Forest Hills Construction Site Pics

Snapped a couple of pics today of the demolition of what was the Party Store, Piu Bello and several smaller stores, across from MacDonald Park and the Post Office. See my previous post about the new building going up in this space.

Work Begins On New Forest Hills Building

I noticed they have begun doing work on the site of this future development across from MacDonald Park. Last I heard it is supposed to be an office building with some retail space as well, and parking.

Corner of Restaurant Row & Austin St.

The going-out-of-business signs caught my eye a couple of months ago and now things are really getting going: some big-time development going in at the corner of Austin Street and Restaurant Row. I know originally the yogurt place was supposed to be turned into some type of Mediterranean grill. Does anyone know if that is still what is happening? It sure would be one mammoth Mediterranean grill if so, since there are now two adjacent storefronts that are part of this development...

Breaking News: Austin St. Construction Update!

Well, it seems my post from last week (I can't believe a week has gone by already!) was rather timely. A few readers contacted me this week about these new plans for that exceedingly unpleasant hole-in-the-ground next to Bareburger on Austin St.!

Seven-Story, 21-Unit Mixed-Use Building Filed At 71-53 Austin Street, Forest Hills

Brooklyn-based Austin Prop LLC has filed applications for a seven-story, 21-unit mixed-use building at 71-53 Austin Street, in Forest Hills. The project would encompass 27,878 square feet and rise 70 feet in height.

Read more: New York YIMBY

Below is an old photo of the site, when plans still included another walk-in medical clinic (which had raised the ire, and scorn, of many of the Blog's readers!)

Austin Street Construction Site Update

We noticed that that big hole-in-the-ground construction site next to Bareburger has taken down its "Coming Soon: Urgent Care" sign. This is potentially a good "sign" for the neighborhood. I know many readers found it downright laughable that a third walk-in medical clinic was potentially in the offering for our main shopping thoroughfare. Especially when we have already lost one of our wonderful movie theaters to one, and an Italian restaurant to another!

I have no problem with a walk-in medical clinic, but do we really need three of them on our main shopping drag? Especially when there are so many great new shopping or eating establishments we could still use.

Below is what the site used to look like. The "Coming Soon ProHealth" sign has now been removed.

If I recall correctly, the original idea for this site, or at least the original rumored idea, was for it to become a clothing store like H&M.

Big Changes Coming to Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills

Finally, the long-awaited improvements are coming to our stretch of Queens Blvd.

Bike lanes, more space for pedestrians, hopefully some much-needed beautification, and a safer roadway in general for pedestrians.

Hey, anything will be an improvement for this inappropriate major thoroughfare that runs smack through a residential neighborhood.

Anything that makes it more pedestrian-friendly and slows down the nutty drivers as they race through our neighborhood is a long time in coming. This is New York City, after all. It's not Wichita. If you want to live the automobile lifestyle, I have a nice house in suburbia to sell you.

From DNA Info: Long-Awaited Queens Blvd. Revamp Coming to Forest Hills and Rego Park: City

And, while we're on the subject of Queens Blvd., there is an interesting proposal to revitalize the block near MacDonald Park. Just a proposal at this point, but boy would this be an improvement over what is at that location now.

8-Story Luxury Office Building Planned Near MacDonald Park in Forest Hills

New Building Planned for 72nd Road

According to New York Yimby.com:

New building applications have been filed to erect a seven-story, mixed-use building at 109-19 72nd Road, between Queens Boulevard and Austin Street. The development will replace four large houses, all of which had been altered so businesses could occupy the ground floors.
The 70-foot-tall building will host 46 apartments divided across 44,889 square feet, for nicely sized average units measuring 975 square feet. The apartments will be stacked on top of 8,280 square feet of retail, replacing some of the commercial space that will be demolished. Each of the upper floors will have eight units, except for the top floor, where there will only be six units.
A subterranean garage will have parking for 26 cars, which is slightly more than the zoning code requires.

The article ends with a really insightful comment about the Forest Hills area's current state of development—the struggle between development and those who want to maintain more of a "suburb-in-the-city" feel for Forest Hills.  And it comes down on the side of development, pointing out that Forest Hills has so much untapped potential as a hyper-connected neighborhood when it comes to public transportation in this part of Queens....

The rest of Forest Hills was downzoned twice during Mayor Bloomberg’s years in office, effectively preventing the construction of anything besides one- and two-family homes. The suburban-style zoning seems unfortunate because Forest Hills is attractive, safe, and still relatively affordable for condo and co-op buyers. The LIRR, as well E, F, M, and R trains, run through the neighborhood, making it one of the most accessible parts of central and eastern Queens.

Unfortunate, indeed.  While, as I've often written before, Forest Hills has improved by leaps and bounds when it comes to bars and restaurants since I first moved here like 15 years ago, there's still so much more room for improvement it, to coin a phrase from our most colorful presidential candidate, "can make your head spin."

Sterling Bank

I think someone had commented on this blog a while ago that Sterling Bank might be the next building up for redevelopment. I noticed these signs in the windows upstairs advertising office space. I can't confirm any plans to close the bank and develop the property, but I thought the fact that they're advertising for a new tenant may say something about any immediate plans or lack thereof. Or maybe it doesn't. Any way, food for thought.

From Candy to ... ?

Looks like something's coming in to that ideal corner location at Austin and 72nd Ave., formerly home to the candy store. Between this and the work going on at the former Bonfire Grill location further down, and the construction of the new building a little ways away (once planned to be another walk-in medical clinic, and now who knows?), a lot's going on all of a sudden. By the way, doesn't Reef look great now that the scaffolding has been removed? Which got me to thinking: how many years are they going to keep the scaffolding up  at the corner of Austin and 72nd Road, across from the church? It's been up there for like two or three years it seems. Isn't there a legal limit on these things? One of our neighborhood's most charming eateries, La Boulangerie, has had to put up with this ugly scaffolding for all of this time. It's a shame!!

Men's Wearhouse Renews Lease

--Fashion retailer renews lease at vibrant mixed-use property in Forest Hills--

A long-time staple at Muss Development LLC’s popular 7000 Austin Street property, fashion retailer Men’s Wearhouse has signed a long-term renewal to remain in its 6,300-square-foot space.

Other tenants at the 100 percent occupied property include retailers Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer, and T.G.I. Friday’s. In addition, two new office tenants went into occupancy in the building last year, adding to the expanding traffic and vitality of Forest Hills, with the influx of approximately 50new employees.

Allen Health Care, which provides placement and training services for healthcare professionals, occupies 16,215 on the second floor on a ten-year lease, while Bilinguals Inc., a provider of English and bilingual evaluations and therapeutic and education services to children, leased 15,390 square feet for 12 years.

“Forest Hills is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Queens, and our mixed-use property at 7000 Austin Street continues to attract and retain a diversity of office and retail tenants that serve the community,” said Muss Development Principal Jason Muss.

Muss was represented in-house by Stan Markowitz in the transaction. Doug Weinstein, of Ripco, represented the tenant.

Located one block south of Queens Boulevard, 7000 Austin Street is located along one of the busiest retail corridors in Queens and an easy walk to the E, F, M, and R subways, the Long Island Railroad, and express buses. The property also features parking for 300 vehicles.

The Austin Street neighborhood has also seen an overall uptick in activity, including the arrival of new restaurants, cafés, and local businesses, and a new major luxury condominium tower on Queens Boulevard, which is under construction

About Muss Development

With more than 100 years of ongoing business excellence in New York City, Muss Development is the largest development company in the Boroughs of New York City, with more than 10 million square feet of commercial, residential, industrial and retail property developed.  For more information, visit www.muss.com. 

 

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.

One World Trade Center

This view from the Jersey City side of the Hudson is really something to behold if you get a chance...

New Office Space Available

Here's the link for more information:
NEW LOFT STYLE BUILDING in FOREST HILLS
108-21 72nd Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375

Vacant Locations

Just a couple of vacant locations around Austin that have some nice potential:

1) The Organic Market next to the Windsor. Very excited about this location. It's part of a new condo so could house a very nice restaurant or another upscale grocer. (It's already set up to sell food, etc.) A bit cozy in terms of size. My choice would be a nice, new restaurant there. I would imagine the rent is pretty high though given it's a new construction. But, it's also on a side street. Hmmm, maybe we'll be looking at another fantastic food place like La Boulangerie, which also managed to afford a side street near Austin. And has found a huge following.

2) The former Marianella's Mexican spot. Right next to the McDonald's this location I see for another fast food chain. Chipotle is already coming next to Martha's, so while that would have been a no-brainer for them, that chain is out. (The location they chose is obviously better for them. Much better visibility in that highly-trafficked corner, right there visible even by Restaurant Row-goers.) What other fast food chains could come into that spot? 

Ongoing Construction Mysteries

Wow, there are so many construction sites currently in Forest Hills that haven't yet gone public with what they will eventually be. Here's a quick round up:

1. The Body Shop (?)
2. Mandee's/Annie Sez (?)
3. Kaplan space next to new 718 restaurant (?)
4. OTB space (Red Mango and ?)
5. Q Bistro (Wine bar/restaurant?)
6. Sister Unn's (?)
7. Block next to Key Food (CVS?/new co-op)

I probably have forgotten something... Fill me in if you know what any of these will be for sure. Hard to keep track.

Apple Store Of My Eye

Over the weekend I went to take a look at the former Mandee store on Austin because someone on the Facebook page was wondering what they're doing there. There is some construction going on, but lord knows what is being done. There were no clues from looking at it.

And then I turned around and right in front of my face I realized is the absolutely perfect building in Forest Hills for the much-rumored Apple Store....
Enough space? Check. More than enough.
Perfect location? Check.
Cool, urban-chic architecture? Check...

What more could they ask for?!

Photos of Demolition

Some photos I took of the demolition of the strip of stores next to the Key Food on Queens Blvd. The last I heard they will be building a new co-op on the site, with a CVS drugstore/pharmacy.

More on Middle Eastern Restaurant

I just found out that this may be more of a hookah-type bar than a restaurant, or a mix of the two. Needless to say, if it is mostly a hookah lounge with just some food to go along with it, I am really bummed! I don't think I have ever been in a hookah lounge, or if I was it was a long time ago and I don't remember. But I was really hoping this would be a regular Middle Eastern restaurant. What I'm told is it will serve some food, but will also be a lounge-type establishment.

This news, coming right after the opening of that small trinket, novelty store down on Austin (near Ascan), has me in a frustrated mood! The new little store doesn't seem to fit in that area. If anything I can maybe see it in the Austin St. Mall on the western end of Austin, not east, where newer upscale places like La Boulangerie and Emily's Sugar Rush have recently really increased our expectations for some newer fine businesses.

Now, I just want to stress that I have not confirmed with the owner that the Middle Eastern establishment will be a hookah lounge -- or to what extent it will be mixed with a restaurant. But the person I spoke to is definitely in the know and said it will be a lounge that also serves food, so that's what I'm going on. For all I know, it might be a great place, possibly with a separate area for eating. I just don't know.

And Now, The Workers...

Until now it's been mostly residents fed up with the high cost of renting a closet-sized apartment in Manhattan who have been discovering our neighborhood. But, now, apparently, here come the workers -- and they don't even work for an airline! Go figure!

Tenant ditches Manhattan for Forest Hills
Bilinguals finds the space of its dreams—and a tax break—on the second floor of a building on the Queens neighborhood’s prosperous main drag.

I can just hear the conversations now:
"I really like living in Manhattan. Well, I guess the only thing I don't love about it is the commute. I mean, it takes like 30 minutes to get from my apartment in Manhattan to where I work in Forest Hills. In fact, I am thinking of maybe moving to Forest Hills, if only the apartments weren't so damn expensive! Oh. Wait. They aren't expensive... oh, and they're also enormous...hmmm."