Tesla to Take Over Vacant College Point Shopping and Entertainment Center
Tesla, the electric car automaker, is set to take over the now vacant College Point shopping and entertainment center.
Background
The electric car manufacturer leased the 150,000-square-foot space at 30-02 Whitestone Expwy. in College Point, according to an industrial report released earlier this month. The site was previously home to Toys “R” Us, Party WOW and the College Point Multiplex Cinemas.
Change in Plans
After the theater was the last of the tenants to close its doors on May 5, a major demolition was planned for the lot. However, Triangle Equities, the real estate development firm that acquired the land in 2000, scrapped those plans in recent months, likely after Tesla expressed interest.
Original Plan
Their original plan, announced in Dec. 2023, was to develop a 425,000-square-foot multi-story logistics facility. They said the site was a prime location for such a facility, given its vicinity to major roadways leading to other boroughs, Long Island and Westchester.
New Plan
According to the new report, the site will no longer be torn down and will instead be retrofitted into a two-story facility for Tesla. However, it’s unclear exactly what it will be used for. Some speculate it will be a supercharging station, at least in some capacity.
Facility Details
The College Point site will offer 700 parking spaces, according to The Real Deal. Tesla currently has a few showrooms and designated body shops in both Brooklyn and on Long Island, but none such locations exist in Queens.
Citywide Expansion
Tesla is also investing in the borough, with over a dozen charging stations, both regular and supercharged, scattered throughout. As part of a citywide investment in supercharging stations, the automaker acquired a 40,037-square-foot lot in Maspeth earlier this year for $18 million.
Conclusion
Tesla’s takeover of the College Point shopping and entertainment center is a significant development for the borough, bringing new opportunities for electric vehicle owners and charging station enthusiasts. With construction set to begin in the summer of 2025, the project is expected to transform the area and become a one-stop-shop for Tesla enthusiasts in Queens.
FAQs
What is Tesla’s plan for the College Point shopping and entertainment center?
Tesla will retrofit the site into a two-story facility, but the exact use is still unclear, with some speculating it will be a supercharging station.
What was the original plan for the site?
Triangle Equities had planned to develop a 425,000-square-foot multi-story logistics facility, but scrapped those plans in favor of a two-story facility for Tesla.
How many parking spaces will the new facility offer?
The College Point site will offer 700 parking spaces.
Where else is Tesla expanding in Queens?
Tesla is also investing in the borough, with over a dozen charging stations, both regular and supercharged, scattered throughout. Additionally, the automaker acquired a 40,037-square-foot lot in Maspeth earlier this year for $18 million.
