By Joe Anuta
The city voted last week to approve the $1 billion Hallets Point project that is slated to bring nearly 2,000 residential units to the Astoria waterfront.
The City Planning Commission gave the green light Aug. 21 to send the plan, submitted by Lincoln Equities Group, to its final review in the City Council, which has 50 days to make a decision.
“We are very excited that the city has put a stamp of approval on our project and we look forward to continuing to talk to local officials and community members to make Hallets Point a reality. With new housing, shops and a waterfront esplanade, this transformational development will take a neighborhood that has been neglected for years and make it a destination for people from across the borough,” said Brad Groznik, spokesman for the project.
The mixed-use towers would share the peninsula with Astoria Houses and bring along much-needed amenities like a grocery store, retail and plans for a school in the process, according to the developer and representatives from the community, who have long complained about a sense of isolation.
Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) has said he is in support of the project, but would like to see transportation infrastructure like ferry service included to accommodate the influx of residents.
The residential towers would include 1,921 market-rate units, a few waterfront townhouses and 483 affordable units geared toward senior citizens, according to Lincoln Equities. A publicly accessible park would stretch along the coast as well.
The project is situated on 26th Avenue between the waterfront and as far east as 9th Street, and the Astoria Houses development is on the project’s south side.
Should lawmakers give their stamp of approval, the developer hopes to break ground next year.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
