New E/G/V subway entrance on Jackson Ave, Long Island City

Around this time last year we started keeping track of the Court Square subway transfer construction and the Jackson Ave beautification project, which are both still currently ripping Jax to shreds. It’s not exactly beautiful yet, but there is quite a bit of progress »

Abandoned construction site, LIC

Blogger Queens Crap posted this week about a rat-infested and dangerous construction site in Long Island City, at 45-64 Pearson St across from the storage place. A disrupted local resident wrote in to report:

“The DOH finally came and gave the stalled site on Pearson St a violation, but they did not bait the area – nor did the property owners clean anything up. Rats still patrol the street. If you look at the DOB site, the deadbeat developer didn’t even go to his 5 hearings. They are all in default for $17,000. [...] Now, the illegal fence has collapsed and the DOB has been notified. The illegal fence is obstructing the sidewalk and it is now partially in the street »

Neighborhood rooftops from a bird’s eye view, Hunters Point, Long Island City

The LICBDC‘s latest newsletter landed in our inbox yesterday and included a link to BID bits, featuring informative updates from the LICBID (Business Improvement District), a not-for-profit association of property owners, residents, and businesses along the triangle intersection of Jackson Ave & Queens Plaza North.

In general, a BID is a formal organization comprised of property owners and commercial tenants in a defined area who pay annual assessments. They promote local business development and improve an area’s quality of life through the provision of supplemental services.

“The Long Island City BID is comprised of much of the area that was rezoned as New York City’s fourth central business district in 2001. Currently, the District consists of properties with frontage on Jackson Avenue, from Court Square north to Queens Plaza, and along Queens Plaza west to 21st Street.”

Here’s some highlights from the January 12th LICBID update »

Court Square subway transfer construction progressing, LIC

We took another walk around Court Square, but this time all the way down Jackson Ave to Queens Plaza. Construction (and impending construction) prevails again, so we decided to check in on a couple of projects going on in the area, including MTA improvements, new developments, and, of course, Queens Plaza’s multi-million dollar facelift »

Site of slated ‘Toyoko Inn’ hotel, LIC

The mantra of “Condo, Condo, Condo” in Long Island City could also be sung “Hotel, Hotel, Hotel”. In case anyone hasn’t noticed, Long Island City is quietly (or loudly if you live nearby) turning into a nexus of lodging options. Dutch Kills and Queensboro Plaza are definitely getting hit with the brunt of the hotel development, as developers took advantage of the City’s slow rezoning of the neighborhood.

Hunters Point of course, is getting slammed with condos, but still there’s a hotel or two in the works. The largest hotel deal to date in Long Island City, occurred in Hunters Point last year, brokered by Itzhaki Properties. It’s a huge parcel of Jackson Ave (2405-2419) right at the 7/G/V juncture (which is currently going through major renovation itself), that was sold to Japanese hotelier Toyoko Inn.

The parcel has been razed, but many rumors are flying around »