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Small house to be demolished as development appears likely

Feb. 24, 2017 Staff Report

A local development firm filed permits to demolish a small one-family home in Astoria, presumably to put up a new residential complex.

According to Building Department records, AKI Development, a group with numerous other projects in Astoria, is looking to demolish the small house at 19-14 21st Road.

The company purchased the one-story building at the end of December for $1.9 million, according to city records.

The property stretches for 60 feet along 21st Road, and has about 6,900 square feet of space, according to the deed for the property.

AKI Development currently has four other residential projects in Astoria that it has either been completed or are underway, as well as an office located on 4th Street.

The company did not return a request for more information about their intended use for the property.

Rendering of AKI Development’s plan for 11 Welling Court in Astoria

email the author: news@queenspost.com

24 Comments

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family corner

i recently delivered food to that apartment the lady told me sorry for the wait i’m moving got a surprising call today this is a last minute thing they offered her money to buy her house & she took it was nice person but seemed alittle crazy ?

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Spiro

I grew up in Astoria and was priced out over 8 years ago. Moved to Whitestone and now bought a house in Suffolk county. Astoria was always on the move and I feel will always be a sought after location by both owners and renters. The prices are all relative to what’s going on in town. So if you want to live the Astoria or “city” lifestyle you should buck up the doe or move on and get something you can truly afford and be comfortable with.

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AstoriaRox

I’m not sure if you some of the people commenting currently live or have lived in Astoria, but I have lived here for over 4 years (in the more desireable areas near 30th ave and Broadway, between both train lines)

There are many upper middle class people moving here for various reasons.
There are also plenty of affordable older buildings (similar to Upper East Side but much larger space for your money) that are still available. However, any of the new developments (as of the last 10 years) you can only afford if you are upper middle class. A one bedroom in a newer building goes for $2.3k+ for rent and sells for over $600k. A 2 bedroom rents for $3.5k-$4k and sells for $1 million plus. People are developing more and more here because of tax abatements and changes to the zoning on certain streets where you can build “high-ish” buildings now. These apartments and condos are closing with an average of 35 days of being listed….

Astoria and LIC rents and condo prices are almost completely on-par. I’m in the process of moving to a larger condo and selling my one bedroom condo, so I know this for a fact as I’ve done tons of research. I thought I wanted to move to LIC, but there’s so much more to do in Astoria and it’s virtually the same price. I’m most likely going to stay in Astoria because you can get the luxury of LIC and Manhattan, and still have a neighborhood feel.

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jjwalker

Thats right! You have one person paying paying a ridiculous amount for a place (totally oblivious to the surrounding neighborhood) and another person living off food stamps and rental assistance all on the same block! Welcome to the new Astoria.

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Mg

How do building plans like this get approved ? Such buildings destroy a sense of neighbourhood and community.

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Yassss

I can imagine those approving these plans that are ruining our neighborhood are probably seeing some kind of a kickback

Reply
a

if you think our mayor cares about sense of neighborhood you are sorely mistaken. All he cares about is raising more tax dollars so that he can give more away and he can get re-elected. Worst mayor this city has ever seen.

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Anonymous

Jon dont pay elinita any attention, she obviously has no common sense. That has to be one of the dumbest comments ever. The post wants to censor mean spirited comments, how about censorship of stupidity

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elinita

“The company purchased the one-story building at the end of December for $1.9 million..” WOW! For a one family home kind of far from shopping and transit, that is a lot of money. I cant wait to sell mine in a couple of years to hopefully a developer! And move out of Astoria. Astoria is turning into a place for the very poor (who live in the older run down apts and homes) and those who can afford very high rent for a new place. Which middle class family can afford an old one family home for 1.9 million! I guess it pays to have a big lot.

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Jon

You only have to look at the data to realize Astoria is becoming a place for upper middle class professionals . It’s definitely not becoming a place for the poor .

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natas

There still are apts you can rent in older apts buildings or older homes (usually homes in which owners dont reside in) with Rental Assistance Programs in Astoria. It is obvious on some blocks/areas more than others. We also have the Astoria Housing Developments and such. However, you will only get these apts if your income is low enough and stays that way (considered living near or on the poverty level). You also have the shelters lol.

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hjku

Most renters in Astoria end up moving in a year or two. They usually cant afford or dont want to pay the higher rent in Manhattan, Brooklyn or LIC and that is why they choose Astoria. Also, i would not consider them “upper middle class.” Most home buyers are purchasing for the purposes of renovating, renting and making a profit and not for living here themselves. Older home owners are finding it harder and harder to rent to good working tentants without updates that are very costly for them.

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george

It’s getting to the point where property tax in Astoria/NYC are catching up to the suburbs! The small 2-3 family home owners are having a hard time paying them and trying to update their rentals. At least, that is what I hear from my Astoria neighbors and owners constantly!

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Astoria Resident

They have a LONG WAY to go before they catch up with the suburbs. I pay more in property taxes for a small 700 sq. foot cottage upstate worth maybe $80,000K then someone I know pays for a property in Queens worth $800,000.

jacky

Nowadays, the only people leaving a footprint for the future of Astoria are the developers (who are renting out) and mainly the middle eastern and north African communities (who are choosing to raise families, building schools and mosques and opening shops in Astoria/they are not a trend). Many older homeowners are struggling to pay taxes and bills. If you think Astoria is “upper middle class” then you should get out more often and visit Bayside, Jamaica Estates, Whitestone, Douglastan, etc.

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samm

“…Astoria is becoming a place for upper middle class professionals.” Are you making this assumption because of the amount people are being charged to pay for a new place in a development with a door man and quality amenities? Astoria is not considered “upscale.” Look around you, it is far from it and I am not trying to say this is something negative.

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Jon

I’m not sure what you mean by “look around”. The cost of real estate is increasing, the average income level of people moving to Astoria is increasing, the average education level of the people moving to Astoria is increasing.

Besides that, look at the types of places opening ( $20 plus plate restaurants, Yoga Studios, Coffee Shops) and look at what is closing; Dollar Stores, discount places, cheap food ..etc.

This is a trend seen over and over again. It is moving into being a upper middle class professions neighborhood. Williamsburg years ago had 1 fancy boutique surrounded by vacant buildings. Then it had two boutiques…now we know where that went.

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