The Durst Organization opens 58,000 s/f waterfront esplanade at Halletts Point Astoria
Queens, NY The Durst Organization has opened the publicly accessible waterfront esplanade at Halletts Point in Astoria. The 58,000 s/f waterfront esplanade, designed by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners, features views of the Manhattan skyline, a playground, picnic area, and a variety of seating. Located along the waterfront at 20 and 30 Halletts Point, which launched leasing earlier this year, the esplanade is an important component of the development and marks a key step in reconnecting the Astoria community to this stretch of the East River. Replacing a long-abandoned industrial edge, the esplanade creates public access to the shoreline for the first time in generations.
“The new esplanade is a cornerstone of our vision for Halletts Point,” said Jody Durst, president of The Durst Organization. “This space opens up a stretch of Astoria’s shoreline that has been inaccessible for decades, while offering a meaningful, immersive connection to the natural landscape. We’re proud to offer this resource to the entire community.”
The esplanade connects the campus, forming a cohesive, walkable green corridor that weaves together the residential, retail, and public spaces. 8,000 s/f of ground-floor retail will activate the space with neighborhood-serving businesses and a indoor-outdoor connection that will draw people to the waterfront throughout the year.
Starr Whitehouse’s landscape design features sculpted topography and a diverse mix of 83 native and adaptive plant species. Plants were selected for their year-round beauty, ecological benefit, and ability to withstand the winds and salt spray along this rugged East River promontory.
Halletts Point is a mixed-use, mixed-income development with 1,000 residential rental units and ground-floor neighborhood retail. Leasing for 20 and 30 Halletts Point launched in January 2025 and brought 647 studio, one-, and two-bedroom homes to the campus. Beyond the esplanade, residents have 40,000 s/f of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a pool terrace, fitness center, lounges, coworking spaces, and Tot Spot — all designed to complement and connect with the surrounding waterfront environment.
The first building, 10 Halletts Point, opened in 2019 with 405 apartments, 25,000 s/f of amenities, and brought the first full-service supermarket to the area. The 70 trees along the esplanade include bald cypress, red cedar, sweet bay magnolia, sour gum, and service berry, while white oak and American yellowwood carry this floodplain palette east to 1st St.
“The opening of the Halletts Point esplanade represents a major milestone in the evolution of Astoria’s waterfront,” said Laura Starr, co-founder of Starr Whitehouse. “This part of the East River has been inaccessible for so long, so everything we did here was to bring people to the water. The design creates generous entrances off the street, aligning the paths to create a journey through native plants and locally sourced boulders to arrive at these incredible vistas. With places to sit, walk your dog, and play with your kids, we wanted people to be able to spend the day here, whether strolling in nature, relaxing, exploring, or enjoying the amazing view.”
Rich in seasonal color and food for wildlife, a riparian understory contains over 700 shrubs and small trees, including bayberry, choke cherry, beach plum, Carolina rose and witch hazel. Riparian grasses and sedges hug the shoreline; shade-loving grasses, ferns, and leafy selections distinguish north-facing areas; and two meadow mixes welcome visitors with bursts of color and movement. Seaside goldenrod, milkweed, iris and phlox are among the species selected to support pollinators, attract migratory birds, and manage stormwater – transforming this former industrial shoreline into a nature walk.
A zig-zagging path hugs the edge of the peninsula, revealing new vistas with every turn. The pathway is punctuated by 200 boulders along the waterfront and complemented by Corinthian granite blocks and integrated benches. 1,150 linear feet of seating is provided throughout the Esplanade, with benches, seating steps, chaise lounges, picnic tables, and movable chairs creating seating for approximately 550 people.
Balancing tranquility with play, the esplanade features a nautically inspired playground. Sheltered from northern winds by the adjacent towers and bathed in warm southern light, the playground and lawn areas help create a destination. A lawn invites picnics, informal gatherings, and relaxation with a panoramic view of the East River.