NEW YORK CITY-TF Cornerstone has topped out its sixth and final residential building at 4610 Center Blvd., it's project on the Long Island City waterfront. The development first broke ground 10 years ago.
Designed by architecture firm Arquitectonica—which has the building curving around LIC's famous PepsiCo sign—the property includes more than 475,000 square feet of residential space and 7,550 square feet of retail stores.
The milestone is a testament to Long Island City's evolution, Jon McMillan, TF Cornerstone's director of planning, tells GlobeSt.com. “Before, the area was burdened with manufacturing zoning, even with its close proximity to Midtown. There was housing sort of mixed in on the side streets but they were next to taxi repair shops and the like.”
After a rezoning and the creation of the Queens West and Court Square developments, the appeal of Long Island City is becoming apparent, making it possible for Cornerstone to successfully market its waterfront project, he says.
“Our development on the waterfront has created a critical mass, putting Long Island City on people's radar. It offers views of Manhattan and easy transportation to Midtown. If you think about it, Midtown never had a good place to live for people who wanted something a little quieter and cheaper than Manhattan. Long Island City offers that, and the convenience to Grand Central Terminal draws them there.”
Adds Sofia Estevez, EVP of TF Cornerstone Inc. “When TF Cornerstone broke ground in Long Island City over ten years ago, we envisioned the creation of a family-friendly community with convenient access to Manhattan, spacious luxury apartments and a sprawling amount of outdoor open space. 4610 Center Boulevard is the final piece of this plan, and topping off this tower is a significant milestone in the waterfront's history. It's a true sign of the area's immense growth since its days as an industrial hub.”
In 2003, TF Cornerstone finalized its purchase of 21-acres of waterfront property in LIC from PepsiCo. Since then, the company has transformed the former manufacturing site into a residential urban community. Upon completion, the “neighborhood within a neighborhood” will total 2,615 rental units and 184 condominiums.
Made up of entirely new construction, the area includes waterfront parks, a new public K-8 elementary school, library, retail and other services. The waterfront is also home to the LIC Flea & Food and is in walking distance to restaurants, shops and cultural activities.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
