52-16 Roosevelt Ave. as seen in July 2018. (Google Maps)
March 12, 2019 By Nathaly Pesantez
Yet another new building is in the works for Roosevelt Avenue in an area with several developments already in the pipeline.
Plans were filed last week for a six-story building at 52-16 Roosevelt Ave., a site mid-block between 52nd and 53rd Streets that today sees a vacant two-story building once housing former Council Member Eric Gioia’s offices and a small shed toward the rear of the lot.
The new building would span about 16,600 square feet, and includes 10 units along with commercial and community facility space on the ground floors.
52-16 property outline as seen from above. (Google Maps/QueensPost)
The residential areas begin on the second floor, with three units held on each floor. The top floor, however, would only have one apartment.
The project’s developer is listed under a “5216 Roosevelt Ave” LLC, which purchased the property in late 2018 for $2.2 million, according to city records.
The property was previously owned by the Gioia family, which also owned the longtime Nunziato Florists shop one block away before selling the property late last year, too. Both properties were in their possession for decades.
Demolition filings have yet to be put through for the mid-block site, although the former flower shop location, along with two other adjacent properties, are set to be demolished for a single seven-story building spanning the lots.
The 52-16 Roosevelt Ave. site is also next to the corner development site at 53rd Street, which is also slated to see a six-story building. The former three-story building there was demolished last year.
The latest new building filing is another in the development hotbed that is the Woodside/Sunnyside border. Last year, plans were filed for a nine-story building at the corner of 51st Street and Queens Boulevard. A six-story project, also filed for last year, is planned on 52nd Street between Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue.
The former J & Sons Supply building on the corner of 51st Street and Roosevelt Avenue was also demolished last year after a developer purchased the property for $15 million, although it is still unclear what will be built on site.
