QUEENS — The site of a planned health care facility on Austin Street which neighbors say has become an eyesore after construction delays, may finally get a new life after it was recently purchased by a new developer, according to a broker who sealed the deal.
According to Ceasar Salama of Luxury Property Group who was the broker on the sale, the site at 71-53 Austin St., in the heart of the busy commercial district of Forest Hills, was sold by The Jackson Group and A&H Acquisitions to Austin Prop LLC for $8.7 million.
The sale, first reported by Commercial Observer, took place in December, Salama said.
Construction had been stalled at 71-53 Austin St. since 2014 when it was slapped with a stop work order after a demolition was carried out contrary to the plans, according to the Department of Buildings website.
The site appears to have been abandoned since, even though the issue is listed by the DOB as resolved.
Salama also noted that A&H Acquisitions, owned by developer Alex Adjmi, got involved in bigger projects in various parts of Manhattan.
“It just made sense to sell,” Salama said.
The property was purchased by the seller in 2013 for $4.6 million, according to public records.
Salama also said that Austin Prop decided to buy the property, because “it’s a fantastic location and the best shopping street in the neighborhood.”
The property, which for years was home to Alexandra Boutique, a bridal store, was at some point said to be eyed by H&M.
In 2013, a medical center run by ProHealth, a physician group practice with facilities in New York and Long Island, signed a deal to occupy about 75 percent of the planned 2-story building and was initially scheduled to open early in 2014.
Bob Russo, a spokesman for ProHealth, said Tuesday that the group is still planning to move into the space once it’s complete.
“That definitely is going to be one of our sites,” said Russo, although he was not sure when the facility will open. “We are planning on putting in urgent care and pediatrics there.”
Salama added that the new property owner is also planning to add some residential units on top on the medical facility, but he did not have further details.
Austin Prop was not immediately available for comment.
