The tallest building in Queens will soon become a reality. At least three floors look to have been built so far of The Orchard, the 69-story building in Long Island City that will become the tallest in the borough when it is completed in 2026.
According to filings with the Department of Buildings, The Orchard will stand 794 feet high with 824 apartments and more than 200 parking spaces. The projected height surpasses Skyline Tower and Sven, residential skyscrapers that were completed in 2021; they’re both 762 feet tall.
The Orchard is being developed by BLDG Management with a design from Perkins Eastman. BLDG secured $425 million in construction financing for the project.
“The Orchard is a reflection of our deep commitment to building best-in-class multifamily rental projects that expand access to housing and benefit the communities in which they serve,” Lloyd Goldman, founder and president of BLDG said in a statement in June.
Along with residential space, The Orchard will feature 13,000 square feet of retail space and amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, a sauna, a basketball court, a game room, a dog spa and park, small movie theaters, and what the builders claim is the largest privately owned outdoor landscaped roof-deck in New York City.
The Orchard is one of the final major projects eligible for 421a, which is the tax exemption that required 30% of units to be earmarked for households earning less than 130% of an area’s median income. The exemption expired last year and has not been fully renewed.
