JetBlue to Long Island City: Prepare for landing in Queens Plaza

JetBlue is heading for Long Island City

After a lengthy debate between relocating to Orlando or staying in Queens, JetBlue, the only NY-based airline, has decided to stay in NYC. They’re moving their HQ from Forest Hills to Long Island City, Queens Plaza to be exact.

From NYT:

“Keeping JetBlue is the first economic development coup for the city in a while. Instead of moving jobs to Florida, JetBlue plans to shift its administrative offices from Forest Hills, Queens, to a Citigroup building in Queens Plaza, according to the person who was briefed. The airline also plans to move an additional 70 jobs there from Connecticut.”

It’s not happening anytime soon, but chalk up another highly-publicized new commercial tenant for Long Island City. According to the press release, the new address will be 27-01 Queens Plaza North, where they’re expecting to occupy approx. 200,000 SF by mid-2012 in the historic Brewster Building.

The future of Queens Plaza is very interesting, considering the behemoth Gotham Center bringing 11 stories of DOH employees, and the pending aesthetic beautification, which also includes weeding out undesireables. And let’s not forget Rockrose is building three residential towers just a few blocks away. Oh yes, then there’s QP’s blooming hotel garden.

Perhaps by 2020 there will be a whole new Queens Plaza? And we’ll fondly remember the days of dilapidation and strip clubs… ? Probably not. You’re cleared for landing JetBlue.

• JetBlue plants its flag in NYC with new HQ location [JetBlue]

• JetBlue headquarters to stay in New York [NYT]

• VIDEO: JetBlue to keep headquarters in NYC [NY1]

• JetBlue to stay in Queens with move to LIC [YourNabe]

• True Blue: JetBlue to stay in New York City [NBC]