King-Sized Dealership Goes Up in Queens

A regal dealership is going up in Queens, NY.

Silver Star Motors Mercedes-Benz will occupy the first two floors of a 10-story building under construction. Residential renters will occupy the rest.

Silver Star Motors is a family-owned operation dating to 1972. Unlike some urban dealers who sell their properties and move when city neighborhoods undergo gentrification, Silver Star decided to expand its dealership facilities and develop a mixed-use building on the site of its former parking lot.

Located along a busy stretch of Northern Boulevard, it is the first new high-rise mixed-use retail/residential building in the east Long Island City/Dutch Kills section of the New York City borough.

The building is seen as a harbinger of similar mixed-use developments in a section of Queens that has not seen many, despite its proximity to Manhattan.

A traditional topping-out ceremony marked the completion of the structural frame.

“We are excited to achieve this significant milestone in the development process, says Silver Star dealer principal Michael Cohen.

The dealership will occupy 41,300 sq. ft.(38,360 sq. m) of modern open space, fitting with Mercedes-Benz’s industrial aesthetic look for its retail outlets.

The first floor will feature a showroom, coffee station and desks for sales associates. The mezzanine is for executive offices; the second floor for parking and a secondary showroom.

Positioned linear lights will allow passers-by to see cars inside in a highlighted fashion.

The residential part of the building “will cater to the needs of young professionals, especially those working in the technology sector, both in Manhattan and Long Island City,” says Andrew Barrocas, head of a real estate firm involved in the project.  

Montroy Andersen DeMarco architecture firm designed the structure. 1 Oak Contracting is building it.

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