Kaufman Astoria Studios Photo: istock
June 10, 2016 By Michael Florio
Kaufman Astoria Studios continues to expand, announcing yesterday that it will be constructing a 4-story building above its parking lot to house two new sound stages.
The studio, known for shows such as “Sesame Street” and “Orange is the New Black,” plans to build on the parking lot located on the corner of 34th Avenue and 36th Street.
The building will house two stages measuring 15,000 and 8,500 square feet, as well as offices on the higher floors and an underground parking garage.
The building will take the total number of stages at the facility to 12.
Kaufman Astoria expects to break ground this fall, with construction expected to take 18 to 24 months.
“There is no better place to make a movie or TV show than New York City,” said Hal Rosenbluth, President and CEO of Kaufman Astoria Studios.
“With the tremendous growth of the entertainment industry here, our stages are constantly occupied,” he added.
This announcement comes a day after Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the Museum of the Moving Image to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the City’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting.
Since its inception, the Office has overseen enormous growth in the industry – bringing in nearly $9 billion to the City last year – with this past season shattering records for film and television production.
“This landmark anniversary is an opportunity to look back and delight in all of the incredible cultural moments that the entertainment industry here in New York has made possible,” de Blasio said.
Alicia Keys, Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal joined de Blasio.
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3 Comments
No more de-mapping streets, we need our streets! I think it’s great they are making more jobs and fixing the look of the area.
They are converting a corner property that used to be a gas station and now sort of a derelict looking parking lot into a building that will create jobs in the community and more activity in the area.
No need to de-map any more streets.
To me it seems like a win for both the studio and for the community.
Since it was a former gas station they probably have to do some extra environmental cleanup – another win for the neighborhood.
Are they going to de-map another street and use it as a flea market? And can we do something about their 18 wheel trucks they drive on the sidewalk?