By Alexander Dworkowitz
As part of the boom in condominiums, construction is nearly complete on a nine-story building on 38th Avenue, and its units are expected to go on sale this month.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on 38 Tower, at 142-18 38th Ave., the latest apartment building in the downtown area, said Andy Siu, a spokesman for the owner.
Siu described 38 Tower as a luxury building.
“It looks like a hotel,” Siu said. “We put marble flooring in the lobby.”
The building’s apartments are all two bedrooms, ranging from 700 to 850 square feet, Siu said. They will cost between $300,000 and $400,000.
Siu anticipated few problems in trying to sell the units, which went on sale this month.
Residents may begin moving in as soon as April, Siu said.
Since 38 Tower was built in conformity with zoning laws, the project was never brought up in front of Community Board 7, said Marilyn Bitterman, district manager of the board. Many developments in downtown Flushing require variances, often because they are not in compliance with parking requirements.
The project cost about $10 million to construct, Siu said.
38 Tower will have 26 parking spots for its residents. Rather than renting out the spaces, the developer will sell each spot for an additional $32,000.
The building caters to Flushing’s growing population of upper-middle-class Chinese, who tend to buy condominiums rather than rent apartments. 38 Tower will have no fourth floor since four is considered an unlucky number in Chinese culture.
The building is the first project of Siu’s company, 38 Tower LLC, in Queens. It has designed smaller buildings in Chinatown, Siu said.
38 Tower is one of several apartment buildings under construction in the downtown area that are being built to comply with zoning laws.
Prosperity Development is building the 14-story Garden View Plaza at 43-18 Main St. Garden View, across the street from the Queens Botanical Garden, will contain 65 units and is slated to be completed by the end of the year.
A seven-story apartment building is undergoing its final phase of construction at College Point Boulevard and 41st Road.
The construction of apartment buildings in downtown Flushing shows no sign of slowing down. 38 Tower LLC is expected to break ground on another condominium at the end of March.
The building at 133-53 37th Ave. will have 46 units, Siu said.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718 229-0300, Ext. 141.
