Rendering appears at controversial 21-16 44th Drive site

Last week, we were walking by 21-16 44th Drive and we noticed that a new rendering for the building appeared on the outside scaffolding. From the rendering, it appears that the building will be a seven-story mixed-used project with a target delivery of summer of 2015. Still, there has been no activity since demolition completed back in April,¹ which makes sense because the developer hasn’t filed any new permits since it was approved for demo back in March.²

The project is not without controversy, as nearby residents are concerned by the building based on the track record of the developer.³⁴⁵

This is an excerpt from The Ridgewood Times recapping Community Board 2’s meeting in November, 2013:⁶

Residents said they were concerned that a developer who controlled one shelter dubbed the “Hell Hotel” may be coming to 21-16 44th Dr. in Long Island City. […] Alan Lapes, whose name appears on several work permits issued to the site on Oct. 25, has a history of operating nonprofit shelters, which provide the homeless with rooms that are subsidized by the city.

No finalized details about the use of the building have emerged yet.

This rendering appeared at 21-16 44th Drive recently

Demo is complete inside 21-16 44th Drive