Luxury Long Island City High-Rise That Boasts Sweeping Manhattan Views Prepares To Welcome First Residents

The finishing touches are being placed on New York City's newest luxury residential tower soon ready to welcome residents.

The Orchard is an 823-foot-high building in Long Island City, Queens. The tower has a 360-degree panoramic perspective of the city, including stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and overflowing with amenities.

The 70-story building is located at Orchard Street and Jackson Avenue, spanning a full city block. The exterior combines brick, glass, and metal with nods to the area's rich past. Residents will be right in the heart of Long Island City, directly across the East River from Manhattan. Cafes, galleries, and shops dot the neighborhood, which has easy access to subway and train lines, the ferry and bike stations.

The building has 824 residences with starting lease prices ranging from the mid-$3,000s to $10,000 and up. The median asking rent in the New York metro is $2,898.

"Having owned this site for nearly 60 years, we set out to create a development that honors the neighborhood’s history and elevates its modern identity," said Lloyd Goldman, president of BLDG Management.

"From the residences to New York’s largest private backyard space, we’ve crafted an unparalleled living experience and look forward to welcoming our first residents as this remarkable new chapter comes to life."

The Orchard is offering studio to three-bedroom residences, with some homes featuring private balconies or terraces. Residents can choose from four collections: The Residences, The Terrace Collection, The Premier and Penthouse Collection, and The Sky Collection.

All the options will offer open layouts with high ceilings and oversized windows to welcome natural light. The kitchens have modern finishes and stainless steel appliances. Each unit has laundry, programmable climate control, prewired WiFi, and solar shades, along with blackout shades in the bathroom.

Amenities abound

The heart of the building is a 60,000 square foot landscaped space called the "Backyard", featuring lush landscaping, an apple orchard with shaded paths, a resort-style pool with cabanas, three pickleball courts, running track, outdoor media screen for movies and events, a great lawn for picnics and relaxation, yoga deck, life-size chess set, an outdoor games area, barbecue grills, a fire pit, children's playground, and a fenced-in dog park.

The "Fieldhouse", on the third floor, features a fitness center with a boxing studio, dedicated Pilates space, full-size basketball court, an indoor lap pool, hot tub, steam room, and sauna. There's also an indoor "Treehouse" for the kids.

On the fourth floor, The Commons has various spaces for entertainment, relaxing, and dining. There's a multisport simulator, full-size arcade game room with pingpong and billiard tables, and theaters with kitchenettes.

The business center has coworking areas, work nooks, conference rooms, and a podcast studio and lounge. The 70th floor Sky Lounge is open to residents to take in the penthouse views of the city and offers a bar, full-service kitchen, seating, and fireplace.

“Long Island City is one of New York’s most dynamic residential markets, with strong demand for full-service living," said Jodi Stasse, executive vice president of new developments at The Corcoran Group, the exclusive marketing and leasing agent at The Orchard.

"The Orchard takes that lifestyle to the next level with striking architecture, thoughtfully designed interiors, and expansive outdoor spaces. From rooftop dining and coworking lounges to pet-friendly areas and courts for basketball and pickleball, every detail is curated to inspire. It’s a community with something for everyone—where convenience meets sophistication."

The Orchard comes with a two-story parking garage with spaces for rent, bicycle storage, resident storage, and dog wash facility.

Leasing is now open, with the first residents moving in February.

Lucky lottery

Out of the 824 residences, 576 are being leased at market rate, but 248 units will be part of a lottery offering qualified residents homes at a lower rate.

Residents who are chosen in the lottery will be guaranteed rent-stabilized apartments, one month free on a one- or two-year lease, 25% off the amenity fee on the first year and 10% off the amenity fee on the second year, plus $1,500 off the security deposit.

To qualify for the lottery, household size and maximum incomes will be taken into consideration. To give you an idea of the income needed: a one-bedroom, rent-stabilized unit will run between $3,250 and $3,599 a month. A household size of one needs a minimum income of $104,983 and a maximum income of $147,420 to qualify.

A three-bedroom, rent-stabilized unit will cost $4,925 a month and a household of four needs a minimum income of $178,560 and a maximum income of $210,600 to be considered for the lottery. Applications close in two weeks.