development, Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia stated: "The Queens West waterfront development has been an important investment for the region and its economic future for the past 21 years. This agreement will ensure that this project continues and is a win-win for the Port Authority, the city and the region."

Under the mayor's plan, up to 5,000 units of housing primarily designed to be affordable to families earning from $60,000 to $145,000 a year for a family of four, will be built on the southernmost portion of the Queens West development in Hunters Point, which starts around 50th Avenue.

The plan will also generate "vibrant retail amenities" while maintaining the existing commitments to public open space and waterfront access, the mayor added.

The city is purchasing the 24-acre site from the Port Authority for $100 million and will pay an additional $46 million for infrastructure and related costs at the site.

Bloomberg said the city will seek to acquire adjacent, privately owned sites to provide up to 1,500 additional housing units.

The units will rent for $1,200 to $2,500 per month and construction is expected to begin in 2008.

Citing the need for affordable, middle income housing, the mayor declared: "Middle-income families are facing housing affordability challenges as a result of New York's success, and we have to make strategic long-term investments to ensure that New Yorkers of all incomes can work and live in our city.We will work quickly to turn this into homes for thousands of teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses and other moderate and middle-income New Yorkers."

The site of the new housing was slated to be the Olympic Village if the city had become the host for the 2012 Olympics. Athletes would have lived in the complex and afterward, the housing would have been converted to middle income units.

Commenting on the mayor's plan, Councilmember Eric Gioia (D-Long Island City) stated, "This is one more example of how Long Island City is in the midst of a renaissance."

Gioia, who resides in one of the residential towers already constructed in Queens West, added, "For too long, our waterfront has been neglected and forgotten."

Also welcoming the new housing plan, Joseph Conley, chairman of Community Board 2, said he and other community leaders has urged the mayor to build middle-income housing to balance out the luxury towers that were going up.

Conley said, "We have the milliondollar views of Manhattan on the Queens side but, unfortunately, it was going to cost you a million dollars to move into Queens West."

The $2.8 billion Queens West project was started around 1984 and focused on cleaning up the abandoned waterfront. The Port Authority paid for much of the land acquisition costs, planning and infrastructure development. The Queens West site runs from Newtown Creek on the south to about 45th Avenue, where the Pepsi Cola plant and its huge sign were once a familiar landmark.

The first luxury towers in Long Island City, Queens West opened in 1997, followed by a second one in 2000. A third was built in 2005 and included a separate senior citizens' apartment house. This year, the fourth luxury rental building opened for occupancy.

Along with all the new residential construction, many homes along Vernon Boulevard have been renovated and many new restaurants and other businesses have opened as well.

Many of the waterfront sections have been built into esplanades with boardwalks for local residents. Plans call for similar developments along the riverside for its full length.