The development will include over 2,800 housing units and 2 acres of public open space.
New York’s City Planning Commission gave the green light to a massive development in Astoria, Queens that will include 2,835 housing units, retail space and restaurants, a community facility, an elementary school, and two acres of open space. The project, which would replace surface parking lots and some commercial buildings, was lauded by the Commission as a positive step toward easing the city’s housing crisis and offering stability to local residents.
According to Urbanize New York, “In a 10-3 vote, the Commission has approved the Innovation QNS project, which would rise from a sprawling site in Astoria, Queens that is roughly bounded by 35th Avenue, 36th Avenue, 37th Street, and 43rd Street.”
Commission chair Dan Garodnick praised the development, known as Innovation QNS, saying, “At a time when our housing crisis is more pronounced than ever, Innovation QNS is a big opportunity to take the pressure off the rents in this and surrounding communities.” Project designer ODA is also focusing on public open space, which makes up 25 percent of the development’s ground floor area.
FULL STORY: Innovation QNS development gets Planning Commission sign-off in Astoria, Queens
NYC Zoning Reform: Where Will It Have an Impact?
The zoning reform package dubbed ‘City of Yes’ will likely yield uneven results, with many of the lowest-density neighborhoods exempted from new regulations.
NYC E-Scooter Program Threatened Despite High Ridership
Rental scooters in Queens and the Bronx provided close to two million trips in 2024, with many trips starting or ending near transit. Some city officials want to remove them.
E-Scooters Are Rolling Into Queens
Citing the success of a shared scooter program in the Bronx, New York City officials are expanding e-scooter service to parts of eastern Queens.
Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
Tenant Advocates: Rent Gouging Rampant After LA Wildfires
The Rent Brigade says it's found evidence of thousands of likely instances of rent gouging. In some cases, the landlords accused of exploiting the fires had made campaign donations to those responsible for enforcement.
Seattle’s Upzoning Plan is Ambitious, Light on Details
The city passed a ‘bare-bones’ framework to comply with state housing laws that paves the way for more middle housing, but the debate over how and where to build is just getting started.
DOJ Seeks to End USDOT Affirmative Action Program
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program encouraged contracting with minority- and women-owned businesses in the transportation sector, where these groups are vastly underrepresented.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada