LIC profiled again, this time by the NYT

Last Friday, the NY Times Real Estate section published a nice profile on Long Island City (not unlike our own recent piece on the couple in Long Island City), a part of Queens that used to have a “a raw and rat-infested waterfront” (yes, that’s a pretty nasty visual) and serves as a “satellite” to Manhattan. Now it is home to 30,000 people, many of them living in nice new high rises with plenty amenities (like terraces and private gyms) that are a far cry from the way the neighborhood was 17 years ago.

The development of Gantry State Park (GMAP) is also part of why the neighborhood has bloomed. It’s a seriously awesome park, and if you haven’t been down there lately, now’s the time for a revisit (or an initial visit). There are fun spots to lay back and enjoy the sun, sit on the grass, walk along the waterfront, and there’s even a terrific playground for the kids.

Of course, LIC is now home to some amazing places where you can eat, drink, and enjoy local entertainment along Vernon – in the slideshow, Sweetleaf, Tuk Tuk, and the Laughing Devil Comedy Club are highlighted (we’d also like to give a shoutout to El*Ay*Si and Alobar for additional scrumptious eats). It was nice to see Queens Plaza area mentioned, which is still a bit of a grungy area and oh so loud from the elevated N/Q trains, but it’s growing and changing along with the rest of LIC. Court Square, too.

Rents are still cheaper in LIC than they are in Manhattan. Developments mentioned range from the pioneering building Citylights (GMAP) to the newer Avalon Riverview North (GMAP) and EastCoast (GMAP), to the still under construction development like Linc LIC (a 709 unit rental tower – GMAP) and the mega development Hunters Point South (GMAP), a planned community (60% of the units will be promised to middle-income households) that will include apartments, retail, school, and park.

Artists still call LIC home, and there are rents that they can afford; this is also good news for the modest income earner. LIC is full of museums and galleries, including MOMA PS1, Noguchi Museum, and the Sculpture Center. All are worth a visit.

A Satellite With Great Views of Home Base [NYTimes]