IT was a five birthday party day in Shady Park on the last Saturday of Summer. That’s a testament to all the kids and new parents filling Hunters Point. Not surprising given all the massive residential buildings completed in the past few years in the southern part of this family-friendly neighborhood: the 800-unit 52-03 Center Boulevard and 400-unit 52-41 Center boulevard in 2022, 1132-unit Gotham Point and an adjacent massive tower whose name I can’t recall in 2023, 1386-units in Malt Drive during 2024-5, and the 500-unit Jasper currently filling up. It’s a shame all the kids at all these birthday parties will never learn to swim.
At least not right here in Long Island City. Well maybe if they shlep all the way over to the LIC YMCA, which given its location on Queens Boulevard one block from the 33rd St. subway station might as well be called the ‘Sunnyside YMCA.’ Sunnyside, isn’t that where our City Councilwoman Julie Won lives? Her kids will be able to learn to swim in a convenient location! That’s despite the lack of density in Sunnyside or anywhere near the LIC YMCA. No massive residential towers there.
That’s fine, I have no problem with a YMCA servicing Sunnyside. What I am trying to advocate for is all the people living in Hunters Point, and it’s not just families and kids still at an age where their parents can hold birthdays in parks. It runs through every age generation up to the seniors living in these towers – of which there are increasing number.
And there are more massive towers coming to Hunters Point. 5000+-units worth if the post-Amazon HQ2 plans were to be allowed under the OneLIC Plan. Plus the Paragon Paint Building currently being constructed, and the huge ‘Piece of Cake’ footprint, and the former HQ of the NY Blood Center on Vernon Boulevard, and the Stan’s Taxi Lot, …we’ve got density, oh do we have density (and voters).
Which is why I can’t get overly excited about the news announced last week by Julie Won about a potential new school at 5-46 46th Avenue, currently home to Plaxall’s headquarters. This is exactly where a new Rec Center should be located. Or in the adjacent Plaxall property due west of this building, or in the Plaxall property across the street. All of these properties are ideally located in the diametric center of where the Hunters Point of the 2030’s will eventually be when all these units are completed.
Given this recent and expected growth, a school should be a given, not a celebration. A Rec Center with a pool should be a given too. It will bring tremendous value to both residents and developers.
//Stevie Ray Cohen took a big step towards the finishing line last week, as two of the three Manhattan casino proposals were scrapped after the local communities gave the thumbs down. Elsewhere in Queens no, make that LIC, there’s a crazy looking house on 36th Avenue that’s attracting a lot of notice, and notoriety. Sorry NYT, 36th Ave is LIC, not Astoria. No offense taken.
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