Long Island City Residential Development
New Buildings
Long Island City
Unbuilt
Unlocking Hidden Potential in Long Island City's Waterfront
OVERVIEW
A private client engaged us to explore the potential of a waterfront site in Long Island City, which spans four zoning lots and was previously estimated to have just 60,000 square feet of usable space.
The site, featuring existing structures within a flood zone and an Inclusionary Housing area, presented complex interactions to navigate. Portions of the property also fall under landmarks designation, requiring careful coordination to ensure historical preservation. Leveraging our expertise in site planning, we uncovered substantial untapped potential while satisfying the myriad regulatory requirements.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Expanded Development Potential 200,000 Square Feet
- Additional SF Created 333%
- Proposed Addition 16 Stories
- Original Zoning Lots 4
APPROACH
Our first step was a comprehensive review of the site’s constraints.
Our team developed a cohesive plan that merged the lots seamlessly, preserving existing structures while maximizing space. We met and solved these challenges efficiently and saw an opportunity to turn constraints into an opportunity. With flood zone restrictions on ground-floor housing, our design included a garage on that level to capture revenue from a new ferry terminal nearby.
IMPACT
We significantly increased the site’s development potential, expanding the buildable area to approximately 200,000 square feet—well beyond the original estimate.
This expansion involved careful balancing of yards and building distances to ensure the addition feels cohesive rather than stifling. Our expertise ensured full code compliance and met historic preservation guidelines, maintaining the character of what came before while adding essential amenities and improvements.
