Queens

The ferry is a breezy way to get to NYC’s summer destinations — and maybe even see dolphins

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 8, 2024

The ferry is a breezy way to get to NYC’s summer destinations — and maybe even see dolphins

It’s in his blood, NYC Ferry Captain Vincent Ardolino says. His father was a captain, his grandfather was a captain, and his uncles, too. Growing up in the Rockaways, his typical ferry route from Wall Street to Brooklyn to Rockaway Beach is a natural one for him – and his favorite.
all aboard

MTA boosts weekend subway service to Rockaway Beach

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

July 3, 2024

MTA boosts weekend subway service to Rockaway Beach

By Devin Gannon

Getting to the beach without a car will be a little easier this summer. Service will expand on the Rockaway Park Shuttle on weekends, allowing beachgoers to board any A train and get a transfer to Rockaway Beach, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced. On Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, the shuttle will also operate with 10 cars, doubling its normal capacity.
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Transit

14,000 new homes projected for Long Island City under rezoning draft

Photo by Ruoyu Li on Unsplash

June 26, 2024

14,000 new homes projected for Long Island City under rezoning draft

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city's Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick on Tuesday released the draft rezoning framework for the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, a proposal that could create up to 14,000 new homes, including 4,000 affordable units. The proposal also includes up to nine acres of open space along the Queens waterfront, new schools, and enhancements to parks and NYCHA complexes, according to Gothamist.
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NYC’s best rooftop hotel pools offering day passes

Photo courtesy of Dream Downtown / Tao Group Hospitality

June 14, 2024

NYC’s best rooftop hotel pools offering day passes

By Michelle Cohen

Coming soon: Full-time sun and swimsuit season. Some lucky apartment dwellers count a private pool among their building’s amenities. Otherwise, your local options include public pools or pricey pool clubs and gyms. One way to hack summer in NYC is to snag a day pass to a pool atop one of the city’s trendy hotels. Usually reserved for hotel guests, some hotels allow visitors to pay by the day–often with poolside restaurant and bar privileges. Some venues host events like pool parties with DJs, live music, and drink specials. Read on for cool pools with day rates. Many hotel pools open on Memorial Day weekend. Pools may be reserved for private events, or rates and access information may change; be sure to check in with the venue before finalizing your plans.
Everyone in the pool

Events & Things To Do

Stylishly renovated $1.6M Ridgewood townhouse has room for living and rental income

Photo credit: Interiors by Kat for The Corcoran Group

June 12, 2024

Stylishly renovated $1.6M Ridgewood townhouse has room for living and rental income

By Michelle Cohen

Located within the Stockholm Street Historic District in artsy, laid-back Ridgewood, this charming light brick home at 1867 Stockholm Street seems almost like a steal at $1,595,000. Though it rises only two stories high, the two-unit property has a fully-finished lower level and a lovely landscaped backyard. Inside, the home has been updated by an artist owner with an eye for simple and chic design.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Reach the beach: Vintage subway trains will ride to the Rockaways and Coney Island this summer

All photos courtesy of the New York Transit Museum.

May 30, 2024

Reach the beach: Vintage subway trains will ride to the Rockaways and Coney Island this summer

By Devin Gannon

Beach and boardwalk-bound New Yorkers can ride to the shore in vintage style this summer. The New York Transit Museum announced two "nostalgia rides" in July and August that will bring beachgoers to Coney Island and the Rockaways via R-19 train cars from the 1930s. Tickets, which cost $60 for adults, go on sale Friday, May 31.
details this way

Events & Things To Do

Vintage photos look back on the futuristic 1964 New York World’s Fair in Queens

Two observation decks at the New York State Pavilion provided a 360-degree view of the World’s Fair. Image Source Attributed to NYC Parks’ Archived Collection

May 14, 2024

Vintage photos look back on the futuristic 1964 New York World’s Fair in Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. Taking place just 25 years after the 1939 World’s Fair in the same location, the World’s Fair was the largest international exhibition ever constructed in the United States, with 140 pavilions representing 80 nations, 24 U.S. states, and more than 45 corporations across 656 acres. The event, which took place for two six-month seasons between April 1964 and October 1965, provided a sense of optimism for a country embroiled in unrest both at home and abroad. Led by "master-builder" Robert Moses, the fair embraced the Space Age era, which included a creative, futuristic aesthetic inspired by advancing technologies and innovative architecture. Ahead, explore the World’s Fair with historic photos and hear from World's Fair expert, Bill Cotter, on the lasting legacy of the event in New York and beyond.
SEE WHAT THE FAIR WAS LIKE

35-acre nature preserve opens in the Rockaways at NYC’s first net-zero community

Photo courtesy of Francine Fleischer

April 26, 2024

35-acre nature preserve opens in the Rockaways at NYC’s first net-zero community

By Devin Gannon

New York City this week opened a public nature preserve in Far Rockaway that serves as the centerpiece of a new sustainable mixed-use project. The 35-acre natural area marks the first phase of Arverne East, a development transforming a vacant 116-acre oceanfront site into a community with 1,650 homes, retail, and open space. The nearly $1 billion project will produce more energy than it consumes, through passive house construction and a district geothermal system, making it the city's first net-zero community.
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Architecture And Design

134 affordable apartments available at massive Far Rockaway development, from $617/month

Rendering by Aufgang Architects

April 19, 2024

134 affordable apartments available at massive Far Rockaway development, from $617/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 134 affordable apartments at a new residential complex in Far Rockaway. The apartment building is part of the first phase of Edgemere Commons, an 11-tower development with over 2,000 affordable homes, retail, community space, health care facilities, and outdoor public space. New Yorkers earning 30, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $24,480 for a single person and $140,080 for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $617/month for one-bedroom homes to $2,665/month three bedrooms.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

City Council approves NYC’s first-ever pro soccer stadium in Queens

Renderings courtesy of NYCFC

April 11, 2024

City Council approves NYC’s first-ever pro soccer stadium in Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first-ever professional soccer stadium in Queens is moving forward. The City Council on Thursday voted to approve a sweeping 23-acre mixed-use development in Willets Point that will bring a seven-story soccer stadium for the NYC Football Club (NYCFC), 2,500 affordable housing units, a school, and a hotel to the neighborhood, once known for its junkyards and landfills. The 25,000-seat stadium is slated for completion just in time for the 2027 season.
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Queens Theatre to celebrate 60th anniversary of the World’s Fair with special tours, food tastings

Photo by Roger W on Flickr

April 11, 2024

Queens Theatre to celebrate 60th anniversary of the World’s Fair with special tours, food tastings

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new event series celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1964-1965 World's Fair in New York is set to kick off later this month. Queens Theatre on Thursday announced Theaterama!, a monthly series of special events looking back at the wonders of the World's Fair in Flushing Meadow Corona Park. Starting in April and running through October, the events include historical tours, pop-up performances, film screenings, food tastings, and more.
discover more

Events & Things To Do

This $1.4M Astoria home is all about flexible, fabulous, and fun townhouse living

Photo credit: Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

April 10, 2024

This $1.4M Astoria home is all about flexible, fabulous, and fun townhouse living

By Michelle Cohen

Astoria has become a favorite for home buyers seeking urban townhouse living and a (relatively) affordable chance to expand beyond cramped quarters while staying in a vibrant New York City neighborhood. This multi-family townhouse at 23-23 33rd Road, asking $1,399,000, checks all the boxes. Built in 1945, this three-floor brick home offers incredible flexibility: Currently configured as a floor-through one-bedroom atop an owner's duplex, it could easily work as a single four-bedroom home, or a single residence with a separate garden-floor guest/in-law/teen suite. Completing the picture are a back garden, patios, a private parking spot, and a heated garage.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

50 middle-income apartments available on the Astoria waterfront, from $3,105/month

Renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Development and Preservation

March 22, 2024

50 middle-income apartments available on the Astoria waterfront, from $3,105/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 50 middle-income apartments at a new residential development on the Astoria waterfront. Located at 26-25 4th Street, The Winslow offers brand-new luxury apartments and breathtaking waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $106,458 for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the units, which range from $3,105/month studios to $3,963/month two bedrooms.
find out more

Affordable Housing

Citi Bike docks installed at Citi Field ahead of Mets home opener

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

March 22, 2024

Citi Bike docks installed at Citi Field ahead of Mets home opener

By Aaron Ginsburg

Baseball fans can now ride Citi Bikes to Citi Field, just in time for the start of the 2024 season. The New York Mets, Citi Bike, and Lyft on Thursday unveiled new docking stations at Citi Field, offering another way to travel to a ball game. The stadium will feature 66 docks, about half of which are near the main entrance near the homerun apple and another half next to the intersection of Shea Road and Boat Basin Place.
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Take a cherry blossom tour in NYC

Green-Wood Cemetery. Photo Credit: Amy Nieporent

March 21, 2024

Take a cherry blossom tour in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Thousands of cherry blossom trees across the five boroughs have begun to sprout their vibrant petals, marking the arrival of spring in NYC. One of the best ways to experience the breathtaking flora is by embarking on a tour through one of the city's cherry blossom hot spots. Luckily, plenty of locations across the city offer tours of cherry blossoms and spring flowers, including Central Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Green-Wood Cemetery, and more.
find out more

Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

Renderings courtesy of the Port Authority of NY and NJ

March 19, 2024

Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

John F. Kennedy International Airport is searching for vendors to fulfill its vision for its new international terminal. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), The New Terminal One (NTO), and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports on Monday announced the launch of the commercial program for JFK Airport’s $9.5 billion all-international terminal opening in 2026. The retail spaces at the terminal will offer "beloved NYC favorites, global powerhouse brands, engaging guest experiences, and thoughtful amenities under one spectacular roof," according to a press release.
details here

Lottery opens for 155 affordable apartments in Far Rockaway, from $410/month

Rockaway Village. Photo ©️David Sundberg ESTO

March 19, 2024

Lottery opens for 155 affordable apartments in Far Rockaway, from $410/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 155 apartments at a new 100 percent affordable development in Far Rockaway. The building at 1605 Village Lane is the fourth phase of Rockaway Village Apartments, a sprawling housing project with 1,700 apartments connected by several public plazas. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $17,006 for a single person and $140,080 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, priced from $410/month studios to $2,035/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

NYC Chinese food festival returns next month with expanded lineup

Photos courtesy of Dragon Fest

March 18, 2024

NYC Chinese food festival returns next month with expanded lineup

By Aaron Ginsburg

Dragon Fest, New York City’s first-ever outdoor Chinese food and culture festival, is returning next month after a successful debut last year. This year’s festival includes an expanded lineup, featuring 16 unique events hosted in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens from April 6 through October 6. Attendees can enjoy Chinese art, cultural traditions, and more than 100 varieties of Chinese food from esteemed local vendors such as Nan Xiang and MìLa.
find out more

NYC’s latest film studio is opening in Long Island City this year

Images courtesy of Innovo Property Group

January 22, 2024

NYC’s latest film studio is opening in Long Island City this year

By Devin Gannon

New York City's latest film studio will open in Long Island City this year. Taking up the upper three floors of a five-story development at 23-30 Borden Avenue, Borden Studios includes four sound stages, office and support space, and more than 8,800 square feet of outdoor space, including a rooftop terrace. Developed by Innovo Property Group and operated by The MBS Group, the studio is expected to open this spring.
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Queensboro Plaza station will be closed every weekend in January

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

December 22, 2023

Queensboro Plaza station will be closed every weekend in January

By Devin Gannon

The Queensboro Plaza subway station will shut down every weekend in January to allow for accessibility upgrades, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Thursday. The Long Island City station, home to the 7, N, and W trains, will be closed starting the weekend of January 6 through the weekend of January 27, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturdays and ending at 5 a.m. on Mondays.
find out more

Transit

Vacant hotel near JFK Airport to become 300+ permanently affordable apartments

Rendering of the indoor/outdoor garden planned for residents at Baisley Pond Park Residences. Courtesy of OSD

December 18, 2023

Vacant hotel near JFK Airport to become 300+ permanently affordable apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

An empty hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens will be converted into a permanently affordable housing development with 300 apartments. Slate Property Group, RiseBoro Community Partnership, and the city's Housing Development Corporation on Monday announced the acquisition of the former JFK Hilton Hotel for $64 million, the first step in converting the vacant hotel into homes for low-income households and formerly homeless New Yorkers. Construction is expected to kick off next month.
learn more

Hochul unveils plan to bring 2,800 homes to underused Creedmoor campus in eastern Queens

Image via WikiCommons

December 7, 2023

Hochul unveils plan to bring 2,800 homes to underused Creedmoor campus in eastern Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday released the Creedmoor Community Master Plan, a proposal to redevelop 58 acres of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus in Queens into a mixed-use community with over 2,800 homes, green space, bike infrastructure, retail, and amenities. State-owned Creedmoor has operated as a mental health center since 1912 and hit its peak patient population of 7,000 in 1959. Today, a majority of the campus sits vacant. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Empire State Development (ESD), along with the Metropolitan Urban Design Workshop, developed the master plan over six months.
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Apply for 56 luxury apartments in Rego Park, from $2,250/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 7, 2023

Apply for 56 luxury apartments in Rego Park, from $2,250/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery has opened for 56 middle-income apartments at a new luxury rental building in Queens. Located at 98-08 Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, Vista65 is a 22-story building with over 180 modern apartments and luxurious amenities like an outdoor terrace, fitness center, and a complimentary espresso bar in the lobby. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $77,143 for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the units. Apartments are priced at $2,250/month for studios, $2,695/month for one-bedrooms, and $3,295/month for two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

MTA installs new turnstiles designed to stop fare evasion

Photo courtesy of Ray Raimundi / MTA on Flickr

December 5, 2023

MTA installs new turnstiles designed to stop fare evasion

By Aaron Ginsburg

The traditional turnstiles at a subway station in Queens have been fully replaced with new wide-aisle fare gates, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Monday. Designed to increase accessibility and prevent fare evasion, the new fare gates were deployed at the Sutphin Boulevard Archer Avenue-JFK Airport subway station in Jamaica. The fare gates replace the emergency exit gate at the end of the station; more than half of all fare evasion occurs through these emergency gates, according to the MTA.
see more here

NYC reopens scaled-down Corona Plaza street market

Photo of the plaza in 2018. Courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

November 29, 2023

NYC reopens scaled-down Corona Plaza street market

By Aaron Ginsburg

The popular street market at Corona Plaza in Queens is returning with far fewer vendors and more regulations after being shut down by the city this summer. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced plans to restore the marketplace at 103rd Street and Roosevelt Avenue with just 14 vendors compared to the more than 80 merchants located there before the shutdown in July. The city said regulating the community vending area became necessary after complaints over public safety and cleanliness increased fivefold in one year.
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Mets owner reveals ‘Metropolitan Park’ proposal for $8B casino complex next to Citi Field

Rendering: Queens Future LLC

November 7, 2023

Mets owner reveals ‘Metropolitan Park’ proposal for $8B casino complex next to Citi Field

By Devin Gannon

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen on Tuesday unveiled new details for his plan to build a casino across the street from Citi Field. The billionaire hedge fund manager has teamed up with Hard Rock International on the proposed "Metropolitan Park," a sports and entertainment development planned for 50 acres of what is currently parking lots next to the Flushing, Queens baseball stadium. The $8 billion proposal includes a Hard Rock-run entertainment complex with a hotel, live music venue, restaurants, and a casino, 20 acres of public space, a Queens-themed food hall, a renovated transit station, and more.
find out more

Policy

Next to a transit hub and historic park in Jamaica, 67 mixed-income luxury units are available, from $1,585/month

Rendering courtesy of Zara Realty

October 24, 2023

Next to a transit hub and historic park in Jamaica, 67 mixed-income luxury units are available, from $1,585/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new rental in Queens is now accepting applications for 67 mixed-income apartments. Located at 153-10 88th Avenue in the heart of Jamaica, The 88 includes luxury units and amenities, including two landscaped rooftop decks. The building sits next to Rufus King Park and is near several public transit lines. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $57,292 for a single person annually and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,585/month studios to $3,075/month two bedrooms.
do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

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