East River Plaza developer sets sights on Jamaica retail

CB12's Yvonne Reddick and Edward Blumenfeld
CB12's Yvonne Reddick and Edward Blumenfeld

Community leaders in Jamaica are hoping new developments will draw more tourism and restaurant dollars to the area.

The Blumenfeld Development Group, which built the East River Plaza shopping mall in East Harlem, is planning to build a $50 million, two-story retail project at 90th Avenue and 168th Street, Crain’s reported.

The development will find plenty of company in the neighborhood. Silverstone Property Group is constructing a 14-story, 89-unit rental building on 165th Street, several gyms have recently opened in the neighborhood and the city has issued a request for proposals for a Jamaica Station-centric business incubator.

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Additionally, Long Island-based Able Management Group hopes to begin construction next fall on a 24-story hotel that will include 3,700 square feet of retail space and a restaurant.

Some hope the Blumenfeld project will draw more national retailers to the neighborhood. The area near the Jamaica Station transit hub has long been dominated by dollar stores and other small-scale retailers, but it has increasingly captured the eye of developers.

“We don’t need more beauty supplies and nail salons and fast food,” Yvonne Reddick, district manager of Jamaica’s Community Board 12, told Crain’s. “We need quality stores that are going to draw people in to shop.” [Crain’s] — Melvin Backman