Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Goodbye, Queens Plaza Clock Tower?

From the Queens Courier:

Those looking to preserve the Long Island City Clock Tower may be running out of time.

Queens Plaza Park Development LLC bought the tower, which was the former Bank of Manhattan building, and an adjoining vacant site for a combined $77 million, according to property records filed with the city on Saturday.

Community members are hoping to landmark the building on 29-27 Queens Plaza North to avoid its development, according to recently published reports, after LIC Clock Tower LLC bought the tower in May for $15 million, city records show.

In just a few months, the price of the tower doubled and sold for $30.9 million. The buyer also purchased the vacant land at 29-37 41st Ave. for $46.3 million.

The vacant site has more than 205,000 buildable square feet. Queens-based developer Steve Cheung purchased the vacant site for $8 million in 2011, city records show, and last year he filed with the Department of Buildings for a 30-story residential tower with 242 units at the vacant site.

Plans for the Clock Tower site have yet to be filed with the Buildings Department.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is exactly why we need to move faster in Queens with preservation! Also rezoning certain areas to retain its character. Time is running out, we have had so much time but everyone has either been sleeping, watching the Kardashians or moving away. When are we going to take out borough back and make some progress in retaining our history and architecture!

Anonymous said...

Don't worry. All is well. The new moster of a building will have affordable housing in it so its a great thing for the community!

Crusseau said...

Not the clock tower! Then how are Marty and Doc going to get back to the future?!

Anonymous said...

Don't worry. All is well. The new moster of a building will have affordable housing in it so its a great thing for the community!
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LMFAO
And don't forget, it will also create jobs! How fortunate are we???

Anonymous said...

Landmark? Never in this cooked borough.