About — Central Astoria

A brown awning displays the name Central Astoria LDC. Below the awning, a door with a large window is painted gold, there are white blinds in the window, and there is a silver railing on the right side of the walkway.

About Us

Central Astoria undertakes several programs that directly benefit residents and businesses of Astoria, and strive to constantly improve the neighborhood as a whole.

It doesn’t take long to sense Astoria’s special character. Home to over 100 ethnic groups, it is this kaleidoscope of people that makes Astoria a vibrant, thriving neighborhood. Well-tended residential blocks crisscross an international street life. With a pace that is neither the hectic bustle of Manhattan nor the steady routine of the suburbs, Astoria is truly a village within the city, ideal for strolling, shopping, dining, lingering, and living.

Assistance for Residents

To prevent displacement of tenants and maintain and preserve decent housing for low and middle income individuals & seniors Central Astoria's Housing and Benefits Assistance Program:

Provides bilingual assistance to individuals and clients, including in-person counseling, regarding the following: Warranty of Habitability Laws, Housing Maintenance Codes, Rent Regulations, Rent Increases, Overcharges, Harassment, Housing Court, and benefit programs.

Provides information and assistance in filing for benefits and subsidy assistance programs for seniors and disabled such as DRIE, SCRIE, HEAP, Lifeline, SCHE, DHE, STAR, EPIC, IT 203, EnergyShare, Section 8, HEAP, IT214, food stamps, etc.

Cultural Programming

Each summer Central Astoria presents cultural programming throughout the neighborhood. Central Astoria’s Waterfront Concert Series brings together residents and visitors from all walks of like under the universal language of music.

A large movie screen is displayed on the grass at Astoria Park. It is dark outside, and the Triboro bridge is lit up behind the movie screen.

We strive to provide an eclectic mix of performers spanning multiple genres to ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy. Our Movies on the Waterfront attract families and friends, residents and visitors alike to the Astoria Park Great Lawn for a night of free entertainment, with the stars and RFK Tri-borough and Hell Gate Bridges providing an unbeatably serene backdrop.

People are gathered around a tall pine tree with multi colored Christmas lights. A man on stilts wearing a red and black toy solider uniform stands above the crowd.

In addition to concerts and movies, the Central Astoria initiated other events including the Batty Over Halloween Celebration, a spooky afternoon filled with fun for everyone, and Astoria's Community Holiday Tree Lighting where stories and songs of Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas fill the air as a traditional tree is lit up.

Over the years, both events have become highly anticipated and full-fledged traditions for Astoria’s multi-ethnic community. To celebrate our neighborhood’s rich cultural diversity, an annual International Cultural Festival is held every spring showcasing a wide variety of cultures through music and dance performances of their native lands.

Assistance for Businesses

With over 1,000 Astoria businesses in its four business districts - Broadway, 30th Avenue, 36th Avenue and Steinway Street - the Central Astoria LDC:

Advocates for services and quality of life issues.

Provides marketing and promotional events for all districts.

Provides information to businesses regarding available business solutions programs, grants and regulations.

Provides various beautification elements to the districts including street cleaning, flowers, trees, planters, storefront improvements, etc.

Neighborhood 360° Program

The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition along with the Queens Economic Development Corporation are joint recipients of a 3-year Astoria Neighborhood 360° Grant through the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

The Neighborhood 360° program identifies, develops, and launches commercial revitalization projects in partnership with local stakeholders. Through proactive planning and targeted investments, Neighborhood 360° supports projects that strengthen and revitalize NYC commercial corridors, small businesses and neighborhoods.

The Central Astoria LDC’s work aims to maximize shared value, strengthen Astoria’s six commercial corridors for its merchants and the community as a whole, as well as promote better quality of life through Cleanliness & Beautification, Placemaking, Community Coordination and Merchant Organizing initiatives.

The Central Astoria LDC is here to assist! Contact us if you have ideas on cleanliness and beautification and green spaces along your commercial corridor.

A group of volunteer youth stand in front of a laundromat for a group photo after participating in a community clean up event.

A group of volunteer youth are participating in a community clean up event. They are on the sidewalk and a tree is next to them.

A group of volunteer youth are participating in a community clean up event. They are on the sidewalk. It is a rainy day and the sky is gray.

A group of volunteer youth are participating in a community clean up event. They are on the sidewalk in front of a large brick apartment building.

A group of volunteer youth stand on the corner of 25th avenue and Steinway street for a group photo after participating in a community clean up event.

A lamp post has old flyers, stickers, and graffiti on it. This is a before photo from a community clean up.

A lamp post is black and freshly painted. The graffiti and stickers have been removed. This is a photo from after a community clean up.

A red Fire alarm lamp post is shown covered in stickers and graffiti. This is a before photo from a community clean up.

A red Fire alarm lamp post is shown freshly painted. The graffiti and stickers have been removed. This is a photo from after a community clean up.

A blue mail box has old flyers, stickers, and graffiti on it. This is a before photo from a community clean up.

A blue mail box is shown freshly painted. The graffiti and stickers have been removed. This is a photo from after a community clean up.

A green utilities box on a silver light post has old flyers, stickers, and graffiti on it. This is a before photo from a community clean up.

A green utilities box on a silver light post is shown freshly painted. The graffiti and stickers have been removed. This is a photo from after a community clean up.

Flyer for food establishment education initiative

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez stands with his team on Steinway Street.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Mamas Empanadas on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Basurero Restaurant on Steinway Street. He is standing in the restaurant and smiling with a waiter wearing an orange shirt and an apron.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Pikalo Restaurant on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Café de Colombia on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez and a member of his team stand at the counter of Café de Colombia on Steinway Street. The store clerk is also looking at the camera and all three people are smiling

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Rizzo’s Pizza on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk. There are pizzas in the glass display case.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Fitrition Cafe on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Moka & Co cafe on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk.

Queens Commissioner for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Alfonso Lopez visits Noisette cafe on Steinway Street. He is standing at the counter and speaking with the store clerk. There are pastries in the glass display case.

Flyer for Christmas Matters Holiday Carolers

Marie Torniali, Executive Director of Central Astoria LDC, stands with 4 carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits. It is dark out and there are holiday lights behind them.

Holiday Carolers wearing christmas sweaters are singing in front of a restaurant on Ditmars boulevard. A small crowd stands and watches.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are singing in front of Fresh Bowl & Go restaurant on Broadway.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are standing and smiling in front of Fitrition cafe on Astoria Boulevard.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are singing in front of Make Believe Bakeshop on Astoria Boulevard.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are singing in front of Il Nonno restaurant on Astoria Boulevard.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are standing and singing on Astoria Boulevard.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of Hello Bangladesh restaurant on 36th avenue. They are wearing black jackets and pants and red scarves.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of Rio Market on 36th avenue. They are wearing black jackets and pants and red scarves. Behind them is a large wall mural of a black and white face surrounded by bright colors.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of Rio Bonito restaurant on 36th avenue. They are wearing black jackets and pants and red scarves.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of Fusion Juice bar on 36th avenue. They are wearing black jackets and pants and red scarves.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of Susuru ramen restaurant on 36th avenue. They are wearing black jackets and pants and red scarves. Behind them is a white wall with multi colored painted mural.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of Leo’s Pizza restaurant on 36th avenue.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy perform in front of The Green LIC shop on 36th avenue. The storefront is bright yellow with a large window.

Student musicians of Nuevo Amanecer Mariachi academy pose with their instruments in front of Flowers by Lunelly shop on 36th avenue. The storefront is decorated for Christmas and has a red awning over the large window.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are singing in front of D&F deli on Broadway.

Four holiday carolers who are wearing traditional plaid caroling outfits are singing in front of La Guli pastry shop.

Flyer for Sanitation changes (event has passed)

Abby Grayburn, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands with a team member and two employees of Duzan Grill. They are holding booklets outlining the new Sanitation guidelines.

Abby Grayburn, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands with another woman in front of Lefkos Pyrgos Cafe. Abby is holding papers outlining the new Sanitation guidelines.

Abby Grayburn, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands with another woman inside a restaurant. They are holding papers outlining the new sanitation guidelines.

Abby Grayburn, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands with a man inside a restaurant. He is holding the DSNY commerical guidelines booklet.

Maria Fedorocheva, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands inside Flaming Grill Halal restaurant with an employee at the front counter.

Maria Fedorocheva, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands inside a shop. She is holding the DSNY sanitation guildeline book and smiling at the camera.

Maria Fedorocheva, Engagement and Operations Associate for NYC Department of Sanitation stands in front of Puzzles shop on Ditmars. She is standing next to another woman.

Flyer for Free Shred Event (event has passed)

Community Cleanup Event (event has passed)

A group of people with green trash bags clean up debris from the sidewalk and roadway on 31st street.

People with green trash bags clean up debris from the sidewalk and roadway on 31st street.

Volunteers smile at the camera after a community cleanup event. They are standing in front of the NW train line and green trash bags are on the ground in front of them.

Volunteers holding green trash bags stand in front of Krispy Kreme as a performer plays guitar under a white tent.

A performer plays guitar and sings under a white tent in front of Krispy Kreme.

An employee of StreetPlus sanitation services cleans up the corner of 33rd street and 36th avenue.

Two people clean up a tree bed on a commercial avenue. There is a green trash bin and a large paper bag by them.

Four associates of NYC Small Business Services stand in front of a brick building and smile at the camera.

A group of associates from NYC Small Business Services stand in front of Dino’s restaurant on Broadway and 30th street.

An associate of NYC SBS speaks with a business owner inside a shop.

An associate of NYC SBS speaks with a shop clerk at the counter.

Flyer for Parent and Child Expo (event has passed)

Attendees of the parent and child expo are in a gymnasium at the Variety Boys and Girls club.

Board of Directors

GEORGE L. STAMATIADES
President
TONY BARSAMIAN
Executive Vice President
KIKI FIEGER
Treasurer
DR. SHARON CADIZ
Secretary
JAMES BOND
Director
TANIA BROSCHART
Director
ANN BRUNO
Director
JOE DI PIETRO
Director
GUS HATZIDIMITRIOU
Director
FRANK MILLER
Director
ADINA MONOKROUSOS
Director
WALTER SANCHEZ
Director
SWAIN WEINER
Director
MARIE TORNIALI
Executive Director
TERESA RAIMONDO
Administrative Assistant
JO ANN DARCY
Housing Director
PAULA ROXANA TICO
Program Manager
MARJORIE FASANO
Programs Assistant
ARIANNA LEON
Housing Assistant
NOURA A. ELGEBALI
Event Coordinator
REGINA A. COWLEY
Office Assistant
QUINN MOSS
Office Assistant

Fireworks are exploding over the Hellgate Bridge at Astoria Park.

Performers are on a stage at Astoria Park. The Central Astoria banner hangs over the top of the stage. A large crowd watches and someone is holding up an American Flag.

A double rainbow spans the sky over Astoria Park great lawn. On the lawn is a large inflatable movie screen. It is daytime.

a wide angle shot of a large crowd on the Astoria park great lawn. Many people are sitting on blankets watching a performance. The Triboro bridge can be seen in the background. It is nearly dusk but the sky is still bright.

A double rainbow spans the sky over Astoria Park great lawn. The lawn is bright green and there are many leafy trees in the back. It is daytime.

A table full of free books is surrounded by event attendees. Many children and parents are dressed in Halloween costumes.

About Us

Assistance for Residents

Cultural Programming

Assistance for Businesses

Neighborhood 360° Program

Board of Directors

Officers

Directors

Staff