Is Clay Aiken buying at the Arris Lofts?

Aah, somebody please save our souls asap, because we’re descending into the lower depths of digital media. It’s totally not our fault though! Upon hearing the news that Clay Aiken is rumored to be in contract at the Arris Lofts, and after having a few glasses of vino… we um, had some fun in photoshop last night. But don’t be distracted from the morsel of the story. Is Clay Aiken moving to Arris Lofts? One of the most controversial new developments? Does that mean LIC is going to be invaded by a bunch of gaggling Claymates?

While you’re pondering those very important questions, we’ll also quietly deliver the news that other celebrities rumored to have bought at Arris are Placido Domingo & DJ Danny Tenaglia.

Anyone remember this condo sale at the Arris Lofts last year? At $2.995M, it’s the most expensive condo sale in LIC (probably also Queens). So who bought it?

Well earlier this week, we loudly delivered the rumor that Clay Aiken is in contract at Arris, and downplayed the purchases by a couple other celebrities. The Residence 800, as it’s known, was bought by DJ Danny Tenaglia. We’re imagining the sick parties he’ll throw on that terrace.

In curbed’s coverage of the Clay Aiken rumor, there was an interesting line:

…this could be some weird defining moment in the recent history of Long Island City as an emerging development hotspot.

Well, LIC’s been an emerging developing hotspot for a long time now, but for most of the last few years (or 10) the progress lagged far behind the hype. And still does. Amenities are barely catching up, though they’re definitely moving along. For those of us who live here and are witnessing firsthand the insane transformation of LIC, I don’t think it comes as a huge surprise that celebrities would consider this quiet, tourist-free neighborhood full of luxury development. Though, if they keep moving here, it might not be tourist-free for very long.