Lots of little items to pass on, hopefully when you add them all up it’ll amount to something worthwhile. Here we go, stream of consciousness-style because after Thursday night I’m having trouble with the English language:
According to reps at TF Cornerstone, their final building on the waterfront, 46-10 Center Boulevard, is already 37% leased up after being open only two months. As expected, the apartments are spectacular, having viewed them yesterday, and confirmation that in the not-too-distant future, Center Boulevard will be as highly coveted as Central Park West. Another interesting fact is that 53% of the units are studios. Funny that, twenty years ago you couldn’t give away studios in Manhattan and they were perceived as a poor investment.
As if we needed any more proof that the local rental noose is tightening, a more mundane 59-unit building on 11th Street also reported being 50% leased up after only two months of activity. Then, in yet another story about the Pearson Building’s wind turbines, it’s revealed at the end that the building expects to be fully occupied by the middle of summer. Talk about burying the lede!
Who’s doing all this leasing? Well according to Sean Christie, his firm Christie Property Group had one of the largest shares of the TF Cornerstone market. Bob Schmidt, the head of leasing at TF confirmed that they might be right. Due to all their local business, Sean and his brother just opened an LIC branch of their brokerage firm on 47th Avenue. Who would have thought there was room for more real estate brokers in LIC?
Schmidt also told us that a lot of the recent leases signed in their buildings were with foreigners. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the most expensive condo in Queens was sold to someone from Colombia recently. Hmm, the international set is finally migrating across the river, what will that mean for condo prices in Long Island City?
Outside of real estate what else is happening in LIC? Oh wait, there’s more leasing activity to report, this time on the retail end. A new cafe is opening on 44th Drive across from The Cliffs. Also, Fortune Cookie, the Chinese restaurant formerly in Court Square central, is re-opening on 21st Street next to the Key Food. Now I know where to get a good egg roll while watching my offspring frolic in Murray Park. Thank you to Jeremy Swillinger a resident of 45th Avenue, who sells real estate at Level Group for the heads up.
Also, according to a press release, LIC’s first optical boutique opened up. OptimEyes Vision of LIC is owned by three optometrists and will have a grand opening party tomorrow between 1pm and 6pm at their location at 5-27 50th Avenue. All invited.
Calling all LIC junkies like myself, don’t forget to sign up for the LIC Summit this Tuesday, June 17. The agenda can be seen here.
Finally, on this day back in 1935, James Braddock claimed the title of world heavyweight boxing champion from Max Baer in a 15-round fight in …Long Island City, New York. Baer must have felt like I do today.
46-09 11th Street 50% Leased – who else keeps tabs on this stuff?
The Windy City is Actually in Queens – as anyone living on Center Boulevard knows
LIC Condo Sets Record at $3.35 Million – the owners paid $1.67 mil in 2010; “Long Island City is almost an extension of Midtown East,” said Silvette Julian of Nest Seekers International, who had the listing.
Two Year Old Art Company Has Explosive Growth – hard working guys ply niche in LIC and succeed
Tom Cat Bakery, the Company That Never Sleeps – yummy profile on LIC’s own
Success Academy Plans Dramatic New Expansion – including an elementary school in LIC in 2016
Google Adds Graffiti to It’s Art Portfolio – highlighting 5Pointz, RIP
NightLight at LIC Garden – cool exhibit at the LIC Community Garden next to Shady Park
Baer vs. Braddock in LIC – read the story and watch the video here
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