Queens Borough hearing reviews 13‑story, 100% affordable senior building and related rezoning in Astoria

The Queens Borough President’s land use public hearing reviewed a proposed 13‑story senior affordable housing development and related zoning changes in Astoria, officials and the development team said Tuesday.

Vicki Garvey, director of land use for Borough President Donovan Richards, opened the hearing and invited the applicant, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, to present the project. "This project certified into U LRP on April 7, and we presented at the Queen's, Community Board, One's public hearing on May 20," said Annabelle Manier, identified in the presentation as a senior planner with HPD’s Queens and Staten Island planning team.

The development team said the project would deliver a 13‑story building with 167 deeply affordable senior housing units, a single two‑bedroom superintendent unit, on‑site services and a separate three‑story community facility. Richard Ross, introduced as director of housing development at Hennig, said the building would include 132 studios and 35 one‑bedroom apartments and that "a 100% of our units will be available to seniors earning up to 50% of the area median income, up to $62,150 a year in income for a family of 2." He added that 30% of units would be set aside for formerly homeless seniors, 5% for mobility‑impaired residents and 2% for hearing and…