Tishman Speyer to move forward with 1.1 million s/f project in Long Island City

Queens, NY According to Tishman Speyer CEO Rob Speyer, the company is moving ahead with construction of a 1.1 million s/f office and retail project in Long Island City. More than 800,000 s/f of the available office space in the development has been pre-leased, including 250,000 s/f to WeWork. Tishman Speyer is being joined in this development by Qatari Diar, a global investor in real estate.

This project concludes Tishman Speyer’s purchase of 1.8 million s/f of development rights from the city of New York, which included a 700,000 s/f office building that Tishman Speyer completed in 2011 and pre-leased in its entirety to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.

Tishman Speyer is one the largest developers of both commercial and residential space in Long Island City, with more than 1,900 units of housing currently under construction across the street from the office site on Jackson Ave.  Tishman Speyer is responsible for 3.5 million s/f of Long Island City development since purchasing the options to develop both sites in 2003.

“Thanks to the City of New York’s investment in the area’s infrastructure, enlightened policy decisions and the active support of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the local community and its elected officials, Long Island City has become a model for 21st Century urban development,” Rob Speyer said. “Tishman Speyer is proud to continue our role in unlocking the area’s full potential as one of the most dynamic, live-work-play neighborhoods, not just in Queens but in all of New York City.”

Deputy mayor for housing and economic development Alicia Glen said, “This project will be a major job generator for Long Island City. We are focused on growing good jobs across the outer boroughs and meeting the demand for new office space. What rises at this site will not only spur our economy, but make Queens Plaza a more dynamic place to live and work.”

The new commercial project, which includes two 27-story towers designed by Raul De Armas of MdeAS Architects, will commence in early 2017 with completion anticipated in 2019. The towers will be connected by a four-story podium featuring a mix of retail, a food hall, restaurant, and parking garage.

Financing, which was arranged by HFF, is being provided by The Bank of the Ozarks.

Qatari Diar’s chief development officer, Europe & Americas, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani added, “We are delighted to be working alongside our partner, Tishman Speyer on the acquisition of this site in Long Island City and this agreement marks a significant milestone. With exclusive retail elements and contemporary office space this new venture will set the standard for mixed-use developments.”

WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann said, “WeWork is proud to be an anchor tenant of Tishman Speyer’s Long Island City development. This will be a fantastic space for us to bring our community of creators to this thriving and dynamic neighborhood.”  The 250,000 s/f location will be WeWork’s second and largest in the borough of Queens.

This project is the latest effort by the city of New York to bring jobs to Long Island City, and to grow the community as an innovation hub anchored by the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. The 1.1 million square feet of office space will also help meet growing demand, with an NYCEDC analysis expecting the city to need up to 60 million square feet of new commercial space by 2025.

“Long Island City continues to emerge as a vibrant hub of jobs and economic activity,” said NYCEDC president Maria Torres-Springer. “These new towers will bring 2,000 permanent jobs to Western Queens, and represent a major step forward in solidifying Long Island City as a premier business district.”