Queens Borough President backs Ridgewood rezoning plan

Change would allow construction of apartment buildings in the area

From left: Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, 1901 Starr Street and 176 Woodward Avenue in Queens
From left: Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, 1901 Starr Street and 176 Woodward Avenue in Queens

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz approved a plan to rezone a portion of Ridgewood from manufacturing to residential.

At last month’s Community Board 5 meeting, 28 members voted in favor of the plan, which calls for a rezoning of Woodward and Onderdonk avenues and Troutman and Starr streets. The rezoning would permit the construction of apartment buildings at 176 Woodward Avenue and 1901 Starr Street.

“The overall objectives of the proposed rezoning to rationalize several existing legal nonconforming homes located in the existing M1-1 district,” Katz said in her official recommendation, according to the Queens Chronicle, “and to allow redevelopment of two sizable underutilized lots next to the homes would be an improvement in this particular part of Ridgewood.”

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The borough president did have some conditions. For one, Katz recommended that a number of apartments be made available at the same rate as those in buildings in the area, out of concern that the units would become too expensive.

According to Akerman LLP,  the firm representing the owner of the lots, monthly rents would range between $1,000 and $1,800.

A mixed-use building is currently set to be built at 176 Woodward Avenue, including 88 residences. The proposed building at 1901 Starr Street will have eight residential units. [Queens Chronicle]  Claire Moses