Queens

This past October, Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven, Queens celebrated its 190th anniversary. But last week, the Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society reported on Twitter that the beloved and historic establishment would close its doors for good on Sunday. Originally opened in 1829 as a saloon called the "Old Blue Pump House," Neir's considers itself NYC's oldest bar. When the tavern was in danger of closing in 2009, a local FDNY member and a group of friends bought and restored it, but in December of 2018, the building was sold unbeknownst to them. According to a Facebook post by Neir's, they were unable to negotiate a new "affordable long-term lease" with the new owners. But when Mayor de Blasio heard the news, he and the city stepped in and saved the bar from closing.
How'd they do it?

Food & Dining

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

The Queens bus network is getting redrawn for the first time in a century

Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

January 2, 2020

The Queens bus network is getting redrawn for the first time in a century

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced a sweeping draft plan that will completely redesign the Queens Bus Network for the first time in a century. The agency took a "blank slate" approach to completely redraw the routes, which were mostly adapted from old trolley lines from the turn of the 20th century. The plan focused on creating faster North-South connections between Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and increasing service speed by expanding the average bus stop from 850 feet to 1,400 feet.
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Transit

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

168th Street and Astoria Boulevard subway stations finally reopen

MTA New York City Transit President Andy Byford at the 168 St Station on Monday, December 23, 2019, along with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Assemblymember Al Taylor. Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

December 23, 2019

168th Street and Astoria Boulevard subway stations finally reopen

After a year, the 168th Street 1 train station has finally reopened, marking the first complete elevator replacement at this stop in more than 100 years. In addition, last week, the MTA announced that the Astoria Boulevard N, W station has reopened after nine months and the completion of the first phase of its station modernization.
More info

Transit

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

Lottery launches for 667 mixed-income units at huge new development near Jamaica Station

Rendering courtesy of FXCollaborative and BRP Companies

December 5, 2019

Lottery launches for 667 mixed-income units at huge new development near Jamaica Station

The latest housing lottery to open for applications is a pretty significant one: there are now 667 newly constructed units up for grabs at 148-10 Archer Avenue and 147-10 Archer Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Otherwise known as The Crossing at Jamaica Station, the FXCollaborative-designed development is a commuter's dream, located at the corner of Archer Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard, right next to the LIRR's Jamaica Station, the Air Link to JFK, and with proximity to four MTA subway lines and several buses. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between 40 and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from $633/month studios to $4,501/month three-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

TWA Hotel’s vintage Connie bar teams up with ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

All photos courtesy of Prime Video

November 26, 2019

TWA Hotel’s vintage Connie bar teams up with ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Amazon Prime's hit comedy series about a housewife turned stand-up comedian in 1950s New York City, has certainly used its hometown setting to its advantage when it comes to PR. Last December, ahead of the second season, the show revived the beloved Carnegie Deli for a promotional pop-up pastrami shop. Now, to kick off the third season's launch on December 6th, they're taking over the TWA Hotel's Connie, a real vintage airplane that's been retrofitted as a retro cocktail lounge. Not only is the bar offering special Mrs. Maisel-themed deals for the next couple days, but lead actress Rachel Brosnahan even appears in front of the plane in a national billboard.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

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

The 8 best neighborhoods in NYC for holiday shopping

Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

November 26, 2019

The 8 best neighborhoods in NYC for holiday shopping

By Rebecca Fishbein

New York is a prime spot for holiday shopping, in large part because of big department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, designer flagships that line the Upper East Side, and whatever hell awaits you in the Disney Store in Times Square. But true New Yorkers should avoid the major shopping hubs, and instead seek gifts and other goods in some of the city’s slightly less crowded and infinitely more interesting ‘hoods, including the many holiday markets and pop-up shops found across the five boroughs. Find our favorite neighborhoods for holiday shopping this season, ahead.
See the full list

Events & Things To Do

2,050 affordable apartments coming to former Peninsula Hospital site in Far Rockaway

All renderings by Aufgang Architects

November 15, 2019

2,050 affordable apartments coming to former Peninsula Hospital site in Far Rockaway

The City Council voted yesterday to give the go-ahead to the Arker Companies' massive redevelopment of the former Peninsula Hospital site in Far Rockaway. Named Edgemere Commons, the 11-building project in the Edgemere neighborhood will include 2,050 units of affordable housing, the largest such project by a private developer under the de Blasio administration. It will also have commercial, community facility, and retail space, including a new supermarket, as well as a playground and a public plaza (rendering also show, of course, a food hall). After 104 years, the hospital closed in 2012 due mainly to financial troubles. The Edgemere Commons project hopes to "reactivate the site" and "spur economic growth in Far Rockaway," according to a press release.
See more renderings

Runway Rink lands at landmark TWA Hotel’s tarmac for daily skating and ice shows

Photo courtesy of TWA Hotel.

November 15, 2019

Runway Rink lands at landmark TWA Hotel’s tarmac for daily skating and ice shows

Yet another cool way to experience the Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Hotel at JFK Airport arrives this month: Starting November 30, a custom 56-by-44-foot Runway Rink will be open for ice skating on the hotel's tarmac surrounding the 1958 Lockheed Constellation Connie airplane-turned-cocktail-lounge. In addition to sharpening your figure-8 skills, you can catch nostalgic ice skating shows and chill with frosty beers, sno-caps and more.
Winter wonderland, this way

Events & Things To Do

The city introduces a new branding initiative to unite NYC’s public markets

Photo of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market by Leonard J. DeFrancisci via Wikimedia Commons

November 11, 2019

The city introduces a new branding initiative to unite NYC’s public markets

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) last week unveiled a new brand strategy for the city's network of six public markets, which includes a multilingual ad campaign, a dynamic new website and social media presence, direct mail campaigns and more, all of which are designed to consolidate a network of historic markets under one city-wide brand. It's all part of the organization's comprehensive initiative to promote NYC's public markets--including Essex Market, the Bronx's Arthur Avenue Market, and Williamsburg's historic Moore Street Market--as "world class destinations for both local residents and tourists."
See what's in store

City Living

NYC Parks breaks ground on $24M project to restore Philip Johnson’s 1964 World’s Fair Pavilion

Rendering of architectural lighting: Silman via NYC Parks

November 11, 2019

NYC Parks breaks ground on $24M project to restore Philip Johnson’s 1964 World’s Fair Pavilion

After five years of halting progress, NYC Parks officially broke ground last week on a $24 million project that will preserve the Philip Johnson-designed New York State Pavilion Observation Towers in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The current project represents the first major effort to preserve the Pavilion's structures since their construction for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

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

First new Delta concourse will open next week at LaGuardia Airport as part of $8B overhaul

Rendering of Terminal C, courtesy of the Governor’s Office

October 29, 2019

First new Delta concourse will open next week at LaGuardia Airport as part of $8B overhaul

It's been nearly a year since the first new gates and concourse opened at LaGuardia Airport, and now the second terminal is opening to passengers, announced Governor Cuomo today. Last year, Terminal B opened to serve Air Canada, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, along with a food hall and a plethora of modern amenities. Delta's Terminal C will start serving passengers on Monday, November 4th from one of its four new concourses. Not only will this terminal have floor-to-ceiling views of Citi Field and Flushing Bay, but it will also boast a slew of foodie options and tech-focused designs.
All the details

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.
More details

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.
More details

Architecture And Design

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

Rendering courtesy of IKEA U.S.

September 24, 2019

IKEA will open in Queens next summer

IKEA is coming to Queens. The Swedish furniture store announced on Tuesday plans to open a new location at a shopping center in Rego Park next summer. The store, located in the Rego Center, will be the first in the United States with a new layout, according to the company.
More here

Uncategorized

$139M street repair and infrastructure upgrade project kicks off in Far Rockaway

Rendering of Mott and Central Avenues next to the planned new public library, courtesy of NYCEDC

September 23, 2019

$139M street repair and infrastructure upgrade project kicks off in Far Rockaway

About 25 blocks of Downtown Far Rockaway will soon see major changes as the Queens neighborhood gears up for one its largest infrastructure project in decades. Construction will kick off this week on a $139 million plan to revamp the area's streets, pedestrian space, and stormwater drainage, city officials announced Wednesday. The project, expected to take three years to complete, falls under the city's Far Rockaway rezoning plan, which was approved in 2017.
More this way

Policy

Robert de Niro-funded studio taps Bjarke Ingels to design $400M ‘vertical village for film’ in Astoria

Renderings courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group and Wildflower Ltd.

September 20, 2019

Robert de Niro-funded studio taps Bjarke Ingels to design $400M ‘vertical village for film’ in Astoria

The star power involved with Robert de Niro’s planned production studio in Astoria continues to grow. The development group—which includes developer Wildflower Ltd, Raphael De Niro, and Jane Rosenthal—has just revealed a first look at the 650,000-square-foot facility designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. The $400 million project, called Wildflower Studios, will establish a hub for the creation of film, television, and other forms of entertainment, including augmented reality and virtual reality. The facility is expected to create more than 1,000 daily union jobs.
Get a first look at the renderings

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

September 18, 2019

Citi Bike expansion in Bushwick and Ridgewood begins next week

Next week, Citi Bike will begin the first phase of a four-year expansion that will double the system’s New York City footprint. The blue bikes are coming to a larger area of Bushwick and, for the first time, Ridgewood, Streetsblog reports. L train riders will have more options thanks to 85 new stations in those neighborhoods.
More on the rollout, this way

Transit

You can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK’s TWA Hotel

Image courtesy of MCR and Morse Development

September 17, 2019

You can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK’s TWA Hotel