Ollie, the “all-inclusive co-living platform” that launched in New York with the city’s first all micro-unit building, is poised to make a big expansion—this time in Queens. The firm has revealed details on a planned Long Island City building, developed in partnership with Simon Baron Development and Quadrum Global; with room for more than 400 residents, Ollie says will be “the largest, purpose-built, ground-up co-living community in North America.”
And unlike Carmel Place, Ollie’s other NYC project—which offers micro-studios that are better suited for one person living alone—the new building is “specifically designed to accommodate roommates who may not know one another well,” according to a New York Times profile of the project. While the 43-story building will have a bevy of traditional rental units, the 13 floors operated by Ollie will have shared two- and three-bedroom suites. The apartments will have spacious common areas and kitchens, along with bedrooms that average around 187 square feet.
The reality of New York City living is, of course, that many people—not just those who are fresh out of college or are in the millennial demographic—need roommates, and Ollie is hoping to serve a wide swath of potential renters. “We realized we have a long tail of non-millennials, which is important when you’re scaling,” Ollie co-founder Chris Bledsoe told the Times.
Like Carmel Place, residents will have access to “hotel-like services,” per the firm, including housekeeping, free Wi-Fi, and “a regular replenishment of bath amenities from celebrated apothecary brand Malin + Goetz” (fancy!); rooms will also come furnished with space-saving items from Resource Furniture, which also kitted out the Kips Bay micro-units. The building will also have a bevy of amenities, including a fitness center, pool, communal lounge, and special “curated” events for residents.
And yes, there’s a plan for folks who need help finding roommates: According to the Times, Ollie residents can use an app called Bedvetter (yes, really) “to help people select and match up with roommates.” Assuming all goes according to plan, the building should open by January of next year, with initial leasing getting underway this fall.
