Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Rendering of New Austin St. Store

Thanks to Michael Perlman who posted a link on the blog's Facebook page to this rendering of the new building going into where that bridal store, Alexandra Boutique, used to be on Austin St. Wondering if this is the site of the future H&M store someone commented about here a week or so ago?

Oh, and by the way, Bareburger is expanding into the former Bus Stop location next door, which they tell me should be open sometime in September.


51 comments:

  1. finally, something that looks like it was built in this century

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  2. If true, this is awesome.

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  3. I have mixed feelings about this. While it's great we have legitimate retailers coming in and love that the inside of the store would be modern, but really wish they would keep to the old school/brick facade look which is part of the charm of the only parts of the neighborhood which are, I guess, charming.

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    1. I agree. I love how Martha's/Flying Pig facade looks and kinda wish they'd keep the rest of the area looking the same.

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  4. I agree with the last poster. I'm not usually mixed with feelings when it comes to modernization (I'm totally up for the new building on Queens Blvd), but this building style is reminiscent of what Astoria's Steinway Street. And if anyone knows Steinway Street, they know it't been looking a little dirty with the random scattered newer building mixed in with the old. Do one or the other. When its mixed with glass buildings and tudor-styled house, it starts to look a bit messy

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    1. Sorry for the all the misspellings, I haven't had my coffee yet :(

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  5. It's a shame that we don't have "rules" in place on Austin Street in regards to what changes can and cannot be made to the storefronts. My heart broke when they took down the beautiful art-deco facade of what was once Woolworth's and put up that Rite Aid mess.

    Plenty of communities have storefront requirements that Merchants need to adhere to, in an effort to preserve a level of cohesiveness within a community.

    Shame on Forest Hills for not taking a more pro-active stance.

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    1. I agree! Something needs to be done. I wasn't here for the Rite Aide sign but there have been some notable down grades in the last few years. ..

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    2. I agree too. Would be great for FoHi to maintain some of its architectural character, or at least what's left of it! I think an ultramodern glass and steel building is more appropriate in Manhattan than in a residential area like ours.

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    3. I think that the town fathers/mothers should have taken more care that the façade of the retail stores had to keep the flavor and character that they've had since the 50's. I'm all for progress and seeing big name retailers come to the street however the charm of Austin Street will forever be lost. I moved from Forest Hills to Princeton, NJ. The store fronts had to pass an architectural review committee before they could be modified. Even Burger King which came to Nassau Street in Princeton had to conform to the feeling of the street and town before they were given the green light to go into business in town.

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    4. I don't know who the "town" father and mothers you refer to would be? Rudy Giuliani, Ed Koch, Mike Bloomberg, et al? The first challenge here would be this is not a town. It's part of a city.

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  6. An H&M would be amazing! Although maybe not such a good thing for those of that live really close and would be tempted to go there like every day lol!!!

    However it would be nice if they would keep the old Forest Hills decor instead of making it ultra modern. I don't like that a lot of the original store fronts are being replaced. Like that deli right next door. . . hideous!

    Generally speaking, I am afraid that the neighborhood is losing some of its charm.

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    1. An H & M would be ridiculous. Way too high-volume for an area without parking.

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  7. I'm really sick of seeing these glass boxes pop up everywhere.

    I don't understand these "architects" who design these things. What ever happened to creativity?

    I don't want to see H&M in our neighborhood either. My fear is that Austin St will turn into Steinway/Jamaica av/Flatbush av/34th Street.....one giant mall street. =(

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  8. Whole Foods on the first floor (opening March '14) and Apple on the upper floor (opening May' 14).
    Very exciting news!

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    1. wishful thinking....

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    2. We are talking about 2 medium size storefronts. Neither H&M nor Wholefoods would consider this site even if it were built up. Where would deliveries be made.? No access to rear of building, narrow sidewalk, etc. Have you ever been to a Wholefoods or H&M?.

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    3. Love your sense of humor, OP.

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  9. I was mistaken, Fairway is taking the ground floor.

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  10. Current building could be modernized by turning it into what the neighboring building is like, but it looks like they figure that the structure will be larger and fit in additional space and people can view it better from the outside and so it is more inline with what customer demands are and in the end more rent $$$$$$.

    The current ground floor is a horrible old design. Surprised it lasted this long. All the tenants on the ground floor are out already, not sure about the upper portion however.

    Good riddance.

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  11. Austin Street: Like Steinway Street, but with less stores selling basketball-inspired fashion.

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    1. What an insult. Austin is classy, Steinway has a Goodwill Store, Salvation Army and a bunch of cheap clothing stores comparable to those found in Jamaica.

      It would be nice if Austin had some of the quirky and delicious food Astoria is known for, and throw the rest out. Austin could be better compared to an area like 31st Street and Ditmars Blvd, at least that area is cleaner.

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  12. I checked the permits but only saw sidewalk shed and fence listed. No plans for any other changes.

    I hate to burst the bubble, but the permits seem to just be for the ground floor level to redo it.

    The ground floor at a minimum needs to be redone but if it turns out to be a total building redesign so be it.

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    1. Well then some workers must have gotten carried away with their work because they've gutted the entire second floor.

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    2. Indeed the entire second floor was gutted including the roof indicating a major renovation.

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  13. Looks like they are doing a renovation job. they'll keep the structure, strip off the facade a put up curtain wall. The design sucks for the rest of the look of the block.

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  14. "Well then some workers must have gotten carried away with their work because they've gutted the entire second floor."

    They did? I didn't see the structure. Was at bareburger a long time ago, when my credit card was pending with the wrong amount charged.

    Last time I went down that section someone asked me for change. There are aggressive panhandlers down that side. Not against new stores or structures. The problem is there are panhandlers walking the streets and you need to be careful.

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    1. I am in that area every day and have never been approached by a panhandler on that part of Austin Street. Panhandlers actually seem to be nearer the Austin/Continental intersection.

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  15. The existing structure was an eyesore especially on the ground floor however. The upstairs portion could have been saved and they could have put in new windows just like the property next to it.

    Expanded bareburger + a new construction there will definitely make that section nicer.

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  16. It is behind where the Windsor is and is on the main Austin Street drag. So it is a quality location. Probably will sell clothing or something.

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  17. This looks like an Apple store, both levels. I hope I'm right!

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  18. No it isn't an Apple Store. If you want the Apple store hitch a ride to Manhattan. It isn't like it is that far away.

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    1. Then why do people who live in Manhattan act like Queens is as far away as Timbuktu?

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    2. Oh yes, and why do people in Nassau & Suffolk counties treat a visit to Queens like a trip to some exotic foreign land?

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  19. Never know though. :-)

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  20. Since everyone wants an Apple store, would an Apple reseller here count if I rented a location?

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  21. I can provide BETTER support than Apple.

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  22. Why do people want an Apple store. I LOVE Apple, and I could care less for the store on Austin Street. Once you buy the new Macbook or iPod, why would you care for the space until the new device comes out? Bring something that can provide goods on a consistent basis, not an Apple Museum (again, coming from an Apple fanboy). Keep those in the city where they belong. :o)

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  23. It's like those T-Mobile stores. Once you buy your phone, you're good for two years. Why waste a perfectly good space.

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  24. I saw a "for rent" sign in laytners window

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  25. My friend noticed that about a week ago and found out that they'll be keeping their doors open thru the end of the year. Then it's bye-bye.

    That's a shame. There's just no place in the neighborhood to get household goods. With that said, never saw a huge flow of traffic so not really a surprise. Sad never the less.

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    1. That is very sad. As much as I love getting more and more great bars and restaurants, we do need some practical stores as well for those of us that actually live in the area.

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  26. Hagen Daz also has a for rent sign.

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  27. Business always come and go and new facades and construction when necessary will come along with it.

    Just a never ending cycle.

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  28. A friend had spoke to the owner of the building about a month or two ago and he was saying he wanted to have retail/stores on the bottom and maybe apartments on top...

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  29. The eastern end of Austin Street sees much lighter foot traffic than west of Continental Av. Perhaps an H&M will change this. Who knows....

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  30. There is room down by Eddie Bauer that might better accommodate an H&M!

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  31. I'd like to see a really good New American concept restaurant open up in Forest Hills. One that focuses on using local ingredients and specializes in farm-to-table. I think it could be good competition for Danny Brown. I know Flying Pig markets itself as this type of a restaurant, but I haven't tried it yet so I can't comment on it.
    I would really like to see Common Space and EXO Cafe go so that we can have more fine dining options in the Hills.

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  32. Exo & Common Space don't have to leave so we can have a nice New American restaurant, I think they can coexist. If we get destination type stores like H&M or whatever is taking up that big space, more hungry people with spending money will be around to support the variety of restaurants.

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