A new 223-unit residential development, located adjacent to one of Queens’ premier public parks and near mass transportation,is preparing to break ground in Jamaica, Queens.When finished, it willcreate new market rate and affordable climate-ready housing that will bring a significant investment to the local community.
Zara Realty is set to begin work ona new, state-of-the-art, 9-story, 218,000-square foot residential building, at 153-10 88th Ave., adjacent to Rufus King Park.
In the Fall, the project, designed by Ismael Leyva Architects and Monadnock Construction, Inc.,will begin pouring the foundation, with completion and tenancy in 2023. This much needed boost comes after Hurricane Ida devastated parts of Queens, along with the remnants of COVID-19 causing severe economic challenges for the region.
The energy efficient building will have 223 units, from studios to two-bedrooms, each with energy saving appliances. The building will also include a high-efficiency Variable Refrigerant Flow HVAC system that consumes less energy than traditional systems, surpassing 2030 Climate Mobilization Act requirements by 40%.
A key climate change feature is a solar roof capable of producing 69 KW of green, clean energy, equivalent to planting 1,300 trees every year, replacing 13 combustion vehicles with hybrids, and taking 282 combustion cars off the road during its lifetime.
The project will set aside 30% of the units as affordable housing, and all tenants will have access to a 169-space valet parking garage with 10-vehicle electric charging stations, a 1,272 SqFt fitness center, 3,167 SqFt tenant recreational space, and a 5,449 SqFt roof terrace with gardens and seating areas, as well as storage units and more amenities.Further, to help address neighborhood needs, Zara Realty will also locate 6,480 SqFt of community facility space on the building’s ground floor.
The prime location of the project adds another invaluable amenity—the 11.5-acre Rufus King Park, which sits is within the former estate of Rufus King, one of America’s Founding Fathers.
King was astatesman, signer of the U.S. Constitution, and New York’s first U.S. Senator. An outspoken leader in the anti-slavery movement, King’s family continued to impact this great nation, with his children going on to serve as Governor of New York and the 9th President of Columbia University, afounder of the Cincinnati Law School, and 2nd President of the Erie Railroad, which would connect New York City by rail to the west side of the Hudson, eventually reaching Lake Erie and beyond.
“Manhattan has Central Park, Brooklyn has Prospect Park, and the beautiful and historically significant Rufus King Park, is an absolute jewel for the people of Queens,” said Tony Subraj, co-managing partner for Zara Realty. “Our company’s ethoscenterson quality, well-located buildings that are a complementary part of the community. This has been a key part of Zara Realty’s successfor the past four decades.”
The natural setting of the park offers mature trees, shrubbery, walking pathways and areas for children and families to gather and play.The King Manor Museum, a part of the National Register of Historic Places, also hosts a citizenship ceremony each year for the swearing in of naturalized U.S. citizens.
“Like many, our family emigrated to Queens and this community is our home. The symbolism of investing in a major project adjacent to this historical colonial manor house and impeccable park setting, illustrates our unwavering confidence in Jamaica as a great place to live and work,” said Amir Sobhraj, co-managing partner for Zara Realty. “Since the mid-1700s, this location has been at the center of this community and this city, andcritical to thebuilding of a great nation. Zara Realty’s focus is on providing high-quality affordable housing as foundational for the strength of our neighborhoods.”
The project is expected to cost $110 millionand is financed by Arbor Realty SR Inc.
Zara Realty was founded in Jamaica, Queens, in 1982 by immigrants from Guyana, who came to this country penniless and have remained an integral part of the New York community the founding family has long called its home.
