52-16 Roosevelt Ave. as seen in July 2018. (Google Maps)
March 12, 2019 By Nathaly Pesantez
Yet another new building is in the works for Roosevelt Avenue in an area with several developments already in the pipeline.
Plans were filed last week for a six-story building at 52-16 Roosevelt Ave., a site mid-block between 52nd and 53rd Streets that today sees a vacant two-story building once housing former Council Member Eric Gioia’s offices and a small shed toward the rear of the lot.
The new building would span about 16,600 square feet, and includes 10 units along with commercial and community facility space on the ground floors.
52-16 property outline as seen from above. (Google Maps/QueensPost)
The residential areas begin on the second floor, with three units held on each floor. The top floor, however, would only have one apartment.
The project’s developer is listed under a “5216 Roosevelt Ave” LLC, which purchased the property in late 2018 for $2.2 million, according to city records.
The property was previously owned by the Gioia family, which also owned the longtime Nunziato Florists shop one block away before selling the property late last year, too. Both properties were in their possession for decades.
Demolition filings have yet to be put through for the mid-block site, although the former flower shop location, along with two other adjacent properties, are set to be demolished for a single seven-story building spanning the lots.
The 52-16 Roosevelt Ave. site is also next to the corner development site at 53rd Street, which is also slated to see a six-story building. The former three-story building there was demolished last year.
The latest new building filing is another in the development hotbed that is the Woodside/Sunnyside border. Last year, plans were filed for a nine-story building at the corner of 51st Street and Queens Boulevard. A six-story project, also filed for last year, is planned on 52nd Street between Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue.
The former J & Sons Supply building on the corner of 51st Street and Roosevelt Avenue was also demolished last year after a developer purchased the property for $15 million, although it is still unclear what will be built on site.
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9 Comments
I’m all for developing this area but please invest in the transit. The 52nd stop is a hot mess 6 months out of the year. Also, these developers have to be reasonable with rent, you can’t charge $2,500+ month for a noisy train area and views of the cemetery. Let’s be real people and keep the bar high.
Any chance the developer will be getting any tax breaks – and in exchange for those tax breaks, they can be expected to be responsible for maintaining the 52d Street subway stop? I would like Queens to emulate Manhattan in one way – whenever a developer builds a large building, they have to provide or maintain an amenity for the neighborhood.
Definitely agree on this! 52nd subway stop is constantly in a state of disrepair… repairs also take years!
The Goia political office was Woodside’s worst eyesore. Just ask Mike Goia! Anything built there is an improvement!
Cashing in the chips since this has become a casino rather than a place to live.
I want the top floor apartment penthouse. I get to see the wheels of the train out my window and hear the screech of the breaks all day and night long! At least I will be above the falling metal of the 7 train el.
Lovely views of the cemetery up there!
They’ll eventually start building on top of the cemetery
Good.