Schwartz Chemical Factory Crumbles in Long Island City
Ruins in LIC - the Schwartz Chemical Factory demolished
I was walking around the Gantry Park and Queenswest this afternoon during the tail end of the snow, and I discovered the ruins of the building next to the Powerhouse on the corner of 50th Ave & 2nd St. It was the Schwartz Chemical Factory. There were tennis courts in the last incarnation of this building, and from word on the street, it seems this site is going to be part of the Powerhouse empire. So far it’s called Powerhouse 2.
There’s been some interesting conversation lately about what’s going on with the real estate and development in the hood. Well it’s been going on for a while, but in the last couple of weeks on liQcity there’s been a lot of negative commentary towards new construction and the ‘yuppification’ of LIC.
Coming across another piece of history being wiped out is definitely a sad moment for me, but after watching it day after day for 4ish years, I’m almost getting used to it. Center Blvd is a whole new world, and it’s not necessarily pretty, but for some reason LIC hasn’t yet lost it’s magic. It’s still surprisingly quiet and peaceful despite all the construction going on.
Aah, but that’s not what it’s really about though, is it? It’s about the soul of Long Island City. It’s hung in there thanks to the timing of the famous 2001 rezoning of Hunters Point, and though it seems to have missed the boat for Dutch Kills, there’s a natural tension between development and the existing community. We want grocery stores, but we also want our old buildings. We want our artists, community, and affordable rent, but we also want a grocery store, $20M library, restaurants, bars, stores… maybe even a cinema would be nice. Maybe we don’t. Who knows. I’m not hear to speak for anyone but myself, and liQcity welcomes the fight against the development, as well as the developers to respond.
Save for certain catastrophic events… the ‘yuppification’ of LIC is pretty much a done deal. But does that really mean all of Long Island City goes down the toilet? With Hunters Point in the exclusion zone starting July 2008, developers will be forced to meet affordable housing requirements for juicy tax breaks. Then there’s Hunters Point South which is to be a ‘middle income’ housing universe (40% market rate). Is that enough?
No. Of course not. I am of the opinion that fighting the development is wasting energy (what does that look like anyway?), but strengthening and organizing the existing community to have a strong voice in the evolution of the neighborhood is more likely to have lasting impact. Of course that takes a lot of work, and not just complaining anonymously on a neighborhood blog.
Queens Crap is full of a bunch of NIMBYs. They are against all development and would prefer a time when LIC had cobblestone roads filled with stagecoaches.
Hi liqcity - Did you ever visit LIC before Center Blvd., Gantry Park, or any new buildngs existed? Fifteen years ago the waterfront was a vast garbage strewn wasteland. Now that went beyond the pale as far as being “not necessarily pretty”. Whether you agree with all of the architecture or not, the waterfront is now an appealing and inviting area.
Liqcity - I expected more from you than the standard NIMBY anti-development rhetoric. If I want false nostalgia and inane juvenile comments about how dumpy, crappy unused factories and warehouses are better than new luxury condos I would go to QueensCrap. You are going to miss the Schwartz chemical factory?? Are you kidding?? It was a run-down nothing of a building. You don’t think Center Blvd. is nicer now than it was before the development? You don’t think that the new amenities coming in, waterfront parks and esplanades, and the new restaurants and cultural activities, which wouldn’t be happening without the development, are a good thing? Give me a break.
“Whether you agree with all of the architecture or not, the waterfront is now an appealing and inviting area.”
Sure, as long as you have at least 7 figures in the bank.
You do not have to live in one of the new buildings to take advantage of the waterfront. You must be a commenter from Queens Crap who has never even visited the area.
I like LIQcity because it isn’t the same glossed-over gentrification cheerleading found in a lot of other neighborhood media. Keep at it.
sorry to burst your bubble #6, but I have beena part of LIC long before the current infestation, and will be here when you all leave for even dumpier pastures.
I love the old buildings. I know the new development is inevitable, and I embrace it in many ways. But I don’t understand why the existing buildings are so callously disregarded. There seems to be little attempt to preserve the architectural history, which is one of the things that makes nyc so beautiful in general.
Of course, there are times when that’s not possible - por ejemplo this building. The chemical factory is probably way too toxic for anyone to ever live in - it has to go. I get that. But that’s not always the case. And it was a beautiful old industrial building. Some do not appreciate them, some do.
They’re going down so rapidly that I feel the need to at least honor the dead. RIP
I don’t understand the hostility of the “Queens Crap” ilk. Why are they so angry with life and everyone else? What has anyone ever done to them?
I went for a run down to Blissville today, and you know what, LIC is so vast I think it’s gonna survive. They aren’t going to be filling all of Ravenswood and Dutch Kills and Blissville with condos… too desolate and industrial and far from the subway… I think. Although there’s a brand new hotel in Blissville going up, due to LIE proximity I suppose.
Wandering around down south of the freeway though it feels such a world apart from any forces of gross marketing slogans about a life of stainless steel above the world, though. I walked down Railroad Street at night a few days ago (my roommate was trying to dumpster-dive at Fresh Direct… total failure to even locate the things) and we walked over this railroad bridge over Dutch Kills (the water body)… and you know it just is never going to change in any significant way. There’ll always be these quiet inaccessible corners of the neighborhood that are too far from the subways for condo demand. Although those condo people seem to all have cars for some reason, so maybe not.
#8, please stick to Queens Crap. I would like to see the comments on this blog stay adult and intelligent. Your comment that you need to make a lot of money to be able to go to the waterfront area is typical of the false, stupid statements that serious-minded people would rather not have to put up with. Your claim that the influx into LIC of young professional workers that is transforming the neighborhood in many positive ways is an “infestation” is equally ridiculous. Even if I disagree with LIQCity on some things, he presents reasonable, respectable opinions without being contentious.
Who uses the word Blissville?
Or for that matter, ‘freeway.’ Where, in LIC, is there a freeway? Or NY for that matter except upstate.
And who dumpster dives? To steal customer info and commit identity theft?
#4 IS SPOT ON…
#13:
Long Island Expressway? Brooklyn-Queens Expressway? Freeways. Or highways. Or expressways. Take your pick.
People who know their neighborhood geography (and history) use the word Blissville. And Ravenswood. I’m glad this blog actually uses Hunters Point and Dutch Kills for that matter; even that is rare it seems in most circles.
Also, my roommate has been dumpster-diving a lot… if you show up outside bakeries at the right time you can find whole bags of day-old whatever. I’m not that cheap myself, but he does pretty well by it.
# 12, YOUR comment is typical of the elitist, socialist “hillitant” attitude that is precisely what none of us old timers in LIC want around. I’ll tell you what. Your the elitist, why dont you just tell me what to say and think, after all, you know whats best for everyone, right? Why dont you have multi page long conversations with yourself to show the whole world whats right and wrong. I have a civil liberty to post whatever I feel on a public board. If you dont like it, ban me! I’m sorry, but I’ve seen “yuppieism” full force in the past and yes, it is an infestation. Sorry, but thats the way I feel and whether you like it or not, you and your brethren are NOT welcome anywhere where there are normal working people. No, its not envy or jealousy, its the way you people act. Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but its the truth. Now go take your NYACLU card and go cry to them that someone hurt your feelings. Too many men and women better than you have given their lives to enable me to say what I feel.
how safe is the dirt they are removing from that site? Why is it that three years ago they had to tent the area they were removing earth from, one block away, and yet for the chemical factory of Powerhouse, there is no precaution whatsoever? I can’t believe that it’s not toxic.
lic’s hunters point area has always been a decent place to live:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E4D81F38F935A35752C0A963948260&login=tenx
Does anyone know how sales at powerhouse are coming along? Not many units seem to be under contract. Also, I wonder if there are any adverse environmental effects from the former chemical factory (like carcinogenic gases emanating from the ground or into the air or water).