You are reading

Three Streets in Astoria/Long Island City to Be Co-Named After Notable Queens Men

Left to right: George S. Kaufman (kaufmanorganization.com), Luis Alvarez (Facebook), and Whitey Ford (Friends of Whitey Ford Field)

Dec. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin

The names of three well known Queens men who recently passed away will be appearing on street corners in Astoria and Long Island City next year.

The streets are among 92 citywide — including several in Queens — approved by the City Council Thursday to be co-named.

One of the streets will be named after Whitey Ford, the Yankees pitcher and Hall-of-Famer who died in October at the age of 91. Nicknamed the “Chairman of the Board” for his winning record, Ford grew up playing ball in the sandlots of Astoria before going pro.

According to the council bill, 43rd Street between 34th Avenue and 35th Avenue will be co-named Edward Charles “Whitey” Ford Way.

Another Queens street corner — the southwest corner of 50th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard — will be co-named Luis Alvarez Way after the 9/11 first responder who fought for the extension of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

Alvarez, a retired NYPD detective who was born in Cuba and raised in Astoria, died in July 2019 at the age of 53 from colorectal cancer. He had attributed his illness to the three months he spent searching for victims following the 9/11 attacks.

A third borough street corner will be named after George S. Kaufman, a real estate developer who revived the dilapidated Astoria Studios in the 1980s and built it into one of the largest production studios in New York City.

Kaufman’s revamp of the studios is credited for revitalizing the southern section of Astoria by attracting new businesses and cultural centers. Kaufman died at the age of 89 in February 2018.

The northwest corner of 35th Avenue and 36th Street will be co-named George S. Kaufman Way.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

4 Comments

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Finding Room to Grow: NYC Apartment Buildings Designed with Families in Mind

Jul. 29, 2025 By Tara Lustberg

Finding family-friendly housing in NYC can be a challenge, especially with the average rent of a two-bedroom apartment in NYC averaging over $5,400 per month, according to apartments.com. According to reports, this is significantly higher (148%) than the national average and has increased by 7% since December 2023. But some properties offer thoughtful amenities for families, making city living seem more manageable.

Borough President recommends approval of One LIC Neighborhood Plan with conditions

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced on Monday a long list of recommendations to approve the city’s One LIC Neighborhood Plan with conditions.

The sweeping proposal entered the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) in April, following certification by the City Planning Commission, and aims to transform a large portion of Long Island City with new zoning rules that would create nearly 14,700 housing units—including 4,300 affordable homes—alongside 14,400 jobs, over 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial space and expanded access to the East River waterfront.

Cool off this summer with margaritas in Queens

Jul. 25, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The summer season ushers in outdoor adventures, extended daylight hours and sweltering heat, making it the perfect time to kick back at a local restaurant or bar and order a refreshing margarita. Sipping on this tequila-infused cocktail is one of the best ways to beat the heat and revel with margarita connoisseurs in your neighborhood.