Astoria Cove agreement on union labor

The City Council and the developers behind the Astoria Cove redevelopment project reached a deal late Tuesday night to use union labor for the construction phase of the project and building service jobs when the project is completed.

Two union sources confirmed the agreement to Capital.

The agreement will provide jobs for construction workers represented by the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York as well service jobs such as building managers, security, and maintenance workers represented by 32BJSEIU.

Build Up NYC, a coalition of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and 32BJSEIU, along with other union advocates had scheduled a press conference on the steps of the City Hall for this morning ahead of a Council vote on the project, but the conference was canceled after the deal was reached.

In a statement, Build Up NYC president Gary LaBarbera said, “Alma Realty has agreed to create good jobs for all construction, building maintenance and security workers in Astoria Cove.”

An affordable housing portion of the agreement is still being worked out.

Council sources told Capital late on Tuesday night the developer agreed in private negotiations Tuesday night to provide 25 percent of affordable housing units, up from the original 20 percent proposed.

Councilman Costa Constantinides, who represents the area, is asking for 30 percent. The parties are still negotiating.

The proposed Astoria Cove project would be built in what is formally known as Hallets Point, a waterfront area with views of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and Manhattan’s East Side. The project calls for a mix of residential and retail space, including 1,723 apartments, a school, green areas and a supermarket.

The 2.2 million-square-foot project would follow Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mandatory inclusionary housing guidelines, which require any developer that wants a change in the city’s zoning code to include 20 percent of permanently affordable housing units in its project.

The Council’s land use committee is scheduled to vote on the project on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Source: Capital New York