Jamaica AirTrain Station to Get 2 New Towers, $225M

The skyline in downtown Jamaica, a discount shopping hub that has struggled to stage a comeback, is about to change. Two new commercial and residential towers with 580 apartments is slated to break ground at the corner of Sutphin Blvd. and Archer Avenue in early December, near the AirTrain station to Kennedy Airport. The tallest building will rise 26-stories, dwarfing next tallest structure in the neighborhood of 99 cent stores and takeout restaurants, a 12-story federal building. The new towers will have a number of amenities, including a 24-hour doorman, balconies and a rooftop terrace.

The high-rise projects planned for 93-01 Sutphin Blvd are part of series of developments seeking to transform the neighborhood, and is the largest private investment in Downtown Jamaica in decades.

The $225 million buildings, which will be constructed by BRP Companies, a New York-based development company, will replace a Duane Reade located on the north side of the LIRR and AirTrain stations.

BRP Companies plans to build a 26-story tower at 147-22 Archer Avenue that will contain at least 450 apartments, the majority of which will rent at market rates.The first three floors of the structure will hold retail space.

The developer will also construct a 14-story building next door, at 147-34 Archer Avenue, which will house 130 apartments. A church will occupy the building's two-story base.

Between them, the buildings will have a total of nearly 523,000 square feet of residential space, 96,121 square feet of commercial space,100 new parking spaces and 17,375 square feet set aside as a community facility. The stores may include a new Duane Reade store, to replace the one being demolished.

The new towers will have a number of amenities, including a 24-hour doorman, children's play room and roof terraces.

City officials hope the huge private investment will help to revitalize the long-neglected neighborhood.

The developer expects to break ground in early December. It will take approximately two years to complete the project.

The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation said that the high-rise will be the tallest building in Downtown Jamaica.

Currently, the 12-story Federal Building on Jamaica Avenue is the tallest building in the area.

The developer picked up the 50,000-square-foot development site for $19.5 million from the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation this year. FX/Fowle is the architect on the project.

The tower project follows the announcement last year of plans to construct a $35 million hotel with 210 rooms in the same area, just south of the AirTrain station, also along Sutphin Boulevard.


Visit Our Sponsors

---

Page Views

Since October 1, 2011