Astoria’s Steinway Street could look very different in a few years. Schuman Properties has filed a rezoning application to swap a stretch of low-rise buildings for two mid-rise towers that would bring roughly 270 apartments and a large amount of new commercial space to the corridor. The filing, submitted this week, is the developer’s second major residential push in western Queens as builders respond to rising demand along Steinway.
Plans at a glance
According to Crain's New York Business, the proposal calls for a 12-story building paired with a 9-story companion, totaling about 310,000 square feet and roughly 270 dwelling units. The filing also outlines about 52,000 square feet of commercial space and a roughly 27,000-square-foot community facility, described as likely medical offices. It indicates that 20 to 30 percent of the apartments would be set aside as affordable, with a tentative completion target of 2029 if approvals stay on track.
Developer track record
Schuman is already a familiar name on Steinway Street. The firm developed a six-story, roughly 55-unit rental at 34-01 Steinway Street that opened in 2019, according to Schuman Properties and contemporaneous coverage. The company manages a broad commercial and residential portfolio across western Queens and has increasingly focused on mixed-use projects along major shopping corridors.
Why Astoria?
Developers have been moving west through Queens as population and housing demand increase, and past rezonings and new construction have already reshaped nearby Long Island City, City Limits reports. Local coverage has also noted a steady stream of mid-rise completions in Astoria over the last year, underscoring the market pressure that is drawing proposals like Schuman’s, with neighborhood outlets tracking recent openings and permit filings.
What comes next
The rezoning application lists land-use attorney Frank St. Jacques of Akerman as the applicant’s representative, according to details reported by Crain's New York Business. If the city advances the plan, it will trigger a public land-use review that gives community members and elected officials a formal chance to weigh in before any rezoning is approved.
