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.”
Queens Plaza, as it looks today
In the Starwood Capital pipeline, is an alofts Hotel at 29-43 41st Ave in Dutch Kills, aptly dubbed ‘By the Bridge’. That would be the Queensboro Bridge folks, and this building is right at the entrance juncture with Northern Blvd. It’s slated to be completed in 2010, which will probably be a development crazed time for QP, since so many projects are in the pipeline for that ‘little’ spot.
As I’ve said before, Queens Plaza and Dutch Kills are rife with potential. Not to mention that Queensboro Plaza has so much development planned within the next 5 years, that 10 years from now the area will be unrecognizable. Which is a good thing. It’s inarguably kind of a dump right now. alofts dwellers won’t really have to worry about that though - it’s right next to the Queens Plaza subway stop so they’ll be whisked away into Manhattan before they choke on car fumes.
Toyoko Inn development site, Jackson Ave, Courthouse Sq
If you thought the only hotels going up in LIC were in Dutch Kills, oh boy were you wrong. A while ago it was announced that a Japanese hotel chain, Toyoko Inn, purchased 5 adjacent parcels of land on Jackson Ave for for $17.75M. The parcels are located in Courthouse Square at 2405, 2409, 2411-2415, 2417 and 2419 Jackson Avenue. It’s a huge footprint!
- Long Island City is turning Japanese [Curbed]
Development in Dutch Kills
Back in 2003, Dutch Kills residents feared the neighborhood was being overdeveloped and requested rezoning to encourage residential growth and downsize commercial development. Some forward thinking there. Flash to 2008 when there are so many hotels and new condo buildings in progress it’s impossible to count them all.
Amongst the community complaints: growing lack of parking, inappropriate commercial development, carelessness in handing out business permits, and overly high density in general. The city responded in agreement with Dutch Kills civic leaders, but have been slow to implement the rezoning, and commercial developers have still been snapping up development sites faster than you can say ‘Environmental Impact Study”, which is what is supposedly holding up the rezoning.
A common sight in LIC these days.
Top o’ the very cold morning to you, liQcity readers. Dutch Kills hoteliers might have to jump through some more hoops; the fire sale is over. The mammoth Silvercup development is being held up due to toxicity in the soil. Yawn.

Development in Dutch Kills, LIC
Aah, the rezoning of Dutch Kills. A quieter saga, but of epic proportions nonetheless. It seems that finally when the rezoning is set for May, to help curb the hotelification of DK, a group of commercial property owners called The Purple People are standing up against it, claiming that it will destroy the growth of business in the community.
“Inhabiting the purple and blue shaded area of the rezoning map, the group says rezoning, as is, will cause a loss of 826,000 square feet of industrial space, 2,066 jobs and millions of dollars in annual tax revenues to the city.
The Dutch Kills rezoning has been on the drawing board for years. When the Department of City Planning (DCP) introduced a final plan in May 2006, it looked like a reality. Joy Chen, DCP liaison to Community Board 1, said the plan should be certified and ready for review by the board in late May. It would rezone a 40-block area that is now mostly zoned manufacturing into more mixed-use residential zones.”
- The down-zoning of Dutch Kills [Queens Gazette]

View 59 and the Ciampa rental building, Dutch Kills, LIC
Well the quiet saga of development in Dutch Kills marches on. The Ciampa rental building, which has been in the works for quite some time, is bringing View 59 some new neighbors. Info on this rental building is hard to find, but we expect to see some listings soon. If anyone comes across them, feel free to send them our way.
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"Post No Bills" Construction site beautification project under way They're baaaaaaaaack. PS1 Warm Up parties return under 'Public Farm One' Opening tonight at Art-O-Mat: 'Proxy/Fiction' by Jonathan Lev 'Live at the Gantries' performance series kicks off tonight at Gantry Park The days of 5pointz are numbered, but it's not going down tomorrowBuzz
Buzzing about some random business openings on Vernon Blvd LIC Buzz: Secret Starbucks deal dead, grocery stores & the UN on the way Long Island City to get it's first Green Building - as Green as can be Random Long Island City tidbits and half rumors Celebrities buying at the Arris Lofts - Is Clay Aiken one of them?Commuting
Singing the Stepchild Blues of the G train - It could have been so good. Parking Workshop in LIC Next Tuesday to Address CongestionDining
If you want amazing homecooked Italian food, go to Mario's Deli Tuk Tuk for Thai - Standing fast in the face of Asian fusion Cafe Henri - An LIC pioneer keeps us well fed into the night LIC gets a bagel boost thanks to Bricktown Bagels Latino fusion restaurant 'Blend' mixes it up on Vernon.Happenings
This weekend Dutch Kills sprouts the Queens is Green Fashion Show in LIC EVERYTHING MUST GO this weekend. Come say goodbye to the Flux Factory.Health
Yoga and Pilates in Long Island City - Radiant Movement StudioLife
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) spots open in Long Island City If you plan on raising kids in LIC, you might want to start building a school. CB2 responds to LIC community concern about life and bizz on Vernon The Long Island City amenity wish list - brought to you by its residents Hunters Point actually does have a grocery store, albeit a small oneLinkage
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Peeking into windows; summer sprouting drug stores & fruit stands Blend vs Goliath: The saga continues; public hearing tomorrow evening CB2 responds to LIC community concern about life and bizz on Vernon Vernon restaurant Blend facing staunch opposition to getting liquor license Tomorrow's Wine Tasting at Vine Wine on Jackson Ave: Pay what you want.Neighborhood
Dutch Kills residents rallying against the City's rezoning of Sub Area C Dutch Kills Alert A new vision for Queens Plaza; park project to break ground this summer A new Jackson Avenue for Long Island City - Beautification starts in May 2008 The many villages of Long Island City: Hunters Point breakdownNew Development
Silvercup moves forward on a Court Square condo development project Follow up to the video of dust blowing around at Queenswest, LIC The answer's not blowing in the wind at Queenswest, but something else is Ciampa rental building sidles up against View 59, Queensboro Plaza The beautiful red building that escaped landmarking faces the guillotineNightlife
A night of live jazz at Domaine wine bar on VernonOddities
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Starbucks finally finds a home in LIC & other openings in the hood Fast and Delicious by Brasil Coffee House; Hookah bar 'The Butcher Cafe' "Sweet Leaf" sprouting at the corner of Jackson Ave & 11th Street Signage confirms the manifestation of the Amish Market & Duane Reade LIC wish list manifests: Queensbridge Theater delivers a rock clubReal Estate
City urging ConEd to sell its $500M waterfront property and lower rates Another building bites the dust in LIC - Say goodbye to CANGRO You guys have got it all wrong. Arris is actually a very cool place to live. A few notes on the Infofest and the Observer Luxury Living Showcase Beautiful building in LIC awaiting death by impending tower of glass & steelLinks
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