A thousand reasons to love Long Island City. Tips: Editor@LICtalk.com
THE final week of summer comes with some good news, and some less than good. First off, following in the footsteps of LICtalk, Florence Fabricant of The New York Times gives a shout out to ‘Oh Calcutta,’ the new Indian restaurant on Jackson Avenue.
[Read more…] about ‘Oh Calcutta’ Indian Restaurant in LIC Gets NYT Write-up
THE headline above is a surefire way to deter clicks. The innocuity of once again announcing rezoning plans for Long Island City, is the equivalent of Situational Awareness Day (Sept. 26, sorry you missed it). Especially in 2023. We’ll get to the ‘Why’ in a moment, as for the Who/What/Where here we go.
[Read more…] about New Rezoning Plan Slated For Long Island City
WE are deep in the summer doldrums, which is a perfect time to resurrect a long neglected issue here in LIC: The empty lot that is 49-18 Vernon Boulevard. Except this time we’re going to present a challenge.
For those unfamiliar, this lot is on the north west corner of 50th Avenue. Aka the most heavily trafficked intersection in Hunters Point due to it’s being the location for both main entrances of the Vernon/Jackson subway station and the higher volume businesses in close proximity that the stations attract.
This lot has also been wrapped up in sidewalk-crimping construction scaffolding for almost a decade, which in addition to being a pedestrian nuisance, is also an eyesore and has been since at least 2016. It’s ongoing presence has been a conundrum too.
Given the prominence of the location, this oversight is too egregious and has simply been going on too long. With that, I call on our City Councilwoman Julie Won to take action. This is a city issue, and she is our local representative.
As the voice of LIC, we are making her aware of this long term blight, but only she has the power and her staff the knowledge to navigate the city bureaucracy in an expedited manner. Whatever construction permits have been issued have long expired, as there has been no work on this site in years. The city should have long ago put this property in foreclosure based on the continuous fines that I am sure are due. Once they are alerted the process should move along quickly based on the duration of this issue and the heftiness of the fines. Now all we need is the right person to make that call and continue the pressure. Tear down this scaffolding Julie Won!
Original Plan For 49-18 Vernon – see pic: 5-stories, 20 units, retail on ground floor (hello Starbucks)
Mayor Adams, DOB Commissioner Oddo Unveil Plan to Remove Unsightly Sheds, Scaffolding From NYC Sidewalks – out this week
Taste 88 Types of Noodles At LIC’s Newest Ramen Place – a new challenge in Dutch Kills for Cool Hand Luke
Vernon Boulevard Will Be Car Free This Saturday – north of 44th Drive that is
DUE to the lack of any meaningful local headlines, I chose to delve into a recent pair of stories in The New York Daily News criticizing LIC’s Community Council Member Julie Won for some apparent indiscretions. Or I should say the husband of Council Member Julie Won.
[Read more…] about This News About LIC Makes Me Won-der
‘TIS The Season when things really slow down in the news biz. It’s when us veteran reporters usually hand over the reigns to the rookies and let’em try to squeeze blood from a stone. Which brings us to the announcement that a challenger has decided to run against our local councilwoman in next years primary. Putting it right up there with Covid Pandemic, Ukraine Invasion, and the World Cup when placed in the right journalistic hands. Or maybe we should all just head down to St. Bart’s immediately?
[Read more…] about ‘Tis The Slow Season In Long Island City