Long Island City

A year-and-a-half ago, developer TF Cornerstone broke ground on their two-building, 1,194-unit project at Hunter's Point South, located along the East River in Long Island City. Anchored by a new half-acre public park, the pair of ODA-designed towers will be 60 percent affordable. Today, a lottery launched for 185 of these low- and middle-income units, available to those earning 50, 130, and 165 percent of the area median income. The available homes range from $698/month studios to $2,704/month two-bedrooms.
See if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Image credit: Binyan Studios, courtesy of Modern Spaces

September 15, 2020

Inside the amenity spaces at Long Island City’s supertall Skyline Tower

New York City's tallest building outside Manhattan topped out a year ago and is set to commence closings and move-ins this December. Located in Long Island City's Court Square section, Skyline Tower is a 778-foot luxury condo tower with 800 units, with current availabilities ranging from a $739,000 studio to a $2.5 million three-bedroom. And when the new tenants move in this winter, they'll be able to enjoy amazing amenities, including a 75-foot indoor pool, a pet spa, and a fully equipped gym.
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Murray’s Cheese opens a new flagship in Long Island City

Photo by Emily Andrews for the Rockwell Group

August 20, 2020

Murray’s Cheese opens a new flagship in Long Island City

When Murray's Cheese first opened in a small storefront on Cornelia Street 80 years ago, they primarily sold milk, eggs, and butter. After becoming a Greenwich Village institution, Murray's has since expanded, moving to a larger storefront across on Bleecker Street in 2004, and opening a location in Grand Central and cheese-aging caves in Long Island, where the business just announced they'll be opening a new shop and restaurant. According to a press release, "Murray’s Cheese Bar LIC will be the restaurant’s flagship location and its first-ever full-service bar, with an adjacent cheese shop offering more than 400 specialty items."
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Food & Dining

Middle-income housing lottery launches at luxury Long Island City rental, from $2,241/month

Photo courtesy of Modern Spaces

April 9, 2020

Middle-income housing lottery launches at luxury Long Island City rental, from $2,241/month

Prices for high-end rentals in Long Island City have been steadily increasing in recent years, but here's a chance to live in one of these new, luxury buildings for less. ONE LIC, located at 42-10 27th Street in Court Square, just launched a middle-income housing lottery for New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the median income. The units range from $2,241/month studios to $3,283/month three-bedrooms. Normally, units in this building rent from about $3,000 to $5,500. The apartments all have luxe finishes, and the amenities include a barbecue deck with skyline views and a 20th-floor fitness center.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Judge upholds $6.75M judgement against developer who destroyed 5Pointz graffiti

Photo by Ezmosis on Wikimedia

February 21, 2020

Judge upholds $6.75M judgement against developer who destroyed 5Pointz graffiti

An appeals court on Thursday upheld a $6.75 million judgement against a real estate developer who whitewashed 5Pointz, the former graffiti-covered complex in Long Island City. The 32-page decision confirms the decision made by the Federal District Court in 2018 that said developer Jerry Wolkoff of the Wolkoff Group illegally destroyed the building's colorful murals. In 2014, Wolkoff razed the iconic graffitied warehouse, which had been visible from passing trains since the 90s as a studio and exhibition space for artists. The artists, who unsuccessfully attempted to sue to stop the demolition, filed a second lawsuit in 2015 against Wolkoff, claiming their artwork was of "recognized stature" and protected by the Visual Rights Act.
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$1.7M Long Island City condo comes with unobstructed views of the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign

Listing images by Rare Photography; courtesy of Compass

February 13, 2020

$1.7M Long Island City condo comes with unobstructed views of the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign

From its location on the fourth floor, this waterfront condo at 46-30 Center Boulevard in Long Island City (the same building that recently held the neighborhood's priciest listing) directly overlooks the iconic Pepsi Cola sign. Seeking $1,698,000, the two-bedroom pad spans a generous 1,160 square feet. Common charges will add another $995 to the monthly payments, but due to a pilot tax abatement program, taxes for the property are only $13 a month.
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

January 6, 2020

Public library in Long Island City’s Citigroup Building will close next month

A popular public library in Queens is shutting its doors next month. The Queens Public Library at Court Square, located at 25-01 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, will close sometime in February after occupying the ground floor of the Citigroup Building for more than 30 years. The library faced threats of eviction after Amazon pulled out of its plan to move its headquarters to the neighborhood last year, which included its lease agreement at One Court Square.
More here

Uncategorized

Photo credit: Al Seidman courtesy of Compass

December 26, 2019

Amenities like a heated pool and parking garage make this $1.5M LIC loft conversion a standout

The lofts at the former Eagle Electric Manufacturing Factory at 27-28 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, built in 1920, are uncompromisingly authentic, while the full-service Arris Lofts condo conversion benefits from the kind of impressive amenities for which the Queens neighborhood is known. Occupying 1,725 square feet of flexible living space with a bedroom, a home office, and two full baths, this generously-sized residence is quiet and sunny, configured with modern living in mind. It's asking $1.49 million.
Tour the loft

Distinctive Homes

Photo of Trader Joe’s via Wikimedia Commons

December 12, 2019

Trader Joe’s likely heading to Long Island City

Several "well-placed real estate brokers" told the LIC Post that Trader Joe's is heading to Long Island City, where they signed a lease at the recently completed Court Square condo building 22-43 Jackson Avenue. Expected to open at the end of 2020, this will be the grocery chain's 11th location in NYC and second in Queens (the other is in Rego Park).
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City Living

Disability rights group files lawsuit challenging inaccessibility of new Long Island City library

Photo © Paul Warchol

November 26, 2019

Disability rights group files lawsuit challenging inaccessibility of new Long Island City library

A disability rights group filed a lawsuit on Tuesday that claims a new public library in Queens does not provide full access for those with mobility disabilities. The civil suit, filed by the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York and the Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), says the newly constructed Hunters Point Library in Long Island City, which took nearly a decade to build and cost more than $41 million, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the library opened in September to praise from architecture critics for its innovative design, visitors immediately criticized the building's third level fiction section, accessible only by stairs.
Details here

Policy

See inside The Collective’s ‘short stay’ co-living concept, now open in Long Island City

Images courtesy of The Collective

November 1, 2019

See inside The Collective’s ‘short stay’ co-living concept, now open in Long Island City

London-based co-living company The Collective has opened its first U.S. location at the former Paper Factory Hotel in Long Island City. Designed in collaboration with Palette Architecture, the 125-room location will focus on a "short stay" model ranging from one-night to 29-day stays. Members will have access to communal living areas and wellness services, as well as a soon-to-launch restaurant and cultural programming. The company already has plans to expand on today’s opening by adding 100 additional rooms on top of the existing building by 2021.
Take a look around

City Living

Skyline Tower, NYC’s tallest building outside Manhattan, tops out

Rendering: Binyan Studios.

October 14, 2019

Skyline Tower, NYC’s tallest building outside Manhattan, tops out

Skyline Tower in Long Island City, Queens, has officially become the city's tallest building outside of Manhattan. The luxury condo tower has now topped out at 778 feet. As 6sqft recently reported, the 67-story building surpassed its neighbor and previous record-holder, the 673-foot-tall Citigroup Building, in September. Located at 23-15 44th Drive, the new Long Island City tower will offer about 800 studio to four-bedroom condominium apartments, priced between $500,000 and $4 million.
But it won't hold the title for long

Reports find open space falls short of key goals in Bushwick, Long Island City, and part of Staten Island

Photo via Joe Mabel / Wiki Commons

October 11, 2019

Reports find open space falls short of key goals in Bushwick, Long Island City, and part of Staten Island

New Yorkers for Parks has released three new Open Space Index reports, a series of in-depth “neighborhood snapshots” of parks and open space in Staten Island's Bay Street Corridor, Bushwick, and Long Island City. According to the reports, the Bay Street Corridor failed 11 of 14 open space goals, Bushwick failed 12 of 14, and Long Island City failed 11 of 14. The goals factor in characteristics including the total amount of open space, access, tree canopy, and overall maintenance. According to the City’s own standards, all of the neighborhoods lack sufficient open space and what does exist is often hard to get to or improperly maintained.
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Policy

Hunters Point Library will move fiction shelves in response to accessibility criticism

Photo © Steven Holl Architects

October 7, 2019

Hunters Point Library will move fiction shelves in response to accessibility criticism

Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library has garnered glowing architectural reviews since it's opening last month, but visitors quickly pointed out a critical issue with accessibility in the $41 million building. Although the library has an elevator, it doesn't stop at the fiction section which is tiered on three levels above the lobby and accessible only via stairs. In light of the criticism, a Queens Public Library official has announced that books in that section will be relocated to an accessible area of the library, as Gothamist reported.
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Architecture And Design

See inside Long Island City’s new public library designed by Steven Holl Architects

Photo © Paul Warchol

September 25, 2019

See inside Long Island City’s new public library designed by Steven Holl Architects

Despite standing just 82 feet tall, the new Hunters Point Library manages to stand out among its skyscraper neighbors on the Long Island City waterfront. The concrete structure, designed by Steven Holl Architects, officially opened to the public Tuesday, about two decades after officials proposed building a new Queens Public Library branch. The delays, and the whopping $40 million price tag, appear to have been worth it, as the building, with its carved windows and incredible skyline views, continues to garner approval from top architecture critics.
Take the tour

Architecture And Design

Development plans for ex-Amazon site in LIC move forward with emphasis on local community goals

Previous rendering of Anable Basin, courtesy of WXY architecture + urban design

September 19, 2019

Development plans for ex-Amazon site in LIC move forward with emphasis on local community goals

Soon after Amazon canceled plans to build a new headquarters in Long Island City, the city began reviving earlier plans to bring a mix of residential and industrial spaces to the neighborhood. Developers and city officials are still in talks over how the 28-acre site—which includes land owned by both the city and plastics company Plaxall—will be used. As Politico recently reported, the vision is starting to come into sharper focus with property owners now engaging the neighborhood and community board to help determine the future of the waterfront site.
Here's what we know so far

Uncategorized

Long Island City’s Skyline Tower is now the tallest outer-borough building

Rendering by Binyan Studios

September 13, 2019

Long Island City’s Skyline Tower is now the tallest outer-borough building

A tower on the rise in Queens just became the tallest building in New York City outside of Manhattan. Hitting the 63rd floor, Skyline Tower has officially surpassed in height its neighbor and previous record-holder, the 673-foot-tall Citigroup Building. Located at 23-15 44th Drive, the new Long Island City tower offers studio to four-bedroom homes, priced between $500,000 and $4 million. Upon its completion, Skyline Tower will reach 762 feet and contain roughly 800 condos.
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Steven Holl-designed Hunters Point Library to finally open next month

Photo by Vitali Ogorodnikov for 6sqft

August 23, 2019

Steven Holl-designed Hunters Point Library to finally open next month

The long-awaited Hunters Point Library will open in Long Island City next month, more than eight years after its futuristic design was revealed, library officials announced Thursday. Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the concrete building with carved windows sits on the East River and boasts sweeping Manhattan views. After many construction and financial delays, the library will officially open on September 24.
More here

Architecture And Design

Photo courtesy of sarahtarno on Flickr

August 21, 2019

JetBlue installs its logo on Long Island City’s landmarked Pepsi-Cola sign

The iconic red Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City got a new look on Tuesday. In partnership with the soda company, JetBlue began installing this week an illuminated logo, a blue arrow, and a picture of an airplane on the sign that overlooks the East River, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The signage, which will only be up until Oct. 1, advertises the airline's switch from serving Coca-Cola to PepsiCo products earlier this summer.
More here

Uncategorized

Waitlist reopens for ‘moderate-income’ rentals in Long Island City, with units up to $5,183/month

Via Flickr cc

August 19, 2019

Waitlist reopens for ‘moderate-income’ rentals in Long Island City, with units up to $5,183/month

Applications are currently being accepted to replenish the waitlist for moderate-income apartments at two Long Island City buildings. Located across from the newly opened Hunter's Point South Park, the towers at 1-50 50th Avenue and 1-55 Borden Avenue were developed in 2013 as part of the neighborhood's waterfront redevelopment, with a majority of the apartments set aside low- and middle-income households. But apartments available through the current waitlist are for households earning between $104,538 and $278,300 annually with units ranging from a $2,992/month one-bedroom to a $5,183/month three-bedroom. In 2017, the median household income in Queens was just over $64,500 per year.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

James Turrell installation reopens at MoMA PS1 after nearby construction impedes views

Image via Flickr cc

August 6, 2019

James Turrell installation reopens at MoMA PS1 after nearby construction impedes views

James Turrell's celebrated Skyspace installation at MoMA PS1 is open to the public again after views from a high-rise construction encroached on the piece and forced a temporary closure back in January. Meeting is a site-specific, permanent installation that was installed in the museum in the 1980s and offers a simple pleasure: gazing upwards toward an unobstructed view of the sky. The aperture is framed by LED lights that change over the course of the day, creating interesting optical effects between the color of the sky and that of the room.
More info

Events & Things To Do

Deluge of dirty water from construction site next door floods Queens subway station

Image courtesy of @subwaycreatures via Youtube.

July 19, 2019

Deluge of dirty water from construction site next door floods Queens subway station

A rush of brown water flooded into the Court Square-23rd Street station in Long Island City Wednesday night, making for a soggy commute–and a dangerous one for one passenger who was nearly swept onto the tracks. The MTA said the unfortunate overflow was caused by a plywood construction wall in a nearby building site, where the skyscraper known as Skyline Tower is rising, giving way in the recent downpour, the Daily News reports.
More subway surfing, this way

Queens’ priciest condo ups asking price to $3.9M

Photo courtesy of Compass

July 17, 2019

Queens’ priciest condo ups asking price to $3.9M

The most expensive condo in Queens just raised its asking price. The penthouse at 46-30 Center Boulevard in Long Island City made news last year when its price actually dropped from $4.25 million to $3.65 million during the so-called Amazon effect, a time when condo prices soared in the neighborhood as the tech giant prepared to move there. Sticking with its outlier trend, the penthouse is now listed for $3.988 million, despite Amazon pulling out of its planned headquarters in LIC earlier this year.
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July 10, 2019

Immersive installation with hammocks and a waterfall has arrived at MoMA PS1

Back in March, as 6sqft reported, MoMA PS1 revealed the winning design in the museum's 20th annual Young Architects Program. This year’s winning architectural installation, “Hórama Rama” by Pedro & Juana, a Mexico City-based studio founded by Ana Paula Ruiz Galindo and Mecky Reuss, is an immersive “junglescape” with a cyclorama perched atop the museum courtyard's concrete walls. The 40-foot-tall, 90-foot-wide structure now floats over this year's Warm Up outdoor dance music series which kicked off on July 6.
See more pictures of the 40-foot

Events & Things To Do

Rockaway Brewery’s ‘Brew Cruiser’ offers express bus trips to the beach with beer on board

Via Flickr

June 21, 2019

Rockaway Brewery’s ‘Brew Cruiser’ offers express bus trips to the beach with beer on board

Skip the ferry lines and stuffy subway cars and ride to the beach in air-conditioned style. Long Island City-based Rockaway Brewery Co. has launched a mini-coach bus that travels between their tap room and Rockaway Beach every Saturday until Labor Day. The "Brew Cruiser" costs $20 for round trip service.
Start planning

Events & Things To Do

May 2, 2019

Skyline Tower, Queens’ tallest building, launches first sales