Innovation QNS charts path forward after positive public hearing

A public meeting for feedback on the proposed construction of mixed-use hub Innovation QNS remained largely positive. Rendering courtesy of Innovation QNS

BY Rachel Vick

Queens residents spoke out in overwhelming support at a City Planning Scoping Meeting for Innovation QNS, a proposed mixed use development in Astoria, on Monday. 

Dozens of local residents, community organizations and businesses offered their support for the new development and a rezoning as a catalyst for revitalizing the area. 

“At a time when Queens restaurants, shops, boutiques and other small and medium sized businesses are struggling to recover from a year of shutdowns and reduced business, Innovation QNS presents our borough with an excellent opportunity… providing a much needed lifeline to small businesses at a time when public resources just cannot meet the need for relief,” said Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Grech. 

The development planned for a five block radius from 37th Street to Northern Boulevard/43rd Street between 35th and 36th Avenues is led by Larry Silverstein and Kaufman Studios. The developers expect the project to be completed by 2032.

It will include open space, 2,700 units of mixed-income housing — with 25 percent designated as affordable housing units at 60 percent of the Average Median income — 200,000 square feet of retail space and underground parking. The developers say the project would create 1,700 permanent jobs and 3,700 construction jobs.

Carl Goodman, executive director of the Museum of the Moving Image expressed support for the benefits of the project and said he likely wouldn't offer the same support if it weren't for the studio’s hand in the process, a sentiment echoed by other speakers.

“We would be hesitant to support this as presented if it were not led by Kaufman Astoria Studios,” Goodman said, touting donations made by the group and its support for the Queens arts community. “Their commitment to all of us is not lip service you would hear from other developer groups.”

He described the approach as “synergistic,” touting plans for establishing a MoMI presence in the space and partnership with other local institutions.

Alongside MoMI, a number of the outspoken supporters, including the Astoria Film Festival and LGBT Network, are frequent partners with Kaufman Astoria Studios. 

Every speaker for the first 90 minutes of testimony was in favor of the project — a response that opponents say was no coincidence.

Laura Shepard, a Community Board 2 member speaking as an individual, said she only found out about the hearing just before it started and expressed concern for the transparency of the project. She said Neither Community Board 1 or 2 was notified about Monday’s meeting.

“I find it deeply problematic that this meeting so far has been... stacked by developers and filled with supporters when I know that's not the sentiment of many of my neighbors,” Shepard said. “Many people are struggling, considering moving away; there's a lack of transparency.”