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A request for proposals released Thursday to build residential and retail in the Hunter's Point South section of Long Island City, Queens

The de Blasio administration Thursday unlocked two more development sites at Hunter's Point South, a massive city undertaking on the Long Island City, Queens, waterfront that will ultimately produce more than 5,000 units of housing.

The two parcels in question are at the southernmost tip of the 30-acre project area, where the city envisions retail, a new school and at least 750 apartments—with 450 or more being permanently affordable. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development is seeking design proposals from developers and will ultimately select a team to do the project.

"We are looking for dynamic ideas for these remaining city-owned sites at Hunter's Point South," said Vicki Been, head of the city housing agency.

The pair of sites, between 56th and 57th avenues, are two of seven that constitute the overall Hunter's Point South project authorized by a 2008 rezoning under the Bloomberg administration. The first two parcels, between Borden and 50th avenues, were completed last year by a team led by Related Cos.

The third development parcel has not gone as smoothly. More than two years after the city selected TF Cornerstone to build roughly 1,200 units on a plot between Borden and 54th avenues, the project is still facing design difficulties because of complex infrastructure, including an easement for Amtrak's 34th Street tunnel, beneath the site. In 2013, the city completed a waterfront park near the three parcels.

Work is currently underway on extending that waterfront park beyond 57th Avenue along the remaining four parcels: two that are being used as staging areas for construction equipment and two others that are the plots now being offered up for development.

In the city's request for proposals expected to be released Thursday, developers are required to dedicate at least 60% of the apartments to permanently affordable housing geared toward a variety of household incomes. The developer will determine rent levels, though the city said it prefers proposals that skew toward serving lower-income households. In addition, responses will need to include community facility space, which is rented to a certain class of tenant deemed to have some sort of community benefit, such as a nonprofit or a doctor.

The city has also committed to building a school on one of the plots, which City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer said is sorely needed in the growing neighborhood.

"We have had this enormous influx of new residents, but schools just haven't kept pace," said Van Bramer, who also recently helped negotiate to have a school included in TF Cornerstone's building. Both have already been funded and will be built by the School Construction Authority.

Proposals are due in September, and the city expects to announce a winner in early 2017.

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http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article...he-long-island