www.queenscourier.com • march 2013 • lic courier 11 COMMUNITY news Renderings Courtesy of NYC Mayor’s Offi ce Flickr BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO The fi rst shovelful of dirt was slung on what will be the city’s biggest new aff ordable housing complex since the 1970s. On Monday, March 4, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, public offi cials and representatives from fi rms involved in building Hunter’s Point South broke ground on the fi rst phase of construction that will bring the fi rst two residential buildings of the project to the Queens waterfront, with 925 permanently aff ordable apartments and around 17,000-squarefeet of retail space. In addition to the buildings, this phase will include a new five-acre waterfront park and a new school seating 1,100 students, almost near completion. “In just a few years, Hunter’s Point will have all the makings of a great community – aff ordable homes, new transportation links, beautiful parks with sweeping views and a brand-new school,” said Bloomberg. The plan evolved in Community Board 2 and came to be after the members put forth the idea to the mayor, who later acquired the land, said Joseph Conley, chairman. The residential buildings are expected to have a “well balanced” population of residents including low- to moderate-income families, senior citizens, city employees and people with disabilities, said Conley. “This ground breaking represents another milestone in the ongoing transformation of Hunter’s Point,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. “These two towers will be aff ordable to many who live and want to remain residents in western Queens.” After being hit hard by Sandy, the plans for the Hunter’s Point South waterfront include resiliency actions to safeguard the buildings from any future weather events. For example, according to the mayor’s offi ce, the buildings’ emergency generators will be located on the roof and the mechanical systems will be located on the second fl oor. One building will be located at 1-50 50th Avenue and the other at 1-55 Borden Avenue. The buildings are being designed by SHoP Architects and Ismael Leyva Architects and are expected to begin to be occupied in 2014, with full construction finalized in 2015. “Long Island City represents the future of New York City, and with projects like these, that future is a bright one,” said Van Bramer. LIC’s future RISING Ground broken on Hunter’s Point South project
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