TF Cornerstone’s LIC development would fit better in beach town: critic

From left: 4720 Center Boulevard, the View condominium and a rendering of planned TF Cornerstone development in Long Island City

TF Cornerstone is just more than halfway into the $1 billion-plus development of seven buildings on the Long Island City waterfront, according to the Wall Street Journal, and a neighborhood is starting to take shape. But despite the impressive scale of the 3 million square feet of development on 21 acres with 3,500 market-rate apartments, and the resident-friendly public park space that has replaced roads, the Journal critiques the aesthetics of the development as belonging in “a party-happy beach town” and not the city.

“We could have made it look like it was built over time, by different architects and developers, and that it sort of emerged organically like the rest of the city,” explained Jon McMillan, director of planning for TF Cornerstone. “But there is unquestionably also an opportunity to do the reverse and make a grander impact with a coordinated set of buildings — to be bold.”

The Journal said that TF Cornerstone’s goal was to make buyers and renters feel like they are moving to an established neighborhood. While the architect, Miami-based condominium specialist Arquitectonica, did a good job of offering variety within that similar overall feel, the Journal said, the buildings place too much emphasis on functionality and views and not enough on exterior looks. It condemns them to a life of inferiority to the structures directly across the East River. [WSJ]