Dutch Kills, Dec ’09, Long Island City

Back in December we did a little update on the veritable development rampage that has blown up in the Dutch Kills region of LIC. You know: the hotel boom, ripped up lots, towering new buildings squeezed between family homes, the whole 9 yards. Recently, some more attention has been given to the residential rezoning that has drastically transformed the area. Now that the zoning ‘growing pains’ are over (are they?), the media pops the question: is DK ready to be the Next Big Thing? »

Inside the Hotel Indigo LLC lot, Dutch Kills, Long Island City

While the Long Island City focus has always been on the Queens West waterfront and Hunters Point, Dutch Kills – loosely defined as the area just north of Queens Plaza, heading up towards Astoria – has been quietly gentrifying itself into a frenzy. Not only have two new hotels gone up a block or two from each other on Crescent St (Country Inn & Suites and the Ramada), but lots are being ripped up, developments are starting and stopping and starting again, and towering buildings are settling into quiet blocks lined with family houses. Sigh.

Dutch Kills began its recent transformation after some crafty developers took advantage of the city dragging their feet (for, um, three years) when it came to rezoning the neighborhood to allow for medium-density residential development. Last time we ventured into this strange and rapidly developing land of churches, hotels, small houses, and construction lots, it was actually one of the hottest days of this past summer. Needless to say, we thought it was time for a wintry Dutch Kills update »

View from 49th Ave & 5th Street looking South, Long Island City

The hotel development boom in Long Island City is not limited to Dutch Kills, though it certainly is concentrated in Queens Plaza. But never fear Vernon/Jackson, we are on the hotelier’s radars as well. It looks like a couple of adjacent parcels on 50th & 49th Aves between Vernon & 5th St are going to be transformed into a hotel »

Site of new Pestraske saloon, Dutch Kills, 2724 Jackson Ave, Long Island City

A very long time ago, there were rumors that a new Sasha Petraske bar was brewing quietly on Jackson Ave @ Dutch Kills St. Where? Exactly »

New Development Long Island City/Astoria, near Vernon Blvd

Some quick LIC linkage coming at you right now »

LIC Greenmarket, Saturdays 8am-4pm, 48th Ave & Vernon Blvd, LIC

LIC linkage galore! First up is an audio/photo slideshow about the rising disappearance of light industrial real estate, and the impact it’s having on the city as well as the businesses themselves. LIC is one of the main neighborhoods profiled »

Filming of Gossip Girl on Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Is your legally parked car missing? Notice the film shoots in the hood? If you haven’t read the pink signs: it’s Gossip Girl. And they’re also looking to shoot scenes inside a LIC townhouse apartment. I received notice on my door this weekend. How cute.

The destruction of What Should Have Been Landmarked continues with the leveling of the Star Building. And here’s what’s to come in its place.

The NY Post article about inland LIC is a must read. It’s a decent chronicle of what’s going on around the Queensboro Bridge, though funny at times. It’s interesting who is considered (and considers themselves) pioneers of a neighborhood.

• Star building bites the dust [Queenscrap]

• LONG SHOT – Long Island City sprawls beyond the waterfront [NY Post]

• Sex in Long Island City

Well well well. The 5th Street Lofts getting pricechopped. Is this a sign of things to come?

But wait, Purves and Badge have flippers in their waters, so what’s up with that? Good luck figuring it out at the Open Houses, and bring your skates – LIC is ICE city this weekend.

5th Street Lofts (5SL) 509 48th Ave, Hunters Point 23 still available Halstead Open House: Sat & Sun, 11-2PM

Complete list of Open Houses this weekend. »

The weather’s not looking so good for this weekend, but we know there’s a bunch of die-hard condo buyers out there. Same round-up as last week and the week before. Don’t know what’s going on at the Foundry LIC – last week they had 12 available and this week they have 14. If anyone takes any good pics, send them our way.

The Foundry LIC 2-40 51st Ave, Hunters Point 14 still available Prudential Douglas Elliman Open House Sun, By appointment only

Complete list of this weekend’s open houses »

Not much has really changed since last weekend’s open houses – same developments still on the market. Some of them seem to have sold a few. That’s about it. Overall, we’re looking at the same story, except the weekend weather is supposed to be sunny and in the high 40′s. Have fun.

Powerhouse 50-09 2nd St, Hunters Point 19 still available Prudential Douglas Elliman Open House: By appointment only

Complete list of this weekend’s open houses »

There’s going to be lots of real estate activity in LIC this weekend. I can do a better job of predicting that than the weather people have been doing lately. And I’m not even using fancy technological modes of divination either—just the listing websites.

Drivers, just don’t take my parking spot please. And if you’re coming from Long Island, or some other land of driveways, take a few moments to teach yourself how to parallel park. I’ve been witnessing some seriously bad parking jobs, from drivers outright smashing into other cars, to people literally parking so badly they take up multiple precious spots. Sure, you’ll have a garage when you move into your luxury condo, but in the meantime you know… show some respect to the LIC curbside.

Here’s a round up of this weekend’s Open Houses »

Garden in Transit… Zebra style?

This junker was spotted on Jackson Ave in the Courthouse Square area. It appears as though somebody went shred-happy with a Garden in Transit decal from a flower taxi. It definitely, um…spruces up that ride.

And in Dutch Kills »

It’s been reported that Dutch Kills is headed for hotel-land, thanks to developers trying to beat out impending re-zoning. Though this site is a little remote, Queens Plaza in general is actually a decent spot for hotels… maybe not right now, since it has some serious cleaning up to do, but judging from the amount of slated development, and also the prime subway location, Dutch Kills is really just a neighborhood in waiting. It’s only a matter of time.

Astoria Grand Hotel, 39th Ave & 29th St, Dutch Kills, LIC

Here’s a hotel sprouting up on 39th Ave & 29th St (gotta learn those Queens streets) that we’ve been trying to identify for weeks. Eureka! It’s going to be the Astoria Grand Hotel. liQcity photographer, Jenni Snead reports:

“As I’m nearing the mystery construction of 39th ave & 29th st, I hear some little kids say, “Thats gonna be a nice hotel”. I asked a construction worker on a cigarette break, and sure enough, it’s going to be a hotel. Seems like an odd location for one, but whatever. It’s called the Astoria Grand Hotel and here’s the contact info: Jung T Lee, 917.733.3066. So that solves that mystery. The architect is Peter Casini.”

Ok kids. It’s been a great first couple weeks of blogging. Thanks for the great response… I feel so warm and fuzzy.

I received an email or a comment from a resident of the gray matter between LIC and Astoria… which technically I think it’s Dutch Kills right up until it becomes Astoria. But if ever there was a no-man’s-land so greatly named, this is the one: ASLIC. The commenter referred to it as ASTLIC, but we at liQcity are not afraid of ASLIC.

Have you ever been to ASLIC? Trust me, the name fits. At least until the hotels arrive…