Well now, 2014 gets off to a contentious start as Tom Cowell from the Village Voice weighs in with his view of the gentrification occurring in our neighborhood:
“What pops into your mind when you hear “Long Island City”? Maybe you picture less of a neighborhood, more of a character-free yuppie warehouse, where overpaid dullards stack themselves in gleaming condos, sucking the life force from yet another community’s jugular. But you’d be wrong. That nonsense is largely confined to the waterfront, which you can easily avoid.”
Ouch! Shed no tears for TF Rockalon though, because according to the NY Post the East River Ferry has added half a billion dollars in value to properties within close proximity to it. But those properties may take a pause in their ascent, as “the most construction in a decade boosts vacancies and limits landlords’ ability to increase rates more.” according to a story in Bloomberg today.
Otherwise, the VV story about bars in LIC was pretty much on the mark if you discount the numerical ratings aspect of it. Yet I couldn’t help thinking that I’ve heard all these stories before? Oh wait a minute, I did, right here on LICtalk back in 2013. In fact I, the Editor, wrote them, including such illuminating titles as “Cheap Pints Here” and “LIC Housing Prices Rise Marginally” where I noted back on January 25th, 2013 that “Everywhere I look I see lots of buildings going up, and every one of these buildings is slated to be a rental…Thus I expect local rents to stay flat in 2013!”
So here’s a little homework assignment for 2014: in addition to the two links above, go back and read everything I wrote in 2013. Or you could read this:
The 10 Best Bars In LIC – first he disses LIC’s Waterfront, then he includes Penthouse 808 in his list. He must live in Bushwick.
Shannon Pot Closes, Plans to Re-Open Nearby – one bar closes…
Opening Champagne with a Saber at The Baroness – …and another bar opens
Big Irish Jam at The Irish Center – this Saturday night, right on Jackson Ave.
U.S. Apartment Rent Gains to Be Tempered By Construction – supply and demand!
East River Ferry Sends Property Values Soaring – $10 mil here, 10 mil there, it starts to add up
City Eyes East River Ferry Expansion – one thought is to put a stop on LIC North
Fast Growing Fitness Franchise Opens New Boot Camp in New York – on 50th Ave
Anonymous says
January 8, 2014 at 8:06 amI’m glad the VV writer wrote that, it should help to keep people away.
Anonymous says
January 8, 2014 at 10:06 amDoes anyone know where exactly is the new Boot Camp – will it be held inside the LIC Kids space?
Anonymous says
January 8, 2014 at 10:31 amI don’t really disagree with it. The waterfront is a great area, but it lacks some character, soul or something. It just feels too much like a manufactured neighborhood or a gated community w/o the gates.
Sue says
January 8, 2014 at 10:39 amEverybody’s a critic. The writer is exactly the type of person who’d find a reason to leave the Garden of Eden.
Queensie says
January 8, 2014 at 11:18 amFirst the waterfront, next up for gentrification is Court Square, see the Shannon Pot story. With or without a water taxi, it’s sad but inevitable.
Jason says
January 8, 2014 at 11:59 amOh Please like anyone actually reads the Villiage Voice! LOL!
konyc says
January 8, 2014 at 12:14 pmA Top Ten list of LIC bars simply names all ten bars in the neighborhood–that’s certainly difficult.
Anonymous says
January 9, 2014 at 10:15 amI hope it will keep the VV demographics away from LIC.
Ro says
January 10, 2014 at 9:13 amEvery time writers diss the waterfront they choose to visit it in the middle of winter when it is desolate and unpleasant because the freezing winds. Our waterfront has a lot of soul when the weather is nice and the people are out. Oh well, we get enough visitors as it is, so imagine if we got good publicity.
Anonymous says
January 13, 2014 at 6:54 amWriter is dissing the people in the waterfront bldgs not the waterfront itself
i live in a tfc bldg but i am life long queens resident
unlike many of my transplanted clueless neighbors