AvalonBay is making its New York City bow in the 74-acre planned development known as Queens West, directly across the East River from the United Nations. Ground was broken on the Riverview residential complex in December 2000 and the first phase, a 372-unit luxury high-rise rental property, is scheduled to be completed in October. The leasing office opened earlier this month and with move-ins will begin this spring.

The developer, which is working in cooperation with the Queens West Development Corp., an Empire State Development Corp. subsidiary, is now going through final approvals on the design for phase two. QWDC owns the land, which is ground-leased to AvalonBay. The second building is scheduled to break ground late this year or early in 2003.

"The second tower is in preliminary design," says AvalonBay vice president Fred Harris. "We're working in cooperation with QWDC and we have leases on three parcels. We're working out final details on the next two. The exact layout is being considered by the QWDC staff and board." The big question, Harris says, is whether the second building will be strictly residential, leaving the third parcel to be developed as an amenities facility. The alternative would be a single building situated on both remaining parcels and combining residences and amenities. QWDC representatives were unavailable for comment.

The final configuration notwithstanding, Harris confirms for GlobeSt.com that the second phase of the project will be more amenity-laden than the first and residents of both towers will have access to all facilities. While the list of amenities has not been finalized, definite at this point is a swimming pool. Residents of the first building will likely be canvassed for their preferences regarding additional facilities. Other AvalonBay communities include extras such as indoor basketball and racquetball courts.

The nearly finished first building, located at 2-01 50th Ave., contains studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Six duplex floor plans are also available. And in what might be considered less than noteworthy in other markets, it is one of the first New York City buildings to offer garbage disposals, which only recently became legal here. Other amenities include a conference facility, business center, a fitness center and a landscaped roof garden with a putting green. Rents range from $1,635 for studios to $6,500 for three-bedroom duplexes.

AvalonBay owns or has interest in 141 apartment communities containing 41,191 units in 11 states and Washington, DC. Of those, 15 communities are under construction and three are under reconstruction. It specializes in the acquisition, development and management of luxury residential properties in high barrier-to-entry markets in the US.

Instant Insights /

AvalonBay Awaits Design Approval on 539,000-SF Development

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