Clothing shops are much needed. Variety stores to reflect a more expansive monetary bracket, lots of boutiques.

Yes

It depends who you’re aiming to inhabit these spaces. If you’re trying to bring affluence into the neighborhood by insulating both them & the existing communities, that is misguided & dishonest. If you want to enhance & expand the present community , it’s pleasantly optimistic. However, in my experience developers don’t come in with magnanimous intentions.

After school STEM programs for children

Support for our businesses & cultural institutions

I’d love to see of varietal local brick & mortar shops reflecting the diversity of the community. I’m here since the late sixties & have experienced the ebb & flow of the economy play out on the commercial areas of Astoria. When the economy is weak, the first stores to abandon this area are the big national brands, leaving the rest of astoria flailing. Hence, the massive influx of eateries. While that’s good, people from outside who came to shop for everything, considering Astoria as somewhat of a Mecca for well priced items, no longer come. So people don’t come for merchandise, so they don’t come to eat as well. We need to create a balanced commercial community that attracts people from everywhere to experience the diversity of this town and all its goods.