Mixed-Use Project Planned for Former Jehovah’s Witnesses Site in Queens

• A developer is proposing a mixed-use project with 145 apartments on a former Jehovah’s Witnesses property in Sunnyside, Queens.
• The redevelopment site is located at 44-17 Greenpoint Ave., previously home to an Assembly Hall used by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
• The proposal would add new housing and commercial space to a growing section of western Queens.

What the Proposed Development Includes

A former religious property in Sunnyside could soon be redeveloped into a mixed-use residential project as plans move forward for a new apartment building in western Queens. The proposal calls for 145 apartments at the former Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses located at 44-17 Greenpoint Ave. The site has long served as a religious gathering space but is now positioned for residential redevelopment as demand for housing continues growing across Queens. The project would include a mix of residential and commercial uses, adding new density to a neighborhood that has increasingly attracted development interest because of its transit access and proximity to Manhattan.

What the Redevelopment Means for Sunnyside

Sunnyside has become one of western Queens’ more closely watched residential markets as developers continue searching for redevelopment opportunities outside the core luxury districts of Long Island City. Former institutional and religious properties have increasingly become redevelopment targets throughout New York City, especially in neighborhoods where land availability remains limited. Sites with larger footprints often provide rare opportunities to add meaningful housing inventory in already built-out communities. The former Jehovah’s Witnesses property sits along Greenpoint Avenue, an active corridor connecting residential and commercial sections of Sunnyside.

What This Says About Queens Housing Development

The proposal reflects the continued push for additional housing construction across New York City as affordability pressures remain high and apartment demand stays strong. Western Queens neighborhoods including Sunnyside, Woodside, and Long Island City have continued attracting multifamily development because of strong transit connectivity and relatively limited new housing supply compared to demand. Mixed-use projects remain especially attractive to developers because they allow residential density while also activating street-level retail and commercial space.

What the Project Could Mean for the Neighborhood

If approved, the development could bring a significant number of new housing units to Sunnyside while reshaping a longtime community property into a more active mixed-use site. The proposal also continues a broader trend of religious and institutional conversions throughout New York, where aging properties are increasingly being repositioned for residential development as neighborhoods evolve and land values rise.