Jan. 17, 2018 By Christian Murray
The seventh and final store located inside a corner building on 37th Avenue and 85th Street closed over the weekend freeing up space for development.
Jasper Beauty Salon was forced to close Saturday to make way for development at 84-11 though 84-23 37th Avenue. The landlord, Charles Patel, plans to add four stories of residential apartments on top of the existing one-story structure.
The salon joins stores such as Kelly’s Cleaners, the Jackson Heights Furniture Shop and Value Fabrics that have met a similar fate in recent months. Their leases had all come to an end.
The salon owner said that he is looking for a new location in Jackson Heights.
“We are looking for somewhere else in Jackson Heights,” said Sergio, the owner of the salon who wouldn’t provide his last name. “This is a great neighborhood. We have been here 10 years and have a good client base and they will follow us.”
Patel has yet to file his plans with the Buildings Department but he passed his biggest hurdle in May when the Landmarks Preservation Commission gave him the go ahead (click for decision).
Jasper Beauty Salon on Thursday (Queenspost)
The plan was contentious since the building is located in the Jackson Heights Historic District and many—including Community Board 3, Councilmember Danny Dromm—urged Landmarks to block the application.
Councilman Daniel Dromm, who spoke out against the proposal at a 2015 hearing, said. “We believe that allowing any additional height on this building violates the original intent of Jackson Heights [historic district].”
The LPC differed with the community’s view, with the commission approving it unanimously by a vote of 9-0, subject to some minor modifications.
“The buildings on the north side of 37th Avenue are predominantly 4-6 stories in height, and therefore, the height and massing of the proposed addition will relate to the scale on this side of the avenue,” read the LPC’s decision.
The LPC noted that “the material used for the addition will be harmonious with the materials of other residential buildings with a commercial base.”
Patel still has to send in his architectural drawings to the LPC to ensure that the corner of the building has the details that conform with the historic district, among other requirements. However, with the commission already approving the project this is just a case of just fine-tuning the plan, according to a LPC spokesperson.
Patel, who is currently out of the country, could not be reached for comment.
Rendering
84-11-37th-Avenue by Queens Post on Scribd
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8 Comments
Can a Starbucks or Panera Bread, and maybe a new cleaners, or some kind of practical business establishment be added to the residential project? Everywhere you look in Queens and all over most of the 5 boroughs, more and more rentals, condos, etc are being built. But what happens to the businesses? You buy everyone out and then you’re left with nothing but condos. Doesn’t sound too practical or smart to me, but then again, I’m not a developer. But I am a resident of Jackson Heights for almost 20 years. I sure hope my opinion not only makes some sense, but counts as well. I lived and experienced Jackson Heights over the years. I didn’t just admire it or see it as profit. Adding practical businesses to a changing neighborhood, like what has been done on 82nd Street, while still keeping a few of the mom and pop shops, was not only smart, but it enhanced the neighborhood, making it competitive with Astoria and Sunnyside. But it also increases property value, giving it community value, stand-alone substance. Hopefully, Jackson Heights won’t turn into a slew of residential buildings which it already has enough of, increasing the overpopulation while decreasing the somewhat “smaller” community feel which helps makes Jackson Heights one of the best places in Queens to live, in my opinion.
Plant more trees & gardens in Jackson Heights.
Terrific improvement for a neighborhood in dire need of additional residential space. I wish Mr. Patel all the best, and thank him for making such a big investment in the community.
Sucks. Stupid idea
First, the drawings of the building are atrocious. The design is more in line with what one would find in Hauppauge, Long Island than in NYC. The LPC should reject this plan on that fact alone. Second, this building is really going to mess up my view.
I think they need to stop adding more buildings and add more small businesses that’s what helped boom this neighborhood (one of the many reasons) plus it’s getting so crowded, you get on the train and it feels like you’re in manhattan on your way to seeing the ball drop on New Years.
A terrible precedent set in the neighborhood, blocking existing apartments and adding further congestion to an already overcrowded neighborhood.
Looking forward to this new addition. I’ve lived in Jackson Heights over six years, my wife over 30 years. It’s a nice neighborhood and it’s really nice when I see owners making property improvements. Just hope the apartments are decent in size and have parking in building’s basement. Many new apartment, like the one on 84 street and 37th Ave, have really small rooms, and parking as we know is the big headache in Jackson Heights. Looking forward to this and the relaunch of the bagel shop across the street.