The Mayor and the City Council reached an agreement to increase building size allowances in a number of zones in NYC, one of which is in the Court Square/Queens Plaza neighborhood. In return for this increased density, developers will set aside a portion of the new apartments for affordable housing. I’m not going to delve deep into this story as I have already done so recently here and here. The distillation of it then and now continues to be:
Upsizing real estate density in return for additional affordable housing requirements is a bad trade-off for anyone who doesn’t receive the new affordable housing. It will mean a degradation in quality of life for those already living here.
I find it laughable that both the Mayor and City Council went against the wishes of the 50 out of 59 Community Boards that voted against this proposal. Laughable but not surprising, as the Mayor has to put tangible numbers up in terms of units of affordable housing built.
In addition to those who might get these apartments, the big winners in this proposal are real estate developers, as they not only will get to build bigger, but also receive low-interest financing and tax breaks from the City, per Bloomberg News. As for the other 99%…
//Participatory Budgeting comes back to LIC. This is where you the resident get to decide, via voting, on what projects to spend a million of your tax dollars. By far the most relevant project for most people reading this is the Hunters Point South Park Playground Canopy, which will provide much needed shade on a space that is scaldingly hot in the summer.
Oh wait, despite there being 10 locations to vote, none are near Hunters Point. Contact Amanda Nasner in Jimmy Van Bramer’s office at anasner@council.nyc.gov to find out why. Otherwise expect to be hearing all about the new Petting Zoo coming to Sunnyside and the gold-embossed crystal streetlights being installed in Queensbridge.
//Eggs here, get your eggs here – the legendary annual Trinity Grace Church Queens Easter Egg Hunt will occur on Saturday, March 26 at Gantry State Park. If you’re like me and practice your own version of Lent, whereby you consume solely Guinness from St. Paddys Day until the morning of The Hunt, then this news comes as a bit of relief – as Easter frequently falls in April. As for everyone else, you can register your child at the link below.
New York City Council to Require Affordable Units in Newly Zoned Housing – “oh Mr. Mayor, if you make a few tweaks we’ll rubber stamp it”
Former Renters Driving LIC Condo Market to New Heights – people want to stay here
7th Annual LIC Easter Egg Hunt – information and sign-up. On your mark, get set, eggs!
New $2.75 Ferry Will Launch Next Summer – will include the Hunters Point North stop
Electric Zoo Organizers Sell LIC Condo for $3mil – 2300 sq ft in Arris Lofts, paid $2 mil in ’08
The Jackson Begins Leasing – see layouts and pics here
The Jackson Begins Leasing #2 – see asking prices here
Foundation Work Under Way on Former Star Tower in Queensboro Plaza – what was an anomaly in ’08, is now a measly 25-story resi building
Chipotle Construction Hasn’t Started Yet on Jackson Ave – targeted opening date was erroneously reported as Spring 2016
Podcast With Avonte’s Older Brother – on WNYC
NYPD Shuts Down Club Purlieu – stabbings, robberies, shootings, etc.
Hit n Run Driver Leaves Man Lying Critically Injured on 49th Ave/21st Street
Buzzkill says
March 17, 2016 at 10:35 amYup, a decade from now the subways in Queens will be like those in Tokyo, and we’ll need train pushers to pack the cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYefhPALCpU
LICResidentandWorker says
March 18, 2016 at 11:33 amLIC needs more commercial in the queens plaza area, and even in parts of court square. If residents of LIC can walk to work it will reduce the load on the subway and also encourage more retail for the residents. As a court square resident for the past few years – even with some improvement in retail, it is still lacking significantly. I am one of the lucky ones where I actually do get to walk to work everyday since my office is on the sunny side/LIC border. Not having to ride the subway everyday is a huge improvement to my quality of life.
If the city wants to increase residential density in our neighborhood, they also need to create polices that address other components that define and create a great neighborhood.