City Selects Development Team for Major Waterfront Housing Project in Long Island City

New York City officials have announced the selection of a development team to transform a long-vacant waterfront lot in Long Island City into a significant mixed-income residential complex. The project, dubbed The Orion, is a collaboration between Slate Property Group, The Hudson Companies, and Volunteers of America-Greater New York.

Designed by the architecture firm Marvel, the development is planned to feature three buildings housing approximately 980 apartments. According to city officials, roughly 66 percent of these units will be designated as affordable for households ranging from extremely low to moderate income levels. The plan includes 150 units specifically earmarked for supportive housing.

This project marks the first implementation of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Mixed Income Market Initiative. This framework is designed to utilize market-rate units to help subsidize the construction of affordable housing within the same development.

In response to community feedback regarding the need for family-sized housing, developers have indicated that approximately one-third of the total units will be two-bedroom apartments or larger. Beyond residential space, the complex is set to include community facilities, such as a daycare, a workforce development center, and an indoor swimming pool, all of which are expected to be operated by the nonprofit Commonpoint Queens. Other planned amenities include fitness centers, laundry facilities, and rooftop terraces.

Development of this site, known as Parcel E, follows a request for proposals issued by the city in June 2025. The initiative is part of the broader 30-acre Hunter’s Point South redevelopment, which originated from the city’s efforts to repurpose land following its unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

While the city has finalized the selection of the development team, the project has not yet reached the construction phase. Developers must still secure necessary financing before work can begin on the site. Reports regarding the exact unit count have varied slightly, with some sources citing 980 units and others noting 983, reflecting the evolving nature of the planning process.