(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
Sept. 23, 2019 By Allie Griffin
Developers have released the design plan and renderings for a $400 million production studio in Astoria, backed by the actor Robert De Niro.
Wildflower Studios, a 650,000-square-foot building, will takeover the site of the former Steinway & Sons piano storage facility at 87 19th Ave, located along the Steinway Creek.
The project’s developers — Wildflower Ltd.; Robert De Niro; his son and Douglas Elliman broker Raphael De Niro; and Jane Rosenthal — selected Bjarke Ingels Group to design the modern production hub which will house several open stages, open and private offices, lounges and production-support areas.
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
The development team called it “a hub for the creation of film, television, augmented reality, and virtual reality.”
Representatives of Wildflower Studios have been meeting with local officials and incorporating feedback into the proposal for months. Wildflower will provide parking, public water access, and land conservation areas for the neighborhood to enjoy.
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
The building plans will undergo public review–and go before the City Council– since the development team seeks height amendments. They aim to break ground next year.
“This studio is a testament to the strength and future of the New York film and television production industry,” Robert De Niro said in a statement. “Completion of this project ensures that future generations of producers, directors, writers, and storytellers will play a vital role in filmed entertainment in New York for years to come.”
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
The state-of-the-art facility is projected to create more than 1,000 daily union jobs.
“We view this project as an opportunity to transform not just how film and media are produced now and going forward, but also as an opportunity to transform how a content production facility engages its surrounding community and the world at large,” added Adam Gordon, managing partner at Wildflower Ltd.
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
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28 Comments
We stopped Amazon from encroaching our city with their false promises. Taking a millionaire like Robert DeNiro out will be easy enough! I can’t wait to make the signs. 🙂
Good keep building . Love patriotic actor for making my property values rise . Go Bobby!! Lol
Another Bjarke Ingels work of art! Beautiful structure! Can’t wait for it to open! So glad they chose this location.
“The state-of-the-art facility is projected to create more than 1,000 daily union jobs” with the majority of workers traveling by car or train. Goodbye Ditmars! What little peace was left will be gone.
Filming already takes place all over the city. Just because the studio is in this location does not mean that there’s going to be heavy traffic 2/4/365. Plenty of shows/films are done at Kaufman yet if you go to that neighborhood, there are no quality of life issues resulting from having the studio there. In fact, I think most people welcome it.
Eventually more development will follow in that area. 20th Ave is mostly old factories. Not sure if luxury apartments would want to be so close to Con Ed and the sewer plants. Will be interesting to see what will follow. I heard talk of a religious high school in the works on 46 th st. which is a center for now.
Right on the waterfront, I guess he is not worried about rising tides.
The NYC Council should make it a requirement to utilize Queens based architects and not starchitects.
1) No they shouldn’t.
2) Why would the NYC Council (that represents the whole City) insist that an architect be from only one of the five boroughs?
3) They’re not mutually exclusive. You can have a starchitect design the building and then hand it off to one of your precious Queens-based architects to be the architect of record to see the project through to completion.
I’m giving your post a Check-minus.
Your condescending tone is atrocious and negates any salient point you had to offer. Grow up.
Pfffft. OK, dad.
Also, I can’t help but notice that nowhere in your scolding did you offer up a counterpoint or argument against any of my well presented, eloquent points. So, I’m gonna chalk that up as a win for me.
Lastly, you violated the most important rule of using the c-word. Anytime you use the word “condescending” it must be followed up with “which means to talk down to someone”.
a developer takes the risk and builds so they can make money. they do not have to build. there are benefits and abatements to encourage and give incentive to the developer to take the risk and build.
if a worker living in affordable housing makes over a certain amount , they are put a higher bracket and have to pay a higher rent, that wipes out an income gain. some living in affordable then do not want to make more money because they are left with less money . the studio project will have 1000 jobs… lets find out what unions and lets join that union.
winston churchill said..you do not make the poor rich by making the rich poorer.
This is exactly what the neighborhood needs.
It really doesn’t affect the neighborhood. The Steinway Piano Factory is way back in the industrial area along the bay. There are few (if any) residential structures so they are just upgrading and repurposing an existing commercial space. If anything, it will certainly spruce up that area.
The neighborhood needs affordable housing not another movie studio . Kaufman studios are already in Astoria
We already have Ravenswood, Astoria Houses and Queensbridge. Enough already. Get a roommate.
And get ALL 3 out of the neighborhood.
As long as you go with them
Take a walk by 8th Street and Astoria Blvd. Let me know what you think.
No we DO NOT “need” affordable housing ? there are TWO enormous housing projects ALREADY located in Astoria.
The projects and affordable housing aren’t the same you dolts.
What are the projects if they aren’t affordable. The government provides an affordable place for people to live. What’s the difference? The projects are government owned and “affordable housing” is privately owned, but subsided by the government. Either way the government is provided housing.
We need more affordable housing for middle class workers. Please learn the difference between housing projects and the middle class blue collar workers who keep YOUR world in order.
Only 2 ?? Where are you living ? ??
It’s not even a better of what kind of housing; there is entirely Too Much Building in this neighborhood!Leave a little breathing space!!!
What is affordable ?
Give a number .
If the city closes Riker’s Island, it should be converted into affordable housing. A large majority of the people in prison there are from the housing projects anyway.
Awesome – think it is great development for that part of OUR neighborhood. Curious what the tax abatement is