You are reading

Warehouse Building on Astoria Waterfront Likely to be Bulldozed, Replaced by Condo Development

A real estate developer has bought a warehouse building on Vernon Boulevard (pictured) for $25 million, city records show. The warehouse is expected to be demolished and a condo tower is likely to replace it (GMaps)

Aug. 31, 2022 By Christian Murray

A large warehouse building on Vernon Boulevard is likely to face the wrecking ball and be replaced by a condo development.

The property, located at 30-55 Vernon Blvd., is currently home to a 2-story 1960s warehouse and was recently bought by Sunlight Development, a Brooklyn-based construction company, for $25 million. The site is one of the last large scale development parcels left on the Astoria waterfront.

The site, which covers an entire block between 30th Drive and 30th Road, is located near the Astoria ferry terminal and is surrounded by a number of new developments.

The deal was brokered by RIPCO Real Estate and closed Aug. 25. The transaction represented a handsome payday for the sellers Pioneer Property Group and Vernon-Sutton Inc. They purchased the site in 2013 for $8.2 million, city records show.

Stephen Preuss, vice chairman of investment sales for RIPCO, said that Sunlight plans to construct a condo development that could be up to 91,000 square feet. However, he is unsure as to what the exact plans entail.

Preuss said that many developers now favor building condos as opposed to rentals—since the expiration of the 421-tax abatement program in June. The program provided handsome real estate tax benefits to developers of rental buildings in designated areas such as western Queens. The program, however, excluded luxury condo buildings.

“With the lack of the 421-A tax abatement in NYC, developers are focusing on project sites that can be built for condominium projects,” Preuss said. “The sale of 30-55 Vernon Boulevard is an example of a trend the outer boroughs are currently seeing.”

Building plans and demolition permits have yet to be filed.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

7 Comments

Click for Comments 
Sara Ross

I’m in Forest Hills and they knock down blocks of stores to building high rise apartment buildings that once finished, are empty. Community Boards and local politicians are a waste of air, time and space and do nothing for the neighborhoods they represent. It’s disgusting. Plus most times, the developers aren’t even from this country and don’t even live in NYC – they’re in Westchester or Connecticut in $1M homes.

Reply
Anonymous

Anything will be better than the dilapidated warehouse that’s there now, surrounded by dog poop.

6
6
Reply
Anonymous

I was just thinking that what Astoria really needs is more ugly glass and steel luxury high rises that sit empty because nobody can afford them…

5
4
Reply
Who Me

I don’t understand why the news are saying there is a lack of apartments in nyc. Astoria is half vacant with apartments. Who the hell wants to pay 3k for a 1 bedroom with a view of a dirty train driving by every minute. And lehoodie James waiting to stab you downstairs.

10
3
Reply
Rob

Half vacant? I didn’t realize we had a 50% vacancy rate! Please get your facts before making assertions like that.

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Catch the fall vibe at these western Queens breweries

Sep. 3, 2025 By Jessica Militello

September rings in the start of Oktoberfest from mid-September through October, featuring special brews, fun events and more fall fun. Western Queens is filled with breweries to enjoy seasonal brews, fall flavors and the start of cooler weather as Autumn approaches, making it a perfect time to meet up with friends at these local spaces.

Op-Ed | Four years after Hurricane Ida, Queens deserves real climate resilience

Sep. 2, 2025 By Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas

Four years ago, Hurricane Ida tore through our neighborhoods of East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights, leaving behind devastation we will never forget. We lost neighbors to the floodwaters. Families saw their homes destroyed, their basements wiped out, their lives upended. Immigrant families—so many of them undocumented—were hit the hardest, often excluded from relief altogether. Ida was not just a storm; it was a wake-up call.

Fall fun in western Queens: Your guide to the best seasonal events

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With beach days and summer BBQs behind us, the start of September rings in the start of magnificent Fall foliage, Halloween and more fun activities that come with the start of Autumn, including a list of Fall events in the area. From apple picking to seasonal ciders and more, there is tons to explore in the community. From Mystic Markets to scary movie meet-ups and more, here is a list of Fall events you do not want to miss.

Astoria doctor sentenced to more than two decades in prison for rape and sexual abuse: DA

An Astoria doctor was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Thursday in Queens Supreme Court for raping unconscious acquaintances and sexually abusing hospital patients.

Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 35, of Broadway, pleaded guilty on June 30 to four counts of rape in the first degree and three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree in satisfaction of the consolidated indictments against him. He additionally entered an Alford plea to one count of sexual abuse. The defendant — a former gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital — recorded the abuse of his unconscious victims with his cell phone in both his Astoria apartment and at the hospital.