A new vision for Queens Plaza; park project to break ground this summer
The future of Queens Plaza, Long Island City
The last in our series of posts on the neighborhood development plans by the NYCDEC is a new vision for Queens Plaza. This park project, which also has been threatening to break ground for a while now, has new wind in its sails starting this summer.
Here’s the plan:
Queens Plaza Vision, Reinventing Queens Plaza “Queens Plaza is a major transportation hub, providing roadway access to the Queensboro Bridge as well as subway and bus connections to much of Queens and Manhattan. The goal of the Queens Plaza project is twofold: to enhance the public environment and improve pedestrian safety, while reconfiguring streets to allow traffic to move more smoothly.”
New Gathering Place: Lushly landscaped and dotted with seating, the proposed 1.5-acre park at Queens Plaza East is envisioned as the new gathering place for residents and workers and is the centerpiece for new development. The new open space will offer a cool respite from the elevated subway, traffic and summer heat, while providing a dramatic splash of landscape colors in the fall. Information panels will be located at the park’s main entry points.
Redesigned Roadway: The new roadway design improves pedestrian and bicycle safety as well as traffic flow. Wider medians will provide new space for bikes and pedestrians. New crosswalks and additional green light time will be provided for pedestrians crossing between Queens Plaza North and South. Traffic will move more smoothly through improved turning radii and more efficient merging areas.
I lived under the dang elevated train, but I don’t think I’d feel like picnicing under it. This is one reason why I rarely sit on my stoop in the summer. That’ll be one loud park.
Like that will ever happen
This areas literally looks like a bomb went off there 10 years ago and nobody ever bothered to clean up the mess. Anything they do there will be an improvement. THAT SAID, I am an optimist, but I seriously cannot figure out how they are going to transform this area into a place where people want to congregate. Without seriously considering how they are going to deal with the extant aural landscape (i.e. the elevated train that literally screams through that curve every 2-4 minutes), this park is going to be a wasteland. If they can clean it up, make it less junky and clarify the traffic that moves through there, that will be a dramatic improvement, but I honestly don’t see a burgeoning park replete with greenery ever being successful there. I’d love to be proven wrong here.
This is NYC, where a patch of dirt on the side of a noisy highway can be called a park. If the city wants to green up that place and plant a few trees, I’m all for it.
They don’t need to make it a destination park, they should just make it a forest with a path through it. Plant as many trees as possible as noise buffers between the elevated and the homes/businesses nearby. I’d support that.
A forest seems like a bad idea from a public-safety perspective, just sayin’.
I agree with Brandon. Forest + local strip clubs = ?
Well, if we’re busy yuppifying, let’s just get rid of the strip clubs.
Yuppies are such killjoys.
those strip clubs aren’t even good ones. it would be one thing if they were…:)
YES THE STRIP CLUBS WOULD HAVE TO BE CLOSED, BUT I DONT KNOW I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS STORES AND A FURNITURE OUTLET AT THE OLD BUS DEPOT UP THE BLOCK FROM CITY SCAPES AND THAT CLOSED CAUSE THAT AREA IS JUST DEAD I WOULD REALLY BE SURPRISED IF THEY GET IT TO BOOM HOW EVER POSSIBLE
Leave it as and even if they manage to build this, they’ll never be able to maintain it and it’ll fall into disrepair. And become what it is now, a noisy trash strewn mess. Maybe put a fresh market there or sell Xmas trees there during the winter.
We’ve been waiting a long time for this plan to actually break ground. I for one am looking forward to the ground breaking and believe this will enhance and evolve the gateway into queens. A special thanks to Mayor Bloomberg and the local politicians who have assisted in making this happen.
I look forward to seeing this project break ground. With all the new residential condos going in nearby, a park (however noisy…we don’t care about noise, we live in the city…)would be a great place to walk the dogs, get some fresh air, etc. I applaud the effort to improve our quality of life.
The opportunities to make LIC a place that honors our need to become a more green planet is unparalleled. After all it seems like we are pretty much starting over with a brand new neighborhood. I love seeing this plan. Let’s have more trees to balance out all the buildings!
Janet
Yeah. The Rikers bus let’s off right there, so a forest is a bad idea. Plus with all those strip clubs, you want to be as visible as possible. Then the late night atmosphere. Man they must be doing some serious people scaping before they move that sort of park in there.
What an unfortunate place for the Riker’s drop off.
Helen Marshall, suck that development cock!
You go girl!
Send tips, feedback, and death threats to info [at] liqcity [dot] com
Search
Advertisement
Popular Posts
MTA to LIC: 7-train service suspended for the next, um, eleven weekendsRecap of the latest public hearing about LIC's Hunters Point SouthLong Island City bleary but warm Monday afternoon linkageLong Island City Back in the Saddle Friday morning linkageLong Island City gloriously sunny Monday afternoon linkageLaughing Devil Comedy Club brews up some funny for Long Island CityliQcity to Long Island City: Beware of SOPA & PIPA!Advertisement
Archives
Arts
They’re baaaaack. Summer Warm Ups at LIC’s PS1 MoMA kick off this Saturday. Long Island City Culture Chronicle: The Queens Art Express Hit List Long Island City’s Ten10 Studios is ‘Growing Up’ this weekendBuzz
Mystery at the Long Island City waterfront Another grocery store for LIC: MetFoods to manifest on 51st Ave Life, death, and transformation in Long Island City. Of storefronts, that is.Community
CRIME: Long Island City woman sexually assaulted on Vernon Blvd Agenda for Long Island City’s next Community Board 2 Meeting, Dec 1st liQcity is going non-profit! Support liQpop and help us help you LIC.Commuting
MTA to LIC: 7-train service suspended for the next, um, eleven weekends Long Island City express to New Jersey? Not any weekend soon. LIC update on the weekend 7 train shutdowns for October 2011Dining
Long Island City’s beloved M.Wells Diner closing down this month Good Eats in LIC: Hunters Point dishes up some serious seasonal seafood Long Island City hosts not-so-new Romanian ‘Ion’s Corner Cafe’Economy
LICBDC news: Borden Ave Bridge back in Sept; LIC boasts low crime rates LICBDC supports local biz with massive Annual Luncheon & Trade Show Long Island City barely hit in the latest Queens foreclosuresEvents
Long Island City events round-up: Fundraiser Fever!! Edible Queens’ ‘Queens Uncorked’ event in LIC to benefit local farmers Long Island City Events: Arts Arts Arts and more ArtsGovernment
liQcity to Long Island City: Beware of SOPA & PIPA! LIC’s dangerous 44th Drive tightening up & getting a bike lane. Thanks DOT! Quickie recount of CB2′s public hearing yesterday on 49th Ave & HP SouthHappenings
Courtyard Winter Carnival at PS1 MoMA with M. Wells & Manducatis Rustica Long Island City Partnership Annual Trade Show & Luncheon 2011 Recap The 2011 ING NYC Marathon blazed through LIC this weekendHealth
Swine Flu visits Long Island City If you smell something, say something. Yoga and Pilates in Long Island City – Radiant Movement StudioLife
Long Island City photos du jour: Hurricane Irene weekend sunset shots Long Island City and Hurricane Irene: A match made in… well, we’ll see. Life in Long Island City as photographed by local residentsLinkage
Long Island City Holiday limbo Tuesday morning linkage Long Island City moon over Monday morning linkage Long Island City drizzly and sunny Tuesday morning linkageliQcity
Long Island City clouds-are-gathering Tuesday morning linkage Quick note from the Editor Add your Long Island City shots to liQcity’s Flickr photo poolLocal Biz
Laughing Devil Comedy Club brews up some funny for Long Island City Support local business! Thank you to our amazing LIC sponsors. Long Island City new local biz update: bistros, burgers and moreNeighborhood
Long Island City’s CB2 tackles Murray Park renovation & film crews in LIC Examining the impact of losing the 2012 Olympic bid on LIC & NYC Public Hearing about new liquor license apps & 48th Ave makeover in LICNew Development
Recap of the latest public hearing about LIC’s Hunters Point South Update and Public Hearing on LIC’s Hunters Point South project An update on Long Island City’s favorite City housing developmentNews
Long Island City gloriously sunny Monday afternoon linkage Long Island City bleary but warm Monday afternoon linkage Long Island City Back in the Saddle Friday morning linkageOddities
Accidents will happen in Long Island City. And happen. Long Island City’s long lost East River footbridge concept discovered Breaking LIC news: car drives into Vernon Blvd restaurantOpenings
Long Island City new biz update; many new restaurants popping & bubbling New local business still blooming in Long Island City Retail blooms in Hunters Point; Lots of new Long Island City bizAdvertisement
Links
EAT
BANY Asian Fusion Bella Via Blend Breadbox Café Bricktown Bagels Brooks 1890 Restaurant The Burger Garage Café Henri Court Square Diner The Creek Da Gianni’s Ristorante Dorian Café El Ay Si Five Star Banquet & Restaurant Five Stars Punjabi Diner Gaw Gai Thai Express Ihawan Jackson Avenue Steakhouse Junior’s Café La Vuelta LIC Market Manducatis Manducatis Rustica Manetta’s Masso Riverview Restaurant & Lounge Sage General Store SHI Sushi Siam Testaccio Tournesol Tuk Tuk Waterfront Crabhouse Water’s EdgeDRINK
Butcher Hookah & Juice Bar Communitea Domaine Bar a Vins Dominie’s Hoek Dutch Kills Bar LIC Bar Lounge 47 Penthouse 808 @ Ravel Hotel PJ Leahy’s Shannon Pot Studio Square biergarten SweetleafREAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS
5SL - 5th Street Lofts 10 Court Square 10-17 Jackson Ave 10-50 Jackson Ave Condos 41st Ave Condos 44-27 Purves Condo Arris Lofts Avalon Riverview Rentals Avalon Riverview North Rentals Casa Vizcaya Condos Citylights Crescent Club Condos East Coast Rentals East of East East River Tower Echelon Condos Hallets Cove Condos Galaxy Condos Gantry Condos Gotham Center Hunters Point Condos The Foundry LIC Condos Fusion LIC Condos L Haus Condos Murano Condos Orient Condos Packard Square Rentals Piano Factory Condos The Prestige Condos Powerhouse Condos Queens Plaza Condos Solarium Condos Star Tower Condos Ten63 Jackson Condos Vere Condos View59 Condos View at East Coast CondosARTS
5 Pointz AES Gallery Art-O-Mat (RIP) BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center Bridgeview School of Fine Art Center for Holographic Arts Chocolate Factory Theater Climate/Gallery Dean Project Deitch Studios Dorsky Gallery Dutch Kills Gallery Fisher Landau Center for Art Flux Factory Green Space Dance Studio Juvenal Reis Studios LaGuardia Performing Arts Center LIC Artists LIC Art Center LIC Cultural Alliance Live at the Gantries Local Project M55 Gallery Museum of the Moving Image NY Irish Center Noguchi Museum P.S. 1 Queens Art Express Queens Council on the Arts Repetti Gallery SculptureCenter Secret Theatre Silvercup Studios Socrates Sculpture Park Space Womb Thalia Spanish Theatre The Space Texas FirehouseLOCAL BIZ
Big City Graphics & Printing Blue Streak Wines Build it Green! Camp Bow Wow LIC The Cat’s Pajamas Hotel Charge & Ride City Vet C-Town Cranky*s Café Court Square Wines & Spirits Czech-Slovak Varieties Dog Island City Duane Reade E & I Deli Emily Spa Ethereal Boutique Express 1 Laundromat Film Biz Recycling Foodcellar Hunters Point Wines & Spirits Into White Dental Just Things Kika Hair Design Kitty & Dog Lounge Krypton Neon LIC Kids LIC School of Ballet Little Closets Lolly’s Early Learning Center MaidPro Matted LIC Nook n’ Crannie New York Looks Salon Pooches Sport & Spa Primp & Tease Salon Sharifwear Spokesman Cycles State Farm Subdivision Vernon Pharmacy Vernon Wine & Liquor Vine WineHEALTH & FITNESS
Balance Medical Spa City Ice Pavilion CityView Raquet Club CrossFit LIC Element Fitness Into White Dental LIC Physical Therapy LIC YMCA NYC Paintball QueensWest Health Radiant Movement NY Circus Arts Tennisport Triumph Physical Therapy The Yoga Room Yoga Studio 6LOCAL LINKS
108th Police Precinct info Community Board 2 District 37 NYS Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan Dutch Kills Civic Association Edible Queens Magazine Gantry Plaza State Park Greater Astoria Historical Society Green Shores NYC Hunters Point LIC Greenmarket Jimmy Van Bramer, District 26 City Councilman LIC Alliance LIC Boathouse LICBDC LIC Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) LIC Millstones Blog LICweb Materials for the Arts Murray Playground Newtown Creek Alliance Queensbridge Park Queens Public Library: Court Square Branch Queens Public Library: LIC Branch Queens West Development Corporation Partnership for Parks Recycle a Bicycle Skyline City ChurchHOTELS
Best Western Plaza Hotel Comfort Inn Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Days Inn (Sunnyside) Fairfield Inn by Marriott (Sunnyside) Holiday Inn Express Midtown Tunnel (Sunnyside) Holiday Inn Manhattan View Howard Johnson Inn LaQuinta Inn (Sunnyside) Quality Inn Ramada Hotel Ravel Hotel & Rooftop Verve Hotel Z-Hotel (under construction)Advertisement
© 2007 liQcity. All Rights Reserved.
This is one of the dumbest project of recent memory. That area is the 3rd loudest section of Queens behind JFK and LaGuardia. Between the subways and traffic, the only people going to this park will be the deaf.