A thousand reasons to love Long Island City. Tips: Editor@LICtalk.com
WHILE the joy of the fireworks and the visions of J.Lo dancing in our heads linger, the underlying stories of the last two weeks focused on the more worrisome topic of [Read more…] about AND NOW, BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED REALITY IN LIC
YESTERDAY at the LIC Summit one of the speakers marveled at how everyone on the panel lived in Brooklyn and was talking about LIC. In fact given that this panel and several others included NYC policy makers the reality is that they were not only commenting about Queens but also deciding its fate when it comes to big decisions. Which I guess is how these things shake out when hiring decisions are made, but shouldn’t there then be extra special attention paid to the community voice and an awareness that these areas are not blank slates?
The obvious answer is ‘yes’ but the bureaucratic one is ‘huh?’ Our last post talked about the ‘Water’s Edge’ development, and that proposal should be an interesting litmus test. I learned yesterday that a) an answer should be forthcoming soon and b) there never was the intention of having a bake-off. We’ll see.
More disconcerting was the advocacy of ‘densification’ by all the Brooklyn Intelligentsia as the solution to the city’s problems, and how Queens was Ground Zero to test their urban planning theories. I believe it helps a few people and diminishes the quality of life for all – the only question is ‘To what extent?’ Either way, we will experience de facto densification in the addition of roughly 10,000 new units to LIC by 2020 and thousands of other units along the 7-train line outside of LIC. Why not wait to see how that plays out?
Another sign of cluelessness occurred [Read more…] about WHY IS BROOKLYN RUNNING QUEENS?
In February of 2016 the City decided to develop the land in and around the former Water’s Edge Restaurant on 44th Drive by the East River. Given the prospective zoning variance the city was offering, a pair of 60-story towers were possible on this choice piece of property ((actually two properties across the street from each other)), so the proposed project is massive. RFP’s from developers were due that May and were required to include a new school, some affordable housing, and a few other stipulations most notably a set aside for light manufacturing.
After submission the proposals would be reviewed by the NYCEDC (Economic Development Corp) and I was under the belief that shortly after the New Year they would pick 2-3 of those they deem viable for a bake-off, during which time there would be some community review and recommendations and then a winner would be chosen. Now I’m hearing grumblings that the city is going to bypass the middle step and just render a final decision.
Which is really a shame because in addition [Read more…] about WHAT’S UP WITH THE WATER’S EDGE DEVELOPMENT SITE?
Altice USA, formerly known as Cablevision, is moving it’s headquarters to Long Island City from Bethpage in Long Island. In addition, it’s Manhattan offices, where a lot of the big hitting advertising and sales executives are located, will also be folded into the new headquarters location. As such, this $17.7 billion corporation ((It’s Enterprise Value (EV) when purchased last year)) will be the largest headquartered in LIC.
The implications of this are even bigger for Long Island City because [Read more…] about ALTICE USA, fka CABLEVISION, MOVING HEADQUARTERS TO LIC
What’s going on at the residential lots of Hunters Point South Phase 2? For the last year absolutely nothing as the anointed developer TF Cornerstone wrangled with Amtrak and the New York Power Authority over underground rail and electrical lines – admittedly no simple feat. Yet according to a story in Crain’s, the issues seem to have been worked out and the building plans might be back on track and starting soon.
Which brings us (once again) to the more important issue of [Read more…] about HUNTERS POINT SOUTH PHASE 2 BACK ON TRACK?