Elmhurst 'high-rise' development stirs worry over gentrification in Queens

Queens' Elmhurst Neighborhood in Turmoil Over Proposed High-Rise Development

A contentious proposal to build a 13-story residential tower on Queens Boulevard has sparked intense opposition from Elmhurst residents, who fear it could accelerate gentrification and push long-time Asian American small businesses out of the area.

Community members argue that the rezoning would be out of character for the neighborhood, where many homes are one- or two-family dwellings. "It's really, really out of character," said Brianna Cea, a member of Queens Community Board 4. She warned that the construction could lead to luxury housing and high-end stores, pricing out elderly residents and small businesses.

The proposal is not without support, however. Lester Lin, a lifelong Elmhurst resident and business owner, acknowledges that his neighborhood was plagued by neglect and crime in the past. He believes new development can revitalize the area, citing improved streetlights, cleaner streets, and better garbage collection as benefits.

However, Cea and other community members express concerns about how the project will be executed. "Just one high-rise development and upzoning can pave the way for more luxury housing, high-end stores that will ultimately price out our Asian American small businesses," she said.

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan has taken a nuanced stance on the proposal, emphasizing the need for affordable housing and community infrastructure. In a statement, he stated that "any new housing built in the area needs to be affordable and prioritize the needs of our community."

The Elmhurst/Corona neighborhood faces a pressing need for more affordable housing, with a 2.1% apartment vacancy rate compared to 0.88% in Queens as a whole. Some residents are open to development, but want to ensure it is done responsibly and benefits the local community.

As the City Council weighs the proposal, it's clear that Elmhurst's future hangs in the balance. Will the new high-rise development bring much-needed affordable housing and economic growth, or will it further exacerbate the neighborhood's long-standing gentrification concerns?

I feel bad for these people. They're worried about this big tower ruining their neighborhood. I get it, change can be scary. But at the same time, if they don't do something to bring in new homes and jobs, prices are gonna keep going up and more people won't be able to afford it. It's a tough spot. Maybe they should think of ways to make sure there's still space for small businesses?

I feel bad for those small businesses they're worried about losing their homes . I mean, Elmhurst is already struggling with affordability issues, and adding more luxury developments could push even more people out . But at the same time, if it means bringing in new money and resources to revitalize the area, it's gotta be considered . The thing is, they need to make sure that affordable housing is a priority and not just some afterthought . I'm not sure what the answer is, but I think the community needs to have a say in how this development goes down .

omg, this is so frustrating! I feel bad for those small business owners who have been around for ages, and now they're being pushed out by some fancy new high-rise. it's not like the city can't do better than that... they could've at least thrown in some incentives for the existing businesses to stay. but nope, now it's just gonna be all luxury and high-end stores... I don't know how much more gentrification queens can take! what's wrong with a little old-school character? anyway, I'm keeping an eye on this one... hope councilmember krishnan knows what he's doing

I gotta say, this whole thing just feels like a recipe for disaster to me. I mean, we're talking about one of the last remaining Asian American communities in Queens being pushed out by fancy new developments and luxury housing. It's not like they don't already have enough money on their hands...

And what's with the promise of affordable housing? We all know how that goes - just a bunch of buzzwords thrown around to placate the masses while the big bucks get made by the developers themselves. I'm all for some new housing, but it's gotta be real, you know? Not just another way for the city to make money off of people who can't afford it.

I'm also not buying that the community is just gonna sit around and take it. People are speaking out, like Cea, and there's definitely a valid concern about gentrification here. We need to think about what this is really going to do to the character of the neighborhood, not just throw some fancy new high-rise up and call it a day.

It's all about how you execute this, you know? Are they gonna make sure that these new developments are actually affordable for the people who live here, or are they just gonna push them out so the rich folks can move in? That's the real question.

I don't know, man... I get what Councilmember Krishnan is trying to do with prioritizing community needs, but 13 stories of residential tower feels like a lot for Elmhurst. I mean, the area already has character and small businesses that make it special. We need more affordable housing options, not luxury high-rise apartments. It's all about finding that balance, you know? If they can bring in more community infrastructure and support local businesses, then I'm cool with it... but we gotta keep an eye on this to make sure it doesn't just push out the people who've been living there for years

This proposed 13-story tower is a perfect example of how developers are swooping in on neighborhoods that are already feeling the pinch from rising costs. I mean, Elmhurst is one of the most densely populated areas in Queens with barely any affordable housing options... it's like they're just throwing oil on the fire.

What really gets me is that we know there's a need for more affordable housing here, and yet these new developments are always being pushed forward without considering the impact on long-time residents and small businesses. It's all about the money , not about what's best for the community.

We're already seeing gentrification in so many neighborhoods across NYC... it's like we're erasing our own history and cultural identity. And now this proposed tower is going to make things even worse? I don't think so. We need more community engagement, not just a councilmember saying "oh, let's build something affordable"... what does that even mean?

I think this whole thing is super confusing . On one hand, a 13-story residential tower could totally revitalize the area and bring in some much-needed affordable housing . Lester Lin's point about improved streetlights and cleaner streets is valid . But at the same time, I'm all for preserving the character of Elmhurst, you know? One- or two-family dwellings have always been the norm here . It's true that gentrification is a huge concern , and we don't want to push out those awesome Asian American small businesses .

I'm torn between the need for affordable housing and the fear of ruining the neighborhood's vibe . And what about the community infrastructure? Is there a plan in place to ensure that the benefits trickle down to everyone? I guess only time will tell, but for now, I'm just gonna sit back and watch this whole situation unfold with a big ol' bowl of popcorn ...

I think its gotta be super careful how they execute this project. They need to make sure its affordable for everyone, not just luxury homes. We cant have small businesses get pushed out like that. Its a big concern for me too, 'cause we really do need more affordable housing options around here. We can't let the citys gentrification problems snowball out of control. I hope Councilmember Krishnan is on top of this and makes sure theres a plan in place to benefit the community, not just some wealthy developers

Ugh, sounds like Elmhurst is going to be ruined by all these fancy new developments . Just think about how many old people are gonna get priced out of their homes and small businesses pushed outta the area . It's not just that it's gentrification, it's also a huge increase in traffic and noise pollution... like, do they really need 13-story high-rises on Queens Boulevard? Can't we just leave the neighborhood alone?

I think this whole thing is gonna be a disaster. They're trying to push out the old guard of Asian American small business owners for the sake of some fancy-schmancy high-rise condos. It's all about making that dough, you know? Meanwhile, the elderly residents who have been there since day one get priced out and can't afford to even live in their own neighborhoods anymore. That's just wrong. And what's with the "affordable housing" spin? If it's not truly affordable, then what's the point? It's like they're just trying to save face on this whole thing. We need real solutions, not just Band-Aids on a bullet wound.

what if they build something that benefits everyone? like community spaces for all ages & income levels wouldn't it be awesome to have a mix of old & new in elmhurst? we can have Asian american businesses alongside affordable housing, plus community centers for kids, seniors, & artsy vibes

This new tower is gonna push out all the OG Asian American shops I love shopping at

idk what's more cringeworthy, the fact that ppl are literally fighting over building a 13-story tower in elmhurst or that lester lin is trying to spin this as a "revitalization" plan while ignoring the elephant in the room: affordable housing for actual low-income folks. meanwhile, councilmember krishnan's "nuanced stance" just sounds like corporate speak

I'm telling ya , this is like a classic case of 'progress' vs 'preservation'. The devs are pushing for more cash in their pockets, but the community is all about keepin' it real . I mean, you got these small businesses that have been around for ages, and now they're worried 'bout bein' priced out by luxury high-rises . It's like the city's makin' a choice between gentrification or genuine revitalization. And let's be real, it's all about who's gettin' left behind . I'm with Councilmember Krishnan on this one – affordable housing and community infrastructure is key . If we don't get that right, it's just gonna be more of the same old story .

I'm not sure if I agree with Brianna Cea, she seems really passionate about stopping this project, but at the same time I think her concerns are kinda valid . Like, it's true that Elmhurst has a rich history and small businesses have been there for ages. But on the other hand, a 13-story residential tower could bring in some serious cash to revitalize the area, right? And if they can make sure affordable housing is included, that would be awesome .

But wait, what if this high-rise development leads to more luxury housing and pushes out long-time residents? That would be super frustrating . I mean, who knows how it's gonna play out? Maybe the city can find a balance between growth and community preservation . But honestly, I'm kinda torn about this whole thing...

OMG like seriously this is such a big deal for me!!! The whole thing just makes me soooo worried about Elmhurst losing its identity you feel? They're not gonna be able to keep those small Asian American businesses if they build up all these luxury high-rises and push the prices through the roof I mean, I get that some people think it could revitalize the area but what's in it for the community?? Affordable housing is soooo important right now especially with how expensive everything is getting Councilmember Krishnan is trying to do the right thing by making sure it's affordable but we gotta stay vigilant!

I don't get why ppl need a 13-story tower in Elmhurst . I mean, they already got some cool parks & restaurants down there. It's like, chillin' & havin' a pint at a local pub sounds way better than livin' in some skyscraper . And what about the small businesses? They're the ones keepin' the area real . I heard that's why some ppl are sayin' it's gonna push 'em out of the neighborhood . It's all about bein' considerate of the community, ya know?

the stats are crazy - did u know that NYC has a 2.1% vacancy rate for apartments in Elmhurst ? meanwhile, the national average is 3.4% - it's like they're running out of options over there! and let's not forget, this high-rise development could lead to 20-30% more housing units in a single area... that's like a whole lotta people but seriously, if it's done right, affordable housing is key - we can't keep pushing out existing businesses and residents . what do u think? should we be worried about gentrification in Elmhurst?

some fun stats:
- 71% of Queens residents are Asian American (source: NYC Comptroller)
- 62% of housing units in Elmhurst are already considered "affordable" (source: NYC Housing Development Corp.)
- 1,200+ small businesses in Queens have been displaced due to gentrification since 2010 (source: NYC Comptroller)

keep an eye on this one, folks!

I'm kinda worried about this new high-rise dev plan for Queens Boulevard... Like, I get that some folks need a place to live and businesses want to thrive, but 13 stories on top of an already busy street just seems like too much . What's gonna happen to all the small Asian American shops and restaurants? Can't we find ways to revitalize the area without pushing them out?