Silvercup plans $1B complex

Silvercup Studios, already New York City’s largest film and television studio, announced plans for a major expansion dubbed Silvercup West for the area just south of the Queensboro Bridge.
The plans for the $1 billion complex feature eight new soundstage studios as part of a larger two million square foot complex containing an office tower, two high-rise apartment facilities and many different shops.
The plans, which were made public earlier this week, will now go before Community Board 2’s land use committee on March 15, and then a public hearing during the first week of April. After the public hearing, the board will pass on its recommendation to the Borough President’s office.
“We are very excited about the project, and we are excited for the public review process,” said Stuart Suna, who is building the project with his brother Alan.
Construction on the new facility could begin as early as 2006 with completion expected by the end of 2009.
Suna said that his team at Silvercup worked with City Planning for a number of years about designs for the project in order to come up with plans that will benefit all parties involved.
The eight new studios, which will be the first studios that Silvercup has built from the ground up, will be 16,000 square feet and give the studios the opportunity to expand their productions of television shows, films and commercials. The complex will also provide jobs to nearly 4,000 people.
Silvercup’s main lot comprises a total of 13 shooting stages on its Main Lot located at 42-22 22nd Street in Long Island City.
“We have plans to be on the waterfront for many, many years,” said Executive Vice President of Silvercup Studios Gary Kesner at a meeting at Queens College earlier this month.