New residential towers rising over Jamaica Avenue at 149th Street in Downtown Jamaica
Development Tracker — Downtown Jamaica

What's Being Built in Downtown Jamaica? A 230-Block Rezoning, a 37-Story Tower Filing at the AirTrain & an Electric Bus Depot

Hush Street tracks what's changing in Downtown Jamaica: the 230-block rezoning and the big filings that followed, Archer Towers II, a 37-story plan at Jamaica Station, nine buildings on 95th Avenue, new schools and the MTA's electric bus depot.
18
Projects Tracked
11,829
Homes Projected Under the 2025 Rezoning
2,054
Apartments in Three Big New Filings
5
Under Construction
Oct. 2026
Updated
Watch → Open Safety Violations on 148th St. 1 Stalled Hotel Site
By Hush Street Editorial
What’s Changing
→
DOB issued the construction permit for the Success Academy high school on Hillside Avenue.Oct. 2026
→
The 876-seat Q497 public high school opened on 88th Avenue.Sep. 2026
→
Nine buildings with 863 apartments were filed on 95th Avenue.Aug. 2026
Money Moving →
Archer Towers II (163-25 Archer Ave.) Construction loan (YIMBY)$303M
164-02 Jamaica Avenue Site purchase (YIMBY)$13.5M
See what's rising →
PROJECTS REZONING & NEW PLANS UNDER CONSTRUCTION FINISHED

Hush Street is tracking what’s being built in Downtown Jamaica, around Jamaica Station, the AirTrain and the Jamaica and Archer Avenue corridors.

The City Council approved the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan on Oct. 29, 2025, rezoning about 230 blocks and mapping the city’s largest mandatory inclusionary housing area. The approved framework projects 11,829 new homes, and the Council said nearly 4,200 would be permanently affordable, along with $413 million in negotiated community investments.

Large towers were already arriving at the transit hub before the rezoning, and the filings have grown since: a 37-story, 600-unit plan at Jamaica Station, nine buildings with 863 apartments on 95th Avenue and six 12-story buildings on the 165th Street mall. Public projects are reshaping the area too, from the MTA’s rebuilt electric bus depot to a new public high school that opened in September 2026.

Where DOB records and press reports disagree on heights or unit counts, both are given. A permit is not treated as proof that construction has started.

Project Location Status
1Jamaica Neighborhood Plan About 230 blocks around Jamaica Center Rezoning Adopted
2147-27 Archer Avenue Archer Ave. at 147th Pl. Filed (Plan Review)
3Nine Buildings on 95th–97th Avenues 95th–97th Aves., 149th–150th Sts. Filed (Plan Review)
4165th Street Assemblage 165th St. mall, Jamaica–89th Aves. Filed (Plan Review)
5164-02 Jamaica Avenue Jamaica Ave. at 164th St. Filed (Plan Review)
6161-09 and 161-10 Hillside Avenue Hillside Ave. at 161st St. Filed (Plan Review)
7159-31 90th Avenue 90th Ave. at 160th St. Filed (Plan Review)
8148-15 Archer Avenue Archer Ave. at 149th St. Filed (Plan Review)
993-47 Sutphin Boulevard Sutphin Blvd. at the AirTrain Stalled
10Archer Towers II (163-25 Archer Avenue) Archer Ave., 165th St.–Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Under Construction
1189-26 162nd Street 162nd St., Jamaica–89th Aves. Under Construction
1294-09 and 94-11 148th Street 148th St. near 94th Ave. Under Construction
13Success Academy High School (153-10 Hillside Avenue) Hillside Ave. at 153rd St. Under Construction
14Jamaica Bus Depot South Rd. near York College Under Construction
1594-15 Sutphin Boulevard Sutphin Blvd. at 95th Ave. Completed
16Sutphin Senior Residence (97-04 Sutphin Boulevard) Sutphin Blvd. at 97th Ave. Completed
17Jamaica Central and Tower 162 162nd St., Jamaica–90th Aves. Completed
18Q497 High School (165-15 88th Avenue) 88th Ave. at 165th St. Completed

The Rezoning & the Big New Plans

The 2025 rezoning, the towers filed since, and one hotel site that has waited a decade.

1

Jamaica Neighborhood Plan

Google Maps of Jamaica Center, Jamaica, Queens, NY
Downtown Jamaica, the core of the 2025 rezoning, via Google Maps. — Imagery: Google Maps
Address/LocationDowntown Jamaica, the Special Downtown Jamaica District and surrounding blocks
Developer/ApplicantNYC Department of City Planning, with HPD, NYCEDC and other agencies
ProjectA rezoning of about 230 blocks that allows high-density mixed-use buildings along Jamaica and Archer Avenues and maps the city’s largest mandatory inclusionary housing area (Cozen O’Connor). The approved framework projects 11,829 homes (Queens Eagle); the Council put the permanently affordable share at nearly 4,200.
StatusRezoning Adopted
Latest UpdateThe City Council approved the plan on Oct. 29, 2025 (ZAP 2023Q0381). Several of the large filings below are among the first to use the new zoning.

$413 Million in Promises

The Council said it negotiated $413 million in community investments, including a hospital expansion, a new public health center, two parks and a STEAM center.

Sources: NYC Planning ZAP 2023Q0381; New York City Council (Oct. 2025); Queens Eagle (Oct. 2025); Cozen O'Connor (Oct. 2025)

2

147-27 Archer Avenue

Google Street View of 147-27 Archer Avenue, Jamaica, NY
147-27 Archer Avenue, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location92-15 147th Place, also 147-27 Archer Avenue, by Jamaica Station
Developer/ApplicantNot confirmed; Kao Hwa Lee Architects (DOB applicant)
ProjectA 37-story mixed-use tower with 600 apartments (DOB), which would be Downtown Jamaica’s tallest if built as filed. YIMBY reported an earlier 2024 design of 20 stories and 359 units, 119 of them income-restricted.
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateDOB approved structural sub-filings in September 2026 while the main new-building application remained in objections. No work permits have been issued.

The Tallest Plan in Jamaica

Press reports conflict on the site’s recent ownership, and the current developer has not been confirmed. The vacant lot sits next to The Crossing at Jamaica Station.

Sources: NYC DOB NOW job Q00676542-I1 (Sept. 2026); New York YIMBY (Dec. 2024); Marketproof

3

Nine Buildings on 95th–97th Avenues

Google Street View of 149-02 95th Avenue, Jamaica, NY
Nine Buildings on 95th–97th Avenues, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location149-02 95th Avenue, the block bounded by 95th and 97th Avenues and 149th and 150th Streets
Developer/ApplicantHeartfelt Townhouse Build / Joel Weiss (DOB owner of record); JFA Architects & Engineers
ProjectNine new buildings, mostly 18 stories, with 863 apartments in all (DOB), several labeled in their filings as mandatory inclusionary housing developments under the new zoning. PincusCo reported the plan in August 2026.
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateThe nine applications, filed in early August 2026, were in DOB objections or plan review as of Oct. 21. Demolition applications for the existing buildings, filed in July, are pending.

Among the First Big Rezoning Filings

The same owner built the completed 94-15 Sutphin Boulevard tower nearby.

Sources: PincusCo (Aug. 2026); NYC DOB NOW new-building filings on block 10002 (Oct. 2026)

4

165th Street Assemblage

Google Street View of 89-53 165th Street, Jamaica, NY
165th Street Assemblage, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location89-53 165th Street, 89-01 to 89-53 165th Street
Developer/ApplicantNot identified in DOB records; JFA Architects & Engineers
ProjectSix 12-story mixed-use buildings with ground-floor retail and 591 apartments in all along the 165th Street pedestrian mall (DOB, YIMBY).
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateDemolition at 89-35 165th Street was signed off in March 2026, after a January 2026 DOB stop-work order that has since been dismissed. The six new-building applications, filed in July 2025, are still in objections.

Six Buildings on the Mall

Another developer has filed three more 12-story buildings on 164th and 165th Streets nearby.

Sources: New York YIMBY (July 2025); NYC DOB NOW jobs Q01243880-I1 and related filings (Mar. 2026)

5

164-02 Jamaica Avenue

Google Street View of 164-02 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
164-02 Jamaica Avenue, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location164-02 Jamaica Avenue
Developer/ApplicantVaya Development and Communilife; Stat Architecture
ProjectA 28-story building with 285 affordable and supportive apartments, about 70,000 square feet of community space and retail, designed to Passive House standards (DOB, YIMBY).
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateDemolition of the old commercial buildings was signed off in October 2025, and the new-building application moved to chief plan examiner review on Oct. 19, 2026. YIMBY reported no construction timeline.

A Supportive Housing Tower

Communilife bought the three buildings on the site for $13.5 million, YIMBY reported.

Sources: New York YIMBY (June 2026); NYC DOB NOW job Q01367014-I1 (Oct. 2026)

6

161-09 and 161-10 Hillside Avenue

Google Street View of 161-10 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica, NY
161-09 and 161-10 Hillside Avenue, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location161-10 Hillside Avenue, and 161-09 Hillside Avenue across the street
Developer/ApplicantMural Real Estate Partners; Curtis + Ginsberg Architects
ProjectTwo 14-story buildings facing each other across Hillside Avenue, with 227 and 173 apartments, 400 in all, on parking lots (DOB). QNS described them as affordable housing.
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateNYSERDA gave the 173-unit north building a $1.2 million Buildings of Excellence award in October 2026 (QNS). Both applications were in DOB plan review as of Oct. 19.

An Award Before Groundbreaking

YIMBY listed the north building as 161-05 Hillside Avenue with a smaller floor area than the DOB filing.

Sources: QNS (Oct. 2026); New York YIMBY (Oct. 2026); NYC DOB NOW jobs Q01289631-I1 and Q01289649-I1 (Oct. 2026)

7

159-31 90th Avenue

Google Street View of 159-31 90th Avenue, Jamaica, NY
159-31 90th Avenue, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location159-31 90th Avenue
Developer/ApplicantHaussmann Development, on a ground lease from the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica; GF55 Partners
ProjectA 14-story building with 213 apartments (DOB; The Real Deal reported 258) that includes a 400-seat sanctuary, church offices and a pastor’s apartment.
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateThe new-building application, filed in August 2025, was still in DOB objections at its last update on Oct. 21, 2026.

Housing With a Sanctuary Inside

Haussmann took over a stalled ground-lease project on the church’s land, The Real Deal reported.

Sources: The Real Deal (Aug. 2025); New York YIMBY (Aug. 2025); NYC DOB NOW job Q01233524-I1 (Oct. 2026)

8

148-15 Archer Avenue

Google Street View of 148-15 Archer Avenue, Jamaica, NY
148-15 Archer Avenue, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location148-15 Archer Avenue
Developer/ApplicantBuilding 163 SC HDFC (DOB owner of record); Amie Gross Architects
ProjectA 22-story, 238-foot building with 127 apartments, 77 supportive and 50 affordable, and a large community facility, two blocks from Jamaica Station (YIMBY, DOB).
StatusFiled (Plan Review)
Latest UpdateThe new-building application, filed in October 2025, was in DOB objections as of November 2025, with no later change found.

Supportive Housing at the Station

No construction timeline has been announced.

Sources: New York YIMBY (Nov. 2025); NYC DOB NOW job Q01274353-I1 (Nov. 2025)

9

93-47 Sutphin Boulevard

Google Street View of 93-47 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY
93-47 Sutphin Boulevard, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location93-47 Sutphin Boulevard
Developer/ApplicantStation Plaza Hotel LLC (DOB owner of record)
ProjectA 27-story Hilton Garden Inn proposed since 2015 for a lot across from the AirTrain and LIRR (DOB, QNS).
StatusStalled
Latest UpdateA new rendering surfaced in November 2024 (QNS), but no construction activity has been found since; the original 2015 permit shows its last DOB action in October 2024.

A Decade-Old Hotel Plan

The new zoning could let the site be redeveloped differently.

Sources: QNS (Nov. 2024); NYC DOB BIS job 420654786 (accessed Oct. 2026)

Under Construction

An all-affordable tower, mid-rise rentals, a charter high school and the MTA’s electric bus depot.

10

Archer Towers II (163-25 Archer Avenue)

Google Street View of 163-25 Archer Avenue, Jamaica, NY
Archer Towers II (163-25 Archer Avenue), via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location163-25 Archer Avenue
Developer/ApplicantBRP Companies; Perkins Eastman
ProjectA 22-story building with 400 mixed-income apartments for households at 40 to 110 percent of area median income, 60 of them for formerly homeless households, replacing a parking garage (YIMBY, DOB).
StatusUnder Construction
Latest UpdateDOB issued construction, foundation and structural permits between January and July 2026, and plumbing and sprinkler permits in August. YIMBY reported a 2028 completion target.

A $303 Million Loan

BRP closed a $303 million construction loan, YIMBY reported in January 2026. It is BRP’s fourth Jamaica development.

Sources: New York YIMBY (Jan. 2026); Urbanize NYC; NYC DOB NOW job Q01118133-I1 (Aug. 2026)

11

89-26 162nd Street

Google Street View of 89-26 162nd Street, Jamaica, NY
89-26 162nd Street, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location89-26 162nd Street
Developer/ApplicantThe Vaja Group (DOB owner contact); S. Wieder Architect
ProjectA 16-story rental building with 227 apartments (DOB), grown from a nine-story plan YIMBY reported in 2022.
StatusUnder Construction
Latest UpdateDOB issued construction and structural permits in November 2025, and an inspector described the building at the structure stage in January 2026. New amendments were filed on Oct. 23.

Across From Its Finished Sibling

The same group’s Jamaica Central, across the street, was finished in 2026. A June 2026 violation cited a plywood sheet falling onto a neighboring site.

Sources: New York YIMBY (Apr. 2022); NYC DOB NOW job Q00721236-I1 and ECB records (Oct. 2026)

12

94-09 and 94-11 148th Street

Google Street View of 94-09 148th Street, Jamaica, NY
94-09 and 94-11 148th Street, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location94-09 148th Street
Developer/ApplicantThe Vaja Group (DOB owner contact); S. Wieder Architect
ProjectTwin 18-story rental buildings with 89 and 88 apartments (DOB).
StatusUnder Construction
Latest UpdateDOB issued excavation-support and foundation permits in May 2026 and earthwork permits on Sept. 23; an inspector recorded active earthwork in September. Three safety violations from that inspection are open.

Earthwork Under Way

The sites are a block from the Sutphin Boulevard rail hub.

Sources: NYC DOB NOW jobs Q01278129-I1 and Q01295343-I1 (Oct. 2026); NYC DOB/ECB violations (Sept. 2026)

13

Success Academy High School (153-10 Hillside Avenue)

Google Street View of 153-10 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica, NY
Success Academy High School (153-10 Hillside Avenue), via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location153-10 Hillside Avenue
Developer/Applicant153 Hillside Avenue LLC (DOB owner of record); Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
ProjectA six-story school building of about 229,000 square feet (DOB) on lots Success Academy bought for $30 million in 2023 for a high school, the Queens Chronicle reported.
StatusUnder Construction
Latest UpdateDOB issued the general-construction permit on Oct. 20, 2026, after excavation-support and foundation permits in January and March.

A Charter High School on Hillside

Success Academy has not announced an opening date or seat count for the building.

Sources: Queens Chronicle (Mar. 2023); NYC DOB NOW job Q01220686-I1 (Oct. 2026)

14

Jamaica Bus Depot

Google Street View of Jamaica Bus Depot, 165-18 South Road, Jamaica, NY
Jamaica Bus Depot, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location165-18 South Road
Developer/ApplicantMTA New York City Transit; Skanska
ProjectA $480 million rebuild of the bus depot for the MTA’s first fully electric bus fleet, with room for up to 300 buses (MTA; Skanska and the Queens Chronicle cite 272).
StatusUnder Construction
Latest UpdateThe MTA’s project page, updated Oct. 19, 2026, targets substantial completion in late 2026, while MTA officials told a community meeting the building would be finished by late 2027 (Queens Chronicle).

An All-Electric Depot

Buses have been parked at a temporary lot near York College during construction.

Sources: MTA (Oct. 2026); Queens Chronicle (Apr. 2026); Skanska (Jan. 2023)

Finished in 2025 & 2026

A 524-unit tower at the AirTrain, senior housing, two mid-rise rentals and a new public high school.

15

94-15 Sutphin Boulevard

Google Street View of 94-15 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY
94-15 Sutphin Boulevard, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location94-15 Sutphin Boulevard
Developer/ApplicantHeartfelt Townhouse Build / Joel Weiss (DOB owner of record); JFA Architects & Engineers
ProjectA 24-story rental tower with 524 apartments across from the AirTrain and LIRR (DOB, YIMBY).
StatusCompleted
Latest UpdateDOB issued the first temporary certificate of occupancy on May 28, 2025, renewed most recently on Sept. 22, 2026. A 90-unit affordable lottery opened in July 2025 (YIMBY).

Big Towers at the Rail Hub

Its sister tower at 147-35 95th Avenue was finished in early 2025.

Sources: New York YIMBY (July 2025); 6sqft; NYC DOB NOW job Q00657653-I1 and CO records (Sept. 2026)

16

Sutphin Senior Residence (97-04 Sutphin Boulevard)

Google Street View of 97-04 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY
Sutphin Senior Residence (97-04 Sutphin Boulevard), via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location97-04 Sutphin Boulevard
Developer/ApplicantBreaking Ground; Bernheimer Architecture
ProjectA 15-story building with 173 apartments: 52 for formerly homeless older adults and 120 for seniors earning up to 50 percent of area median income, plus a 15,000-square-foot health center (YIMBY).
StatusCompleted
Latest UpdateDOB issued a temporary certificate of occupancy in October 2025, renewed in September 2026, and YIMBY reported construction complete on Sept. 26, 2026.

Senior Housing With a Clinic

The health center is run by Community Healthcare Network.

Sources: New York YIMBY (Sept. 2026); NYC DOB NOW job Q00641359-I1 and CO records (Sept. 2026)

17

Jamaica Central and Tower 162

Google Street View of 89-25 162nd Street, Jamaica, NY
Jamaica Central and Tower 162, via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location89-25 162nd Street, and 89-61 162nd Street
Developer/ApplicantThe Vaja Group (89-25, DOB owner contact); S. Wieder Architect and JFA Architects & Engineers
ProjectTwo new rental buildings on one block: Jamaica Central, 14 stories with 126 apartments, and Tower 162, 12 stories with 89 (DOB).
StatusCompleted
Latest UpdateBoth received temporary certificates of occupancy in spring 2026, and their affordable lotteries opened in March and July (YIMBY).

A Stop-Work Order, Then Dismissed

DOB issued a stop-work order at 89-61 162nd Street in January 2026 over its intent to revoke an approval; it was later dismissed.

Sources: New York YIMBY (July 2026); New York YIMBY (Mar. 2026); NYC DOB CO and violation records (Oct. 2026)

18

Q497 High School (165-15 88th Avenue)

Google Street View of 165-15 88th Avenue, Jamaica, NY
Q497 High School (165-15 88th Avenue), via Google Street View. — Imagery: Google Street View
Address/Location165-15 88th Avenue
Developer/ApplicantNYC School Construction Authority
ProjectA five-story, 876-seat public high school housing Queens High School for the Sciences and a District 75 program (Patch). The Queens Chronicle reported a $110.75 million cost.
StatusCompleted
Latest UpdateDOB issued the first temporary certificate of occupancy on Aug. 31, 2026, and the school opened in September (Patch).

A New School Opens

It serves grades 9 through 12.

Sources: Patch (Sept. 2026); Queens Chronicle (Sept. 2026); NYC DOB NOW job Q00687157-I1 and CO records (Aug. 2026)

What We're Watching Next

Permits for the 147-27 Archer Avenue tower and the nine 95th Avenue buildings, demolition on the 165th Street mall, the start of construction at 164-02 Jamaica Avenue and the Hillside Avenue pair, the bus depot’s completion and the first projects funded by the rezoning’s $413 million in community investments are next.

Header photo: new towers over Jamaica Avenue at 149th Street, Downtown Jamaica, 2022, by Tdorante10, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

By Updated Built from city filings and published reporting. About Hush Street

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