The Durst Organization, in partnership with the city, opened new affordable housing units on Halletts Point. Douglas Durst, chairman of The Durst Organization, stated the following at the ribbon-cutting ceremony,  “New York City is facing a housing crisis. We need to build more homes.” Jonathan Gouveia, NYCHA Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development said“NYCHA is proud to be in partnership with the Durst Organization, Mayor Adams, the City of New York, Astoria residents and all local elected leaders, who worked hard to bring this quality 100 percent affordable housing development to fruition,” The site, on NYCHA’s Astoria Houses, former parking lot, is located at 3-24 27th Avenue and features 163 apartments for NYCHA tenants, formerly homeless households, and locals from the surrounding community. The 14-story building also contains a fitness room, tenant lounge, and laundry room. The partnership has also brought improvements to the Astoria Houses, such as modifications to the heating plant and public spaces, as well as the establishment of the peninsula’s first full-service supermarket. Monthly rents range from $665 for studios and $1,601 for two bedrooms.  

The post The Durst Organization Partner with the City for Affordable Housing on Halletts Point appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

Wildflower Studios, an Astoria film studio backed by Robert de Niro and his son Raphael De Niro, nears its completion. On February 16th, 2023, development firms, construction workers, and various officials, including Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Urban  Upbound Director Bishop Mitchel Taylor (Also, OANA Board Member) gathered next to the historic Steinway & Sons piano factory on 19th Street to celebrate the installation of the final beam. Wildflower Studios is the third movie studio in the area, joining Silvercup Studios in Long Island City and Kaufman Astoria Studios in Astoria. “We’re going to attract all of the film industry,” Adams said. “To hell with California.” The $600 million studio village will feature 11 sound stages and additional production space. It is also expected to open to film and television production 2024. “We often have this slogan – ‘Queens get the money,’ but today it’s ‘Queens get the De Niro,’” Richards said. The Astoria film studio was first pitched to the local community in 2019. Since then, Wildflower purchased the lot from Steinway & Sons for around $70 million in February 2020. The piano factory will continue to occupy about half of the building. Foundations for the studio began in 2020, and its approval by the Queens Community Board 1 the following year. The studio village will feature a carpentry studio, dressing rooms, offices, and a commissary. “We have a little bit of an affinity for this part of Queens… we’re excited to be doing this project given what the city has gone through over the past 18 months; we think the timing couldn’t be better in terms of job creation,” Raphael De Niro told the community board in 2021. Despite its overwhelming support from local officials, Wildflower found itself in a difficult situation last...

Continue Reading

The post Astoria Film Studio Nears Completion appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

The city’s Department of Transportation will be expanding its on-street carshare program after the pilot’s positive results. Approximately 80 new curbside parking spaces for the carshare program are being installed in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. These new parking spaces will supplement the current 230 curbside carshare parking locations that were installed as part of the pilot program that began in 2018. According to the DOT, the pilot reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 7%, and vehicle miles traveled by 6%. Research conducted through customer surveys also determined that, for every one-car shared vehicle, four personal vehicles were either not purchased or sold. In total, 160,000 trips were made during the length of the pilot, with an average of 24 trips per month. DOT Commissioner Rodriguez stated the following words in a statement, “We now have the proof that convenient access to carshare frees New Yorkers from the burden of car ownership – while helping to fight climate change,” He continued, “Soon more New Yorkers will have access to a vehicle when required – no need to sign an expensive lease or to fret about finding a parking space.” DOT’s original pilot program was launched in 2018, with a goal of 300 spaces in on-street parking spaces and in DOT-managed public lots. The 80 new parking spots will bring the program to its original goal. Curbside carshare spaces were installed in the Pelham Bay and Westchester Square sections of The Bronx and Bay Ridge, and Bushwick, Brownsville, and Sunset Park, in Brooklyn in the week of February 7th. Spaces in Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Long Island City, and Woodside, in Queens will be placed this week. For information on precise carshare parking locations being installed this month, please visit the DOT website. Old Astoria (Part of Community Board 1) will not...

Continue Reading

The post NYC Department of Transportation Expanding its On-Street Carshare Program appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

OANA Board Members Richard Khuzami and Jaime-Faye Bean were invited to participate in a tour of the new LaGuardia Airport Terminal “C”, which has been in operation for a few months. It is almost complete, with 2 concourses remaining. We were extremely impressed with the design, artwork, circulation patterns, and the bright spacious feeling we all felt. Delta Airlines financed and constructed this great facility with assistance from the NY/NJ Port Authority. When complete, the New LaGuardia will be finalized. This beautiful state-of-the-art airport can be viewed with pride by all New Yorkers, a great step forward from the original airport. Read here for more information on the airport design, facilities and structure.

The post The New LaGuardia Airport: Terminal C Tour! appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

City Hall established a Task Force with relevant City agencies to discuss the overnight truck commercial vehicle parking in NYC and to devise potential solutions. New York City has existing regulations prohibiting commercial vehicles from parking on residential streets overnight. However, with the increased use of freight and expected industry growth, the city needs to re-examine the trends and data and come up with sustainable and long-term solutions. As always, there is a delicate balance between the needs of residents and the commercial interests that drive our economy. Consequently, the city issued a survey that seeks input from community members on both the extent of this issue and its potential solutions. With residents’ input, the city can accurately assess the current situation and create solutions to these persistent problems. Community members’ responses are critical to helping inform and guide our next steps. PLEASE take a few minutes to fill out the survey. We cannot expect the city to come up with legitimate solutions without the needed input. The survey will close on February 24th.

The post Overnight Truck Parking Survey appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

The Cancer Services Program Queens is offering no-cost mobile mammogram for uninsured women in Queens during February. Screenings are available at specific dates and locations. To schedule your appointment, please call 1-877-628-9090. Sunday, February 19, 2023, is hosted by The Ismaili Center Location: 92-68 Queens Blvd Rego Park, NY 11374 9:00 am– 4:30 pm Tuesday, February 21, 2023, is hosted by the Korean Presbyterian Church of Bayside Location: 4562 211th Street Bayside, NY 11361 9:00 am– 4:30 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2023, is hosted by Community Healthcare Network Location: 36-11 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11106 9:00 am – 4:30 pm The Cancer Services Program Queens also provides breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings to uninsured men and women regardless of immigration status. Breast and Cervical cancer screening are available for eligible uninsured women 40+ years of age. Colon cancer screening available for eligible uninsured men and women 45+ years of age.

The post No-cost Mobile Mammogram for Uninsured Queens Women in the Month of February appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 14-43 31st Avenue, located in Astoria, Queens. Designed by Michael Karantinidis, the five-story residential building will yield 21 residences and 12 parking spaces. Seven units are available for residents at NYC Housing Connect at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), which ranges from $98,503 to $156,130. Three studios are available with a monthly rent of $2,873 for income ranging from $98,503 to $138,840, and four one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $3,068 for income ranging from $105,189 to $156,130. The edifice includes amenities like a garage, a shared laundry room, storage, and an elevator. Each unit features intercoms, dishwashers, name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. A few residences have private outdoor space. Renters are responsible for electricity and gas, which includes heat, hot water, and stovetop. Potential renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for residential units. Applications will be received until February 22, 2023, and can either be postmarked or submitted online.

The post Affordable Housing Lottery has Launched for 14-43 31st Ave. in Astoria appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

OANA is a strong supporter of our small businesses. We all know that the Astoria Business Districts are our lifeblood, and define our neighborhoods. So we have some important information to share. On January 23, Mayor Eric Adams announced the creation of a $75 million program providing low-interest loans for small businesses in the five boroughs. The NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund will provide around 1,500 businesses with loans of up to $250,000 at a fixed 4% interest rate, aimed at increasing access to capital for businesses in BIPOC and immigrant communities. “Small businesses kept us going through the pandemic, and they are leading the way during our economic recovery,” Mayor Adams said in a statement. “Now, we are giving back with the NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund.” Funding for the program comes from a public-private partnership between the city, Goldman Sachs, MasterCard, the Community Reinvestment Fund, and local community development financial institutions. Asahi Pompey, Goldman Sachs’ global head of corporate engagement, described the banking firm’s partnership as “a good investment.” “That’s the reason that we are committing our capital — both our commercial capital and our philanthropic capital — to meet the needs of New York City’s small businesses,” she said. “Time and time again, our surveys find that flexible capital is what they need. That is their consistent challenge — especially business owners of color.” Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Shamina Singh will also provide “assets and insights” for the initiative. “Our engagement with small businesses through our Strive program has shown us that enabling access to affordable capital is essential for creating long-term resilience, particularly for underserved businesses. We’re honored and eager to bring our assets and insights to this joint initiative, which recognizes not only the economic promise of supporting small...

Continue Reading

The post NYC Mayor Announces Low-interest Loans for Small Businesses in the Five Boroughs appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

If you are looking for ways to serve your community in local government, the community board is the right place for you. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. is now accepting applications from qualified, civic-minded individuals to serve on one of Queens’ 14 Community Boards. Board members will play a vital role of accessing land use proposals, zoning matters, and municipal service delivery. The Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. strongly encourages anyone interested in this public service role to apply by February 16. Please, click here to submit your application. All new applicants will receive a phone interview from a member of the Queens Borough Presidents Office. Upon completion of both the interview process and application review, candidates will be notified of a decision by April 1, 2023.

The post Queens Community Board Application 2023 appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

The Lewis Latimer House Museum (LLHM) is offering a unique opportunity for Queens writers of color, the Spring 2023 Memoir & Autobiographical Writing Workshop. Eight selected writers will receive full scholarships from LLHM to attend a 6-session workshop that focuses on themes of race and immigration. Applications for the event are due on January 22, 2023. The six-workshop sessions will be held online, starting on March 4, 2022. For more information about the workshop, please visit the Lewis Latimer House Museum website here.

The post Lewis Latimer House Museum Presents Fully Funded Opportunity to Queens Writers appeared first on OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.