Even Vernon Boulevard can’t fight the state of impermanence. A recent walk by the storefront of Delta Force Army & Navy revealed it’s formerly stuffed-to-the-gills/can’t-walk-in/probable-fire-hazard completely cleared out. This is not the first time this store seemingly vacated, having gone through a similar cleansing three years ago, only to magically reappear unmolested1. Yet in assessing the situation, I and others can’t help but wonder how one forgoes (or pays) a minimum of $120,000 a year, at a conservative $10k a month, for so long? We’re talking a million dollars given the street-level inactivity of the retailer over the last 8 years!
At the other end of the spectrum, Testaccio has changed it’s name to Tutti Matti, is under new management, and a sign on the front states it is specializing in pasta and pizza. So basically we’ve swapped Rome for Naples.
//I told you so, redux. Back in August of 2014, we broke the story of 5-46 51st Ave, a townhouse up for sale that was asking $8 million, which would have been a record in Queens. Originally listed with a broker in Manhattan, somewhere down the line Modern Spaces picked the listing up with a $6.5 million price tag. Then last month came a flyer in the mail from Space Marketing Shop asking $5 mil for the property. Now I wouldn’t extrapolate the magnitude of the 8 -> 6.5 -> 5 trajectory to NYC as a whole, but it’s a trend I gave you a head start on recently, and it should only pick up momentum going forward through the year as the trickle of news stories I warned about begin to snowball. Just this weekend The New York Times gave us Signs of Softening in Luxury Apartments – and it ain’t just luxury! Leaving one final question: at what price do you think the townhouse at 5-46 51st Ave ultimately sells for?
//Support youth sports, especially those of a seemingly arcane nature these days. The 35th Annual Long Island City High School Mens Gymnastics Tournament is this Friday, January 22 @ 6pm in the high school’s gym at 14-30 Broadway on the border of Astoria (basically drive up Vernon to Costco, make a right, and go 3-4 blocks).
Long Island City High School Men’s Gymnastics Website – Long Island City H.S. offers a chance to compete for over 30 teams, one of the largest, most diversified programs in New York City. From football to gymnastics, from wrestling to fencing, from cricket to basketball, from volleyball to golf, from tennis to swimming and everything in between
CB2 to Hold Public Meeting on Paragon Paint Building’s Residential Development – this Wednesday, January 20 @ 6:30pm in the High School on Vernon Blvd
Housing Lottery For Two New $918-a-month Apartments Across from MoMA PS1 Now Open – “Apartments have private terraces, ten-foot ceilings, Brazilian cherry floors, chef’s kitchens with stainless steel appliances, and in-unit washers/dryers”
Bierocracy Will Tap Fresh Lager – “it’s kegged and shipped on the same day, arriving in Long Island City within hours. It’s a rare occasion no self-respecting lager lover should miss.” I may not respect myself, but I’ll be there
The Transformation of LIC and Gantry State Park – “The sign on the gantries say Long Island because it meant Long Island Railroad. This made it easier for the freight barges to find the gantries”
LIC’s Doyenne of Dance Faces Crippling Rent Hike – up 44% to be exact
Q&A with L’inizio Pizzeria – might even expand to new locations
History Adds to the Charm of Bucolic Pelham – the Brays leave LIC for the ‘burbs. You too?
- If you want to see something really magical, check out Google’s Street View of Delta Force Army & Navy. Clicking through shows the store fully open/stocked, but move the cursor a little one way or the other and you’ll see the windows ‘soap-washed’ as they were three years ago. This happens a lot in Street View. Gosh, for esoteric LIC stuff like this I really should charge for a premium membership to LICtalk [↩]
skyy says
January 20, 2016 at 1:00 pmFor Delta Navy it is definitely rent foregone. The store owner owns the building
LICfan says
January 21, 2016 at 11:23 amYes, and I noticed they put a big “For Lease” sign in the window. It’ll be really interesting to see what comes in there.
Tony says
March 11, 2016 at 9:47 amLoving the support of LIC HS gymnastics and PSAL in general!