It’s official folks, the last New Yorker has moved out of Manhattan. Corporate apartments, hotel conversions, immigrants, pied-a-terre’s, retirees, students, 1997 vacancy decontrol changes, and most predominantly foreigners, mean that there is not a single resident left on the island who was born in the tri-state area.
Ok, so maybe my headline is about five years early, but when was the last time you heard a New York accent in midtown? Or even out in the bars, clubs, and restaurants of Manhattan? As any real New Yorker knows: all the hot restaurants today are in Brooklyn, and of course all the good restaurants are in Queens. Trendy downtown spots are filled with foreigners, most of whom went to the same boarding schools in Switzerland.
So what does all this mean for Long Island City and its inhabitants? First of all a lot more building, as noted here last week. Secondly, a narrowing of the gap between Manhattan’s rental and sale prices per square foot, and those of LIC’s(and Brooklyn and the rest of Queens as well). Finally, the third change is not as quantifiable: LIC, Queens, and select parts of the other outer boroughs lose their stigma and actually become the “in” places to live. Furthermore, these three trends reinforce each other and become a virtuous circle.
Williamsburg has done it, and Parisians regard Brooklyn as a whole the same way that Americans viewed Paris in the 1920’s. Go figure, the next thing you know Manhattanites will be referred to as Bridge and Tunnel people.
LIC’s Entrepreneur Space is Adopted by Martha Stewart – Martha’s not the story about this foodie manufacturing venue, on which we’ve commented before
Entrepreneur Space 2nd Anniversary Party – wanna see the above? They are having a FREE party this Wednesday March 6th, 6:30-8:30pm. Free admission & samples, plus bargains and a raffle
Celebrate LIC – as if one free party isn’t enough, go back-to-back nights with a one night event celebrating the growth and culture of our neighborhood featuring an exhibit by No Longer Empty and music by DJ Cerok. This Thursday, March 7th, 6:30-9:30.
Governor Delivers Address in LIC – can you say photo-op?