40-09 5th Street rental building in the works; 5th Street development ensues
Here’s some more low-rise real estate action on 5th Street, a 5-story rental building with ground floor commercial at 49-09 5th St, between 50th & 49th Aves. Brought to us by Plaxall, who also have another rental building in the works, around the corner on 49th Ave adjacent to the 5th st site. Both sites are currently beautified with artwork provided by The Space.
In the last 5 years, 5th street has undergone a serious transformation. First it was the Gantry and the Galaxy, and then 5SL and the Foundry, and now the Prestige Condos. Add to that mix, Duane Reade at the corner of 47th Road, which coupled with its famous neighbor, the foodcellar, has added a nice little bustle to the once desolate strip of semi-abandoned industrial buildings and brownfield sites. Oh yeah, let’s also not forget the (ahem) OCA/CUNY site which is to deliver a whole slew of new development, if their variance request passes the BSA, which is scheduled to deliver a final decision late this month.
In addition to those sites, there are two more spots on 5th street primed for new development. 47-05 5th St, on the corner of 47th Ave, has a permit filed for a 7-story residential building, by the same developers who have brought us a few Fedders buildings, including a notorious townhouse on 51st Ave with Gargoyles, which is also referred to as the “Devil House” or “Casa del Diablo”. It seems since the house replaced the burnt out shell that was there before, many of the elders on the block have become severely ill…and they um, blame the Casa del Diablo. Hopefully this new building on 5th Street will be sans Gargoyles. Or whatever they are…
The second site at 47-27 5th street, on the next corner at 47th Road across from the Duane Reade, has a permit filed for a 4-story building, 9,000+ SF.
It will be interesting to see if any retail manifests with the new buildings… it would be nice to have a commercial alternative to Vernon Blvd. Dare to dream.
A minor factual correction, and some color. The house on 51st Avenue was not a “burnt out shell.” Instead, it was the decayed remains of a poorly maintained (and once stately building) where the Boo Radley of LIC once resided for many years — Mr. Smith. He was an eccentric man who cut a dashing figure with his impeccably tailored suits, starched shirts, and slicked back hair. And yet he lived in a building that was literally collapsing all around him.
“… it would be nice to have a commercial alternative to Vernon Blvd. Dare to dream.”
2nd Street is supposed to be a commercial/retail street, according to the Hunters Point South EIS.
But the development of 2nd Street is decades away, if it ever happens.
The Plaxall building is not terrible looking. Any ideas as to what is going to go into the commericial space?
yeah, the Plaxall building looks great. Exactly what we need. Decent rental stock. Kudos!!
I hope that other developers, like the guys that built the Galaxy, would learn from the Plaxall guys when it comes to design. This building actually has diffrent set backs, materials and volumes that make it interesting and not just a brick box.
I’ve been in LIC my entire life and never heard the devil house story.
The Galaxy guys don’t have anything to teach anyone about design. The Galaxy is just a big box. Granted they use different brick colors, but it’s hardly anything exciting or new and different about design.
Why more rentals? Hunters Point is overburdened with rentals as it is.
How can you say that #9? It’s so hard to find a good and reasonably priced rental in this neighborhood. Either it’s overpriced luxury, or crap.
There’s a new smallish (6 units?) rental across the street from the Badge on 47 Ave. Pretty fugly, but agree with #10, it’s nice to see new apartment construction here that is is not luxury rentals and condos. Lest we all look the same after a while.
Just a typo pointer. The headline says 40-09 5th, the article says 49-09. I’ll bet I see you on thurs night- look forward to it!
Anyone with details on the devil house story? We shouldn’t let that slip by.
I heard it referred to by several people as the “goat house,” not the devil house. By the way, the gargoyles are figures of Pan, the mythical half man-half goat.
LIC will get its share of Fedders? Awesome.