LHaus
Jan 28 2008

5SL office to go Asian fusion; Zipper Building in the hopper

Zipper building in Long Island City

1) I’m still sad about the Amish Market, and hopeful about the Fairway rumor, but there was a time when I also hungered for more restaurants in LIC. I can’t say we’ve hit capacity (what hood has the problem of too many good places to eat) but at least now we have a variety of options. Trouble is, all the new restaurants seem to be some variety of Asian fusion. Now that 5SL has moved their sales office on-site, the corner spot on Vernon & 48th they used to occupy is being leased by another Asian fusion place. This is confirmed by many, but no one seems to have any specific deets. If you know what’s going in that spot, hit us up.

2) It seems Toll Brothers made a bit of a land grab when they bought the lot for 5SL because they also purchased the adjacent lots, including what’s dubbed as the ‘Zipper Building’ on 48th. Yes folks, that used to be a zipper factory. According to QW, seems the Zipper Building is getting more than just a face lift, but being knocked down altogether. Which I find rather sad, since the building is unique and distinctive, and if done nicely would probably shine up rather well. Like the base of the Powerhouse. But that’s Karl Fisher and this is Toll Brothers, so we’ll see what transpires.

UPDATE 1/29/08 » The info about the Toll Brothers is being challenged and we are looking into it and will update. We did hear from some reliable sources that it’s owned by Toll Brothers, but there does seem to be legitimate confusion.

Still it would be nice if LIC could integrate it’s industrial heritage into its new identity, instead of just burying it entirely in shiny, glass architecture. I remember when I first moved here, how inspired I was by the Gantry Park’s beautiful melding of the industrial dock into a waterfront park. They didn’t cover up the history, but worked it into the landscape and it was one of the reasons I was excited to move here. Other reasons included a lack of grocery store and the hate mongering on curbed.com towards LIC. Of course.

Buzz

11 Comments

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Hey Liq- Where are you getting this about the zipper building? I spoke to a Toll rep a couple of weeks ago who told me that the building has been sold (not to Toll though), and that word was that the building was going to be gutted in it’s existing form and converted to condos.
The QW link you posted was from 2005??? Not saying you are incorrect, just wondering where you got it from. Thanks.

#1 A Fine Blogger / 4 years ago

I believe the developers of this building are also one of the developers of the Galaxy condo and the other building across from it that they’re building now, the spa place that will be a kids gym or something like that. Not Toll Bros.

#2 Anonymous / 4 years ago

Huh interesting. I will clear that up. I heard yesterday from 2 different sales offices that Toll Bros had that building.

Thanks.

#3 liQcity / 4 years ago

Whatever the case, would LOVE to see this building gutted rather than torn down. Take a page from Powerhouse and Arris. The old industrial buildings of LIC are what gives the hood soul!

#4 Anonymous / 4 years ago

Is the Amish market not coming to town anymore?

#5 Anonymous / 4 years ago

amish is opening in may now, or was it april? springtime would be the best answer

#6 Anonymous / 4 years ago

The Galaxy developers had some signs for a new condo on the warehouses east of the mentioned site, not on this particular building. The funny thing is that they took them down after a few weeks. They even went on QW.com to ask the community which amenities would be preferable to them. I wonder if they are still doing it or have decided to hold off on it.

#7 Anonymous / 4 years ago

It will be great to see if this building gutted and renovated if possible. However, they will have to demolish the back of the building so that they could meet the 30′ zoning setback requirement for residential structures.

#8 Anonymous / 4 years ago

“Still it would be nice if LIC could integrate it’s industrial heritage into its new identity, instead of just burying it entirely in shiny, glass architecture. I remember when I first moved here, how inspired I was by the Gantry Park’s beautiful melding of the industrial dock into a waterfront park. They didn’t cover up the history, but worked it into the landscape and it was one of the reasons I was excited to move here”

exactly! one of the reasons i bought at arris…still can’t get over why the curbed haters still exist.

#9 Anonymous / 4 years ago

All that remains of the original Powerhouse is a few bricks in its facade unfortunately. It isn’t a loft conversion and it would absolutely suck if the zipper building gets torn down to make more cookie cutter apartmetns like 5SL. Have some creativity architects.

#10 Anonymous / 4 years ago

I think 5SL did a nice job of paying homage to the industrial past. They could have thrown up a glass box like everyone else does these days, but it at least fits in with the context of the area.

#11 Anonymous / 4 years ago

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