Here’s why an ambitious skyscraper in Queens just got cut in half
A proposed skyscraper project in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, has been significantly downsized due to local opposition and rising construction costs. Originally planned as two towers, the project will now consist of a single 13-story building with around 800 rental units. This change reflects broader trends in New York City development, where high costs and financial pressures are leading to a preference for mid-rise constructions over ambitious skyscrapers.
- ▪The Utopia Living project was initially designed as two towers reaching 50 and 42 stories tall.
- ▪The redesign has reduced the project to a single 13-story building totaling about 784,000 square feet.
- ▪Construction costs in New York City have surged, making high-rise developments increasingly unfeasible.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Real Estate exclusive Here’s why an ambitious skyscraper in Queens just got cut in half By Mary K. Jacob Published May 26, 2026, 3:44 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google For years, developers pitched it as the project that would finally drag Central Queens into the skyscraper era. Now it barely rises above the surrounding rooftops. A controversial proposal for two soaring residential towers in Kew Gardens Hills has been dramatically scaled back after years of neighborhood backlash, ballooning construction costs and growing pressure surrounding the project’s financing structure.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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