From the Queens Council on the Arts:

“Celebrating the rich musical and ethnic tapestries of Queens in boisterous style, Live at the Gantries, LIC’s new summer performance series begins tonight in Gantry Park at 7pm.”

The free, outdoor performances »

Silvercup condo development site, 44th Drive, Court Square, Long Island City

The Silvercup East project at the LIC waterfront might be taking longer then expected, but the Studios are moving forward on another development project near Court Square at 21-45 44th Drive. Located right next door to the Information Technology High School.

A one story warehouse on this 164 x 100 lot has been paved away for a 7-story, 70-unit new construction condo project. Some possible ground floor retail. It will be interesting to see how this turns out, as this is Silvercup’s first attempt at a purely residential project. –Contributed by Eric Benaim

Meanwhile, the latest word on Silvercup’s stalled waterfront project »

This news has been widely circulated on the web today, but in case you missed the news of random violence at Queens Plaza, it seems wise to just be aware. A woman was stabbed in front of her daughter by a stranger riding a bicycle at the corner of Queens Plaza North and 22nd St in Dutch Kills.

Latest news was that she was in critical condition.

• Random stabbing at Queens Plaza [Gothamist]

Remediation tent at Queenswest

You didn’t think we’d post that video, write inflammatory content, but do nothing? After contacting Joe Conley, Chairman of Community Board 2, he contacted the DEC and this letter arrived in the liQcity inbox today:

Hi Joe:

I inspected the Site today morning and discussed dust problems with Site contractor and engineering consultants. The dust blowing in the video was emanating from the sand which was used to pre-grade the tent (second) lay down areas. It was a very dry and windy day about 2 weeks ago. Since that time, a sprinkler system has been laid out along the truck route and has been effective. The areas near the East River have been covered with a layer of clean fill cover and are in the process of being rolled. After the area is rolled the material will be stable preventing dusty conditions.

As an additional temporary measure…

Long Island City view of the Sewage Treatment plant at Newton Creek

1) Catching up on some linkage this morning. It seems they’re turning the orbs of the sewage treatment plant at Newton Creek into an art installation. That’s new. A nearby resident of the plant remarked that it ‘smells suspiciously like spoiled Chinese food’. Hmmm… .

2) In more local news »

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.

Most of the press lately about Dutch Kills »

Well folks. The epic battle between the Vernon restaurant Blend and the Neighbors continues tomorrow at a public hearing being held at St. Mary’s Church at 7pm. St. Mary’s is the church at Vernon/Jackson. You can’t really miss it. Tomorrow is Thursday. We recommend you wear some protective gear, as this topic seems to provoke bloodbath.

• Vernon restaurant Blend facing staunch opposition to getting liquor license

• CB2 responds to LIC community concern about life and bizz on Vernon

After two failed attempts, Starbucks is finally coming to Long Island City, and it’s going exactly where it belongs: the lobby of the Citibank tower. woohoo.

However, if your coffee sensibilities desire a more local and community brew »

Has anyone else noticed the demolition frenzy going on in LIC these last couple of weeks? It’s seriously been picking up. July 2008 is right around the corner, and Rockrose seems to be feeling the heat as well, since activity has begun on their site next to the United Nations Federal Credit Union.

Remember the beautiful building they’re knocking down? »

Hello, liQcity readers. We are back from a brief hiatus in posting, to bring you this interesting article detailing the City publicly asking ConEd to sell off it’s LIC waterfront property and reduce electric rates for all. Controversial request, for sure.

ConEd Training Center, Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

“Con Edison should sell off its pricey waterfront property” »

Graffiti in the making at 5pointz, Court Sq, Long Island City

Here’s the article about the eventual transformation of 5pointz into a 1.2 million sqft high-rise. Accordingly:

“Wolkoff [the owner] is now waiting for the fortunes of Long Island City to change. For now, 5 Pointz will remain what he calls “the largest aerosol art building in the world,” but he is looking to leave a legacy for his grandchildren.

“Eventually we will build there, but in the meantime, we’ll still let the artists go,” said Jerry Wolkoff. “We have some plans and renderings, but nothing concrete.”"

There’s going to be mixed feelings about this »

Long Island City Community Garden, 49th Ave, LIC

More buzzing about Hunters Point South going on. In a latest series of meetings, participants continued the debate around the ‘affordability’ of housing that will be allegedly created by the project. Some also voiced concern about traffic implications, lack of safety amenities included in the planning, such as fire stations and hospitals, and seemingly general myopia regarding basic infrastructure.

In other LIC news »

• Can middle class afford Hunters Point South [Queens Gazette]

• Bright Future for New York’s waterways [NY Sun]

• Displacement at Greenbelt, Williamsburg [Brooklyn Rail]

• Finnish art headed for LIC. To PS1 of course.

• New Act would expand study of Newtown Creek [Z wire]

After the Blend bloodbath ensued, we contacted Joe Conley, the chairperson of the Community Board (CB2), in order to gain some clarification and address concerns about businesses and residents living amongst each other on Vernon Blvd. He’s agreed to hold a Q&A with concerned LIC’ers residents, and we will announce the date and location of the Public Hearing when it’s been coordinated. In the meantime, Chairman Conley did pass along a response he wrote to a liQcity commenter who sent him an email regarding the Blend liquor license denial:

Dear LIC Resident »

Looks like Vernonites are expanding their business empires these days… and why wouldn’t they?

1) The Brasil Coffee house has an offshoot called Fast & Delicious around their corner of 49th Ave. Rather interesting Brazilian menu actually: rotisserie meats, steak, rice & beans, pita sandwiches, salads, and empenadas/croquettes.

2) Last week we spotted this seemingly new sign above the Butcher Deli on Vernon @ 50th Ave. A juice and hookah bar called The Butcher Cafe. Interesting combo. Well…many stranger concepts have succeeded in NYC so it’s fair to say anything has a chance around here. (Or does it?)

The Cangro building destruction in process, Vernon/Jackson, LIC”

The CANGRO building right at the actual corner of Vernon and Jackson is in the process of being torn down. Combined with the now empty lot next door, the site will host a 12 story residential glass condo tower. Hold on to those coffee cups.

• Vernon/Jackson Then & Now [liQcity]

Hunters Point South, photo by Nathan Kensinger

Hunters Point South is on the table today:

“The city intends to certify the Willets Point and Hunters Point South plans into the land-use process [today], setting the stage for a seven-month battle as the projects are scrutinized by the communities, the City Planning Commission and the City Council.” -Crains

In other news, the Queensbridge Houses are going to start using energy efficient fluorescent bulbs from now on. It’s kind of funny that this is news, but it’s featured in two distinct articles, so we thought we’d follow suit as well. You can sleep in peace now. Seriously though, what is interesting about the Queensbridge Houses in general, is that it’s the largest public city housing development in NYC and the country. That’s a whole lotta light bulbs.

• Hunters Point South Rezoning Decided Today [Crains]

• Queensbridge gets new lightbulbs [Newsday]

• Queensbridge gets new lightbulbs (2) [Metro]

• Water Taxi Beach highlighted [Gridskipper]

• Sister Powerhouse Conversion in RI [Providence Journal]

• G-train hearings bypass Queens [Queens Tribune]

LIC Neighborhood Map by NYCEDC, liQcity additions in red.

Check out this map of Long Island City, put out by the NYC Economic Development Corporation. What’s interesting is how they designated the many sub-neighborhoods of LIC. For instance, I was always under the impression that Hunters Point (no apostrophe) was the whole region of LIC located south of the Queensboro Bridge (outlined in red).

Right at the bridge is the hub of Queens Plaza (also called Queensboro Plaza it seems), which slightly overlaps Dutch Kills, which continues on northward bleeding into a very fuzzy boundary with Astoria. Then west of 21St st and still north of the bridge is the Queensbridge Houses, which also is considered Ravenwood until it also merges with Astoria.

In Hunters Point »

The planned Silvercup Studios $1B development project, Queensboro Br, LIC

Interesting article this morning about stalled development projects. The reasons vary – seems hard to just blame everything on the credit crunch, but it’s definitely more of a trend now compared to a few years ago. Here’s the news about LIC:

…it has also been confirmed that the practice’s 185,000m2 Silvercup Studio complex on the Long Island City Waterfront is on hold. The $1 billion (£500 million) mixed-use development, which won approval in mid-2006, has stalled due to issues over protracted land sales and the delayed removal of power plants from the site.”

Meanwhile CUNY’s going forward with the dorm:

“The development at 5-11 47th Ave. would have 400 total residential units, half of which would be for public rent and the other half will be divided between 188 graduate units and 12 faculty housing units at street level. It would also include a 6,000-square-foot office for the QCA and an open courtyard for art displays.

CB 2 Chairman Joe Conley said the board approved the plan with some stipulations. CUNY, for example, has agreed to never sell the property, he said. Conley said the board also asked for 20 percent of the non-student residential units to be offered as affordable housing, though he was not sure if the developer would agree.”

• Silvercup Studios development project on hold [Daily News]

• CB 2 OKs divisive plan to build 13-story tower [Times Ledger]

• ConEd has a $100 for western Queens blackout victims [Daily News]

• Flux Factory in Flux [Artnet]

• Crime Report for 114th Precinct – LIC [Times Ledger]

The CUNY dorm proposal was passed last night by the Community Board, in a vote 21-10. The Queens Council on the Arts sweetened the deal, and they are very excited to move to LIC.

CUNY will have to meet certain conditions, and as far as we know so far, the building will be 13 stories. The details on this will be posted when the board releases their write -up .

liQcity spoke to QCA today, and essentially they help make sure art happens in Queens. And all kinds of art: visual and performing. They also give out micro-grants of $500-1500 to artists and organizations. Currenty located in Woodhaven, they are exited to inhabit a space so accessible and within a very alive artist’s community, though somewhat endangered.

Grad students and hipsters on the way. LIC further diversifies… that should be good news to some.

• Queens Council on the Arts Website

» UPDATE »

Alternate viewpoint on the CUNY dorm received via liQcity inbox:

“The vote was 10 against, 21 for which unfortunately was predictable. There was a rather slick misinformation campaign where many local politicians were told of QCA’s and CUNY’s outreach to the arts community. This hasn’t been supported by fact.

Their lawyer has one of those curious political backgrounds where one cannot quite tell what he really stands for and I suppose he likes it that way.”

• Sidney Davidoff

This week’s discussion about the potential CUNY dorm site caused a little stir, and it was requested of liQcity to post information about LIC’s Community Board 2, which “serves the communities of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, and Maspeth”. There is a website (click on CB2) but it doesn’t really provide much information.

There is a Community Board 2 meeting TONIGHT, Thursday, March 6 at 7pm. The location is the Sunnyside Senior Center, 43-31 39th St (2nd floor), Sunnyside, NY 11104. The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 3rd, in the same location at 7pm. Essentially CB2 meetings are held the first Thursday of every month.

If you would like to contact the CB2, they’re located at 43-22 50th St, 2nd floor, Woodside, NY 11377. The phone number is 718.533.8773, and email addresses listed are: qn02@cb.nyc.gov and commboard2@nyc.rr.com.

Subdivsion – 48-41 Vernon Blvd

Subdivision is not new to Vernon, but it’s high time I blogged about them. Brought to us by the owners of City Dog Lounge (the pet store on Vernon) Subdivision is essentially a local designers collective where artists sell their pieces. And people like me buy them.

This is not Kmart. You will not find basic shirts in S,M,L. What you will find, however, is an eclectic collection of unique clothing (gents, ladies and kids), handmade jewelery, supercool bags, and a gallery featuring local artists. Subdivision was really the first place that sold actual clothing on the block, though I’m sure someone will argue with me about that. Maybe other places have come and gone… actually we know they have.

LIC’s been ‘up & coming’ for a lot longer than it actually was. Now people really have arrived, and the chorus of who’s asking ‘Where’s the grocery store?’ is much louder. I would say now we’re up & coming. We haven’t quite arrived yet, but we are graced with a strong community spirit, and the desire to keep our artist colony alive and eating. Thanks in part, to Subdivision.

Currently on exhibit at Subdivision »

Well, it’s really no surprise that LIC would win the Curbed Cup, Neighborhood of the Year Award for 2007, beating out the West Village…though it’s not clear what it really means. The comment section is a must read, full of hysterical jabs at LIC. (What else is new?)

Is LIC a better neighborhood than the West Village? Well I’m not one to answer that question, if even an answer exists. All I know is 2007 was definitely the year of LIC, because it reached new heights both in terms of real estate and as a neighborhood. There was more growth and development last year than probably in the last 10 years collectively. And consequently, the amount of hype and conversation online was staggering.

Well duh. »

I’ve been reading the Streeteasy message boards about LIC. Interesting stuff. One thread was a throwdown between LIC and Downtown Brooklyn (newly dubbed as DoBro). DoBro won on the amenities, since LIC’s $/sqft for luxury condos seems to be in about the same range. YES. DoBro should win on the amenities, but is that all a neighborhood comes down to? LIC never was, will be, or wants to be Downtown Brooklyn. LIC’s an industrial neighborhood that’s been heavily rezoned and is beginning to introduce the largest influx of residents in its history. DoBro, while it was and is a major commercial district, was not primarily an industrial hub and has a totally different aesthetic. It also has the Fulton Mall.

Bottom-line. If you don’t like an industrial aesthetic, don’t move to LIC. Even though, as some message board posters stated, the look of the new condos conjures up visions of Hoboken or Houston (?), the existing and surrounding aesthetic is primarily INDUSTRIAL. These were factories, people. Big, gigantic, fuel dumping factories. (Is there residual toxic pollution? YES. But that’s for another post.)

LIC’s amenities are lacking if you consider the $/sqft on a lot of the new luxury condos. Most of the marketing seems to be aimed at the convenience of Manhattan commuting, which is wise since it’s LIC’s strong point as a marketable neighborhood for new development. But amenities will always show up if the people do. Look at any neighborhood where there was a major influx of residents into a primarily industrial neighborhood. SoHo. Tribeca. Are there amenities there? I’ll let you answer that for yourself.