City Council members call for Astoria Cove changes

In first hearing on huge project, critics bash affordable units as not affordable

Rendering of Astoria Cove in Queens and Costa Constantinides
Rendering of Astoria Cove in Queens and Costa Constantinides

City Council members spoke out against Astoria Cove yesterday at the Council’s first hearing about the controversial massive mixed-use project in Queens.

Developer John Mavroudis, part of the Alma Realty development team known as 2030 Astoria LLC, has proposed designating 345 of the 1,723 apartments on the site as affordable. Among those non-market rate units, a one-bedroomt would rent for $2,700 per month, while a three-bedroom unit would rent for $3,800 per month.

Councilman Costa Constantinides has led the opposition, criticizing the number of affordable units and the pricing set for them.

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“Not only is this not affordable, but these rates are actually above market for the vast majority of my community,” Constantinides said at the hearing, as cited by Capital New York. “Until Astoria Cove is made affordable for actual Astorians, I cannot support this project.”

Constantinides said he is pushing for more affordable units and a lowering of the average monthly income level in negotiations over the next few weeks. The City Planning Commission approved the project last month, as previously reported. [Capital New York]Mark Maurer