Queens

$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

Credit: SHoP Architects, Field Operations

March 14, 2025

$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen's $8 billion casino proposal near Citi Field cleared a major hurdle this week. On Tuesday, the City Council voted 41-2 in favor of zoning changes for the Metropolitan Park development, a sports and entertainment complex planned for 50 acres of parking lots around the Mets stadium. While the approval grants Cohen and his partners the ability to make zoning changes on the site, which sits on city parkland, the project still requires approval from several local and state officials.
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JetBlue’s flagship terminal at JFK Airport set for major NYC-themed makeover

Renderings courtesy of JetBlue

March 7, 2025

JetBlue’s flagship terminal at JFK Airport set for major NYC-themed makeover

By Aaron Ginsburg

Big changes are coming to JetBlue's flagship Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, which is set to undergo a major New York City-inspired makeover. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) on Thursday announced a major refresh of Terminal 5, which includes adding more than 40 new concessions, art installations, and a redesigned center concourse inspired by the city's parks. The first new concessions will open later this year, with the terminal improvements set for completion by the end of 2026.
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Architecture And Design

NYC to redevelop Long Island City site once proposed for Amazon’s HQ2

Image via WikiCommons

February 6, 2025

NYC to redevelop Long Island City site once proposed for Amazon’s HQ2

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city is looking to redevelop three sites in Long Island City that nearly became Amazon's second headquarters. As first reported by Crain's New York, the Adams administration will release a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) this spring to redevelop 44-36 Vernon Boulevard, a longtime Department of Education property. The city is prioritizing proposals that include commercial, industrial, and community-serving tenants for the six-story building. The 672,000-square-foot warehouse was once slated to be part of Amazon's "HQ2," a sprawling campus for the retail giant, but the company withdrew its plan in 2019 after strong opposition from residents, elected officials, and community groups.
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244 apartments available at luxury Hunter’s Point rental, from $2,490/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

January 23, 2025

244 apartments available at luxury Hunter’s Point rental, from $2,490/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 244 middle-income apartments at a new luxury waterfront rental in Long Island City. Located at 2-21 Malt Drive in Hunter's Point South, the 38-story building is part of the three-tower Malt Drive development, which will add more than 1,000 new homes to the neighborhood upon completion. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,490/month for studios to $3,590/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

For $2.3M, this Georgian townhouse in Jackson Heights has Art Deco details, modern interiors, and a garage

Photo credit: Tina Gallo for The Corcoran Group

January 17, 2025

For $2.3M, this Georgian townhouse in Jackson Heights has Art Deco details, modern interiors, and a garage

By Michelle Cohen

This corner townhouse 34-41 83rd Street is a three-story refuge within the picturesque Jackson Heights Historic District. Built in 1927, its Georgian-style brick exterior reveals historic details that have been given new life with a modern renovation. Asking $2,295,000, the home's classic design and Art Deco flourishes are joined by the convenience of a garage and parking for five cars, outdoor space, a basement rec room, and a beautifully renovated kitchen and bathrooms.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

‘QueensLink’ receives $400K grant to study reactivation of abandoned railway

All images courtesy of QueensLink

January 10, 2025

‘QueensLink’ receives $400K grant to study reactivation of abandoned railway

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to reactivate a deserted railway as the first north-to-south subway line in Queens just got a financial boost from the federal government. The nonprofit group behind QueensLink, a proposal extending the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways along the abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch with accompanying bike paths and trails, received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The funds would pay for a study measuring the impacts of the project, which the group hopes could bring more support for QueensLink; it is currently competing against a separate project to build a linear park on the same railway.
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Citi Bike to expand in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx next fall

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

December 16, 2024

Citi Bike to expand in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx next fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citi Bike is set for a major expansion, bringing the bike-share service to 900,000 more New Yorkers in the outer boroughs. Mayor Eric Adams on Friday announced that starting in the fall of 2025, Citi Bike will roll out to underserved neighborhoods like Brownsville and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, Norwood and Riverdale in the Bronx, and areas west of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The expansion will also add docking stations in high-demand areas to accommodate growing ridership.
See where Citi Bike is expanding

Long Island City luxury tower opens lottery for 72 apartments, from $3,423/month

Credit: Fogarty Finger

December 5, 2024

Long Island City luxury tower opens lottery for 72 apartments, from $3,423/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new 35-story luxury tower in Long Island City has launched a housing lottery for 72 middle-income apartments. Located at 23-10 42nd Road, Aura combines curated boutique residences with spacious layouts and an expansive amenities package not commonly seen in other developments in the neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $3,423/month for studios to $4,376/month two bedrooms.
Learn if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

All renderings courtesy of New York City FC

November 25, 2024

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first professional soccer stadium will be called Etihad Park, named after the airline of the United Arab Emirates. New York City FC on Thursday announced a 20-year agreement with Etihad Airways, granting the airline exclusive naming rights for the 25,000-seat soccer stadium currently under construction in Willets Point, Queens. Set to open in time for the 2027 season, the stadium will become a "cathedral of soccer in the United States," according to NYCFC. The news came ahead of the team's loss to the New York Red Bulls during the MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinal match on Saturday.
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MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

November 15, 2024

MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockaway residents won't be left stranded this winter while the A and S subway lines undergo rehabilitation. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a substitute service plan to ensure reliable transit options for Rockaway residents while the MTA conducts vital resilience upgrades to the A and S lines. The plan includes two free shuttle buses, heavily discounted Long Island Rail Road fares, and a free Rockaway subway shuttle train serving all stations on the peninsula between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park.
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The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

Images courtesy of Binyan unless otherwise noted

November 14, 2024

The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

By Aaron Ginsburg

The tallest building in Queens topped out this week at over 823 feet. Developed by BLDG Management Company and designed by Perkins Eastman, the Orchard is a 70-story rental in Long Island City with 824 studio to three-bedroom apartments, 248 of which are designated as affordable. Located at Orchard Street and Jackson Avenue in the Court Square section of the neighborhood, the rental boasts over 100,000 square feet of amenities, including a huge backyard with a swimming pool, three pickleball courts, an outdoor movie theater, and more.
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Architecture And Design

Luxury rental in Astoria launches lottery for 90 apartments, from $828/month

Rendering courtesy of MNS

November 13, 2024

Luxury rental in Astoria launches lottery for 90 apartments, from $828/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 90 mixed-income apartments in a new luxury rental building in Astoria. Located at 34-35 44th Street on the border of Long Island City, the 13-story Hearthstone offers residents thoughtfully designed units with top-tier amenities, blocks from bustling Steinway Street. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, with one bedrooms ranging from $828/month to 3,298/month and two bedrooms from $967/month to $2,768/month.
learn if you qualify

Affordable Housing

The A train won’t run in the Rockaways for 4 months starting in January

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

November 5, 2024

The A train won’t run in the Rockaways for 4 months starting in January

By Aaron Ginsburg

The A train will shut down in the Rockaways for four months starting in January to strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather. From January 17 to May 19 next year, the A train will not run at all between Howard Beach-JFK Airport to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street or Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue in both directions. During this period, the Rockaway Park Shuttle, which normally runs to Broad Channel, will instead operate between Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway, with no shuttle service running at all during the first week of the closure
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Live in one of Long Island City’s tallest towers, from $2,990/month

Renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

October 31, 2024

Live in one of Long Island City’s tallest towers, from $2,990/month

By Devin Gannon

A 66-story in Long Island City launched a housing lottery this week, offering high-rise luxury living at a discounted price. Lumen LIC, at 43-30 24th Street, is a huge new rental designed by Hill West Architects and developed by Carmel Partners, with 938 apartments and over 17,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $2,990/month for studios to $5,114/month for three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

MTA moves forward with design of Interborough Express project

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 30, 2024

MTA moves forward with design of Interborough Express project

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Interborough Express, a proposed public transit connection between Brooklyn and Queens, is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the preliminary engineering and design phase of the 14-mile light rail line and began an environmental review with the federal government, according to Bloomberg. The initial phase is expected to take roughly two years to complete.
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Hunter’s Point waterfront rental opens lottery for 173 apartments, from $2,490/month

Renderings by Binyan unless otherwise noted.

October 29, 2024

Hunter’s Point waterfront rental opens lottery for 173 apartments, from $2,490/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 173 middle-income apartments in a new luxury rental development on the Long Island City waterfront. Located at 2-20 Malt Drive in Hunter's Point South, the 34-story building is part of the three-tower Malt Drive development bringing over 1,000 new homes to the area. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,490/month for studios to $3,590/month for two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

MTA releases Olivia Rodrigo MetroCards as second-to-last custom card

Credit: Rahul Bhatt

October 28, 2024

MTA releases Olivia Rodrigo MetroCards as second-to-last custom card

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released its second-to-last limited-edition MetroCard before fully transitioning to the tap-and-go OMNY system. In collaboration with Sony, the special cards will feature pop star Olivia Rodrigo wearing the new Sony Linkbuds in her signature purple aesthetic. The MTA on Monday loaded machines at seven subway stations across the city with 50,000 limited-edition cards.
find out where to get them

LaGuardia named best airport in U.S. by Forbes

Credit: PANYNJ on Flickr

October 23, 2024

LaGuardia named best airport in U.S. by Forbes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A decade after then-Vice President Joe Biden compared the airport to a third-world country, and after a $8 billion makeover, LaGuardia Airport is now considered the best airport in the United States. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday announced that LaGuardia was selected as the best airport in the country by Forbes Travel Guide. The accolade is the latest in a series of achievements earned by the airport after its transformation, which began in 2016 and is now largely complete.
details here

Transit

Long Island City rental opens lottery for 150 apartments, from $2,900/month

Credit: VUW

October 23, 2024

Long Island City rental opens lottery for 150 apartments, from $2,900/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 150 middle-income apartments at a new mixed-use development in the Hunter's Point section of Long Island City. Located at 2-33 50th Avenue, Jasper is a 12-story building that offers residents a holistic living experience with state-of-the-art amenities and convenient access to a grocery store, restaurants, and other retail options on the ground level. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,900/month studios to $5,039/month three-bedrooms.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Uber launches shuttle between LaGuardia Airport and Midtown

Images courtesy of Uber

October 8, 2024

Uber launches shuttle between LaGuardia Airport and Midtown

By Aaron Ginsburg

Hailing a ride to and from LaGuardia Airport just got cheaper. Uber on Tuesday launched a new $18 shuttle service with two routes connecting Midtown Manhattan and LaGuardia Airport, operating daily every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Stopping at Port Authority, Grand Central Terminal, and Penn Station, the passenger vans can carry up to 14 passengers with each rider allowed one personal item and one piece of luggage.
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Transit

New Astoria rental launches lottery for 28 middle-income apartments, from $2,275/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

October 1, 2024

New Astoria rental launches lottery for 28 middle-income apartments, from $2,275/month

By Devin Gannon

On a central Astoria block, a brand new rental is launching a lottery for below market-rate apartments. At 29th Street and Broadway, the Amara offers high-end apartments and amenities, including a parking garage and electric vehicle charging. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the 28 middle-income apartments, priced from $2,275/month studios to $3,700/month two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Renderings reveal $8B Citi Field casino and public park proposal

Rendering courtesy of SHoP Architects, Field Operations

September 30, 2024

Renderings reveal $8B Citi Field casino and public park proposal

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a first look at New York Mets owner Steve Cohen's proposed $8 billion casino complex next to Citi Field. Hard Rock International and Steve Cohen last week released renderings for "Metropolitan Park," a sports and entertainment complex with a public park, hotel, live music venue, restaurants, and a casino planned for 50 acres of parking lots around Citi Field. Cohen is one of several developers vying for one of the three casino licenses set to be issued in downstate New York.
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Astoria rental opens lottery for 43 luxury apartments, from $1,974/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

September 18, 2024

Astoria rental opens lottery for 43 luxury apartments, from $1,974/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened for 43 mixed-income apartments at a new residential development in Astoria. Located at 21-11 31st Avenue, the seven-story building offers luxury living, easy access to Manhattan, and endless dining, retail, and entertainment options. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the one-bedroom apartments, priced at $1,974/month and $2,600/month.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Deal reached for new Court Square public library at 5Pointz development

View of 5 Pointz LIC in September 2020; Photo: © CityRealty

September 17, 2024

Deal reached for new Court Square public library at 5Pointz development

By Devin Gannon

After over four years, Court Square in Long Island City is getting its public library back. The Queens Public Library (QPL) announced a tentative deal for a new branch at the 5Pointz LIC rental development on Jackson Avenue. After occupying the ground floor of One Court Square for 30 years, the branch closed in 2020 when Amazon's plan to open a headquarters there fell through.
details this way

Policy

Di Fara Pizza, Fuku coming to JFK Airport’s Terminal 6

Rendering courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

September 12, 2024

Di Fara Pizza, Fuku coming to JFK Airport’s Terminal 6

By Aaron Ginsburg

John F. Kennedy International Airport has unveiled the lineup of vendors for its new $4.2 billion Terminal 6. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) revealed their initial roster of 12 local and diverse businesses, including four from southeast Queens, that will operate within the airport's new Terminal 6. The chosen food vendors, which include famous NYC eateries like David Chang's Fuku and Brooklyn's Di Fara Pizza, will offer an "authentic taste of New York," while other businesses will co-manage parts of the terminal as joint venture partners.
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Explore the Queens homes of over 100 famous Jazz musicians

Image courtesy of Flushing Town Hall

September 6, 2024

Explore the Queens homes of over 100 famous Jazz musicians

By Aaron Ginsburg

Explore the vibrant history of jazz in Queens with a new interactive digital map. Flushing Town Hall on Thursday released the Digital Queens Jazz Trail Map, putting 125 jazz legends who once called Queens home on the map. The digital map is the first phase of a larger database that will include more figures, locations, and details, allowing users to contribute comments and additional content to be approved by Flushing Town Hall.
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City Living

182 apartments available at huge luxury high-rise in Jamaica, from $1,596/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

September 6, 2024

182 apartments available at huge luxury high-rise in Jamaica, from $1,596/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 182 mixed-income apartments at a new luxury rental tower in Jamaica, Queens. Located at 163-05 Archer Avenue, the Monarch is a 24-story building with 605 apartments, state-of-the-art amenities, and retail space. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,596/month for one-bedroom units to $3,753/month for two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

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222 LES Tower + Lofts

222 East Broadway

Lower East Side

Art Deco romance meets 21st-century convenience

Studios starting at $799,000
1 bed starting at $1,100,000
2 beds starting at $1,955,000
3 beds starting at $2,875,000