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Hey Michael, do you realize that this project is just going to replace a bunch of under utilized warehouse space and replace it with hundreds of affordable apartments? I doubt it will adversely affect the rent of any existing tenants and might actually reduce some existing rents in older buildings due to the influx of thousands of new apartments. Seems like a win-win.

Lacey Gibbs
Hi everyone, I'm Lacey and im a black woman business owner with a first class cleaning company. I live in Queensbridge and this project will change my life and the lives of my workers. #queensbrigebusines

Jeremy Welsh-Loveman
Than change the scale of the neighborhood. This location is a 20 minute subway ride from one of the largest central business districts in the world, it should be much denser with more housing and office space.

Steinway Street used to be a shopping destination but isn't anymore. Injecting new retail, especially in the part of Steinway that currently has almost zero retail might make all of Steinway a shopping destination again. Since the south part of Steinway has easier access to subways, more people will be coming by mass transit and after they arrive and shop they'll be looking for places to eat throughout the neighborhood.
Seems like a big win to me.

The problem with the current plan regarding open space is that the open space is clustered on the north part of the project. Sunlight will be fine in the summertime but other months the lawns and playgrounds will be in the shadows of the new buildings. If you really wanted to provide year round usable public space you'd flip the project so open spaces are towards the south.

Life is short Tricia, if it is something you love and you think you can make a living doing what you love there is no point in waiting. Just do it.

Chris Novich
Housing will. BE affordable after this unfortunate year. For some time after the city opens back up as well. What we need now is not long term goals, but to OPEN THE CITY BACK UP. Small biz in Astoria has suffered needlessly under the guidelines of DeBlasio. And it’s not been helped at all by the Instagrammical Ideological rantings of Ocasio Cortez who is only using this district as a stepping stone; little else. Clean up and revitalize Steinway Street—start with lessening restrictions. Give tax breaks/ huge incentives to SMALL businesses and only limited incentives to large corporations. Small business is the back bone of this neighborhood. Was long before the large chains moved in. Small biz also supplies more satisfying jobs and community. Affordable housing? We are bracketed by projects, have been since forever. Let’s try cleaning up the heroin problem in the area. The nearby half way houses have not helped this. DeBlasio needs to forego his ‘non bail’ idiocy and get tougher on THAT sort of crime. Start with small solutions first; then let’s start saving for long term neighborhood development. I’m THIS close to starting a volunteer clean up crew for all the random plastic/garbage/rubbish that is incessantly blowing through our streets. How about funding for that?

There goes Mike R chanting the mythical tax break mantra. As far as I can tell there won't be any tax breaks here. All the developers are asking for is to rezone dilapidated industrial and warehouse property so it can build apartments (many affordable), new retail space and open/community spaces.
Terribly sorry if it offends you that the developers who are risking huge amounts of up-front money might make a profit in 5-10 years at the end of all this effort.

A small theater that could be used on a rotating basis by local theater groups as well as by kids at the nearby elementary and middle schools.

Yes

I see lots of new dog owners in the neighborhood over the past 4-5 years so a dog run for the pups and some places for people of all ages to sit in the sunshine for a few minutes would be nice.

After school STEM programs for children

New public revenue that doesn't raise taxes

This is a silly question. Who in their right mind would not support job creation, affordable housing and open space? Oh, council member Jimmy Van Bramer doesn't seem to like ANY of those things.

Smitty McGiver
Have you ever visited the neighborhood? There are at least 6 Spanish restaurants on 36 Ave between Northern Blvd and the subway on 31 St. They range from Spanish(Spain) to Venezuelan, Columbian, and Ecuadorian and from simple and less expensive to somewhat elegant and fairly expensive. Some are within 30 seconds walk from the proposed innovation qns project. I invite you to visit the neighborhood next time you are in town.

Rosemare Dupree
This project would be nice for the area. The daycare sounds nice. A playground would be good.

Good one Rosemare. Neighborhood is lacking in daycare choices and the proposed enlarged and re-vamped playground on Steinway and 35th Ave looks great.