Queens

January 7, 2021

IKEA’s first small-format location opens in Queens

The first small-format IKEA in the United States will open in Queens this month. The retailer, known for its affordable flat-pack furniture, will take up 115,000 square feet at a shopping mall in Rego Park. Expected to open sometime in early January, the new store is the third IKEA in New York City, joining existing locations in Red Hook and on the Upper East Side.
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December 18, 2020

Mixed-use proposal for Long Island City would have a residential village, a waterfront pool, and oyster beds

First spotted by CityRealty, this mixed-use proposal for the Long Island City waterfront is part futuristic, part industrial, and part sustainable. The architects at Brooklyn-based studio CAZA conceptualized a plan for a swath of land just north of the site that was almost home to Amazon. Called Long Island City Oyster, their development would include an office tower, residential tower, and low-scale residential village. More distinctly, it would also include year-round indoor and amenities such as a waterfront ice skating rink that converts into a pool, a restored oyster-bed wetland, a sandy beach, and a ferry landing.
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December 10, 2020

13-tower project proposed for Flushing as part of rezoning gets City Council approval

Plans to rezone parts of the Flushing waterfront to make way for a 13-tower mixed-use development were approved by the New York City Council on Thursday. The approval of the zoning changes and the project, which calls for 1,725 units of housing, a hotel, offices, and retail space across 29 acres, came after elected officials reached an agreement this week with union groups SEIU 32BJ and the Hotels Trade Council to provide good-paying jobs for service workers, as well as hire public housing residents in the area.
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December 2, 2020

Apply for 48 middle-income units at new Long Island City rental, from $2,156/month

Applications are now being accepted for 48 units below market rate at a newly constructed Long Island City rental. Located at 45-57 Davis Street, the nine-story development contains over 150 units and commercial space on the ground floor. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $2,156/month studios to a $3,122/month three-bedroom. The median rental price for market-rate units in the neighborhood is $2,700/month, according to CityRealty.
Find out if you qualify
November 13, 2020

New food hall Jacx & Co opens at massive Long Island City office complex

As New York City restaurants continue to face an uncertain future, a new food hall in Queens is defying the odds. The Jacx & Co opened on Wednesday at 28-17 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, part of a mega-development from Tishman Speyer. The opening line up of eateries includes a mix of established NYC vendors and some newbies, including Crif Dogs, Beebe's, Taïm, Fieldtrip, Ghaya, Lotus + Cleaver, and Méxology.
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November 13, 2020

14 middle-income apartments up for grabs in Astoria, from $2,050/month

In the heart of Astoria, a middle-income affordable housing lottery has launched at the brand-new rental building at 14-53 31st Avenue. Known as the Centennial Astoria, it was designed by local firm JLS Designs and offers a modern, glassy living experience not often found in the neighborhood. There are 14 units available to those earning 130 percent of the area median income. They include $2,050/month one-bedrooms and $2,500/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
November 12, 2020

Middle-income housing lottery launches for 47 units at new amenity-filled rental in Jackson Heights

A new affordable housing lottery has launched for Roosevelt Parc, a brand-new rental in Jackson Heights, Queens designed by Marvel Architects. The mixed-use project has a unique Flatiron-esque shape that lends itself to a large outdoor garden. There's also a huge roof deck complete with outdoor kitchens and grills and various lounging and dining areas, among a slew of other amenities. There are 47 units available to those earning 130 percent of the area median income, ranging from $1,121/month studios to $3,283/month three-bedrooms.
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November 2, 2020

Mist garden from 1964 World’s Fair restored at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

When the World's Fair descended upon Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 1964-1965, one of the big attractions was the Unisphere. And leading up to this 140-foot-tall stainless steel globe was the Fountain of the Fairs, a large reflecting pool that acted as an interactive mist garden. Though they were renovated in 2000, the fountains were seriously damaged during Hurricane Sandy and stopped working. However, after a recent $6.8 million upgrade, they are back up and running.
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October 30, 2020

191-year-old Neir’s Tavern stays afloat in Queens with new five-year lease

Historic Neir's Tavern will stay open in Queens for at least another five years. The 191-year-old bar nearly shuttered earlier this year after a rent increase. It then temporarily closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Loycent Gordon--the owner of the Woodhaven watering hole--signed a new agreement with the landlords that was brokered by local officials and the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The new five-year lease gives Gordon the option to extend it an additional five years, which would bring the business into its 200th-year.
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October 29, 2020

The TWA Hotel’s rooftop is now a retro Alpine-themed retreat with a heated ‘pool-cuzzi’

Looking to safely hang with friends outdoors without freezing your bum off? Then you might consider heading out to the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. For the second year, the hotel is sharing its Eero Saarinen-designed mid-century fabulousness with its guests by transforming its rooftop bar into the Runway Chalet for the rest of the winter season. In addition to a tented and heated Alpine-themed restaurant and bar, the chalet offers the "pool-cuzzi," which is heated up to 95 degrees.
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October 13, 2020

For $750K, an adorable Ridgewood carriage house with major farmhouse-chic style

Located where Ridgewood, Maspeth, and Bushwick all meet is this completely adorable carriage house that's been listed for $749,000. Built as a back house in 1901, the two-story, two-bedroom home has completely nailed the farmhouse-chic look, with reclaimed hardwood floors and beams, original tin ceilings, and carefully curated decor.
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October 8, 2020

Here’s how to find out if your neighborhood is in a COVID-19 cluster zone

In an effort to contain new clusters of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday ordered non-essential businesses to close and houses of worship to restrict capacity in parts of Brooklyn and Queens and suburbs of New York City. The new initiative divides the clusters into three categories depending on the rate of transmission, with red, orange, and yellow zones determining the level of restrictions in place. The new rules will be in effect for a minimum of 14 days starting on Thursday. To clear up confusion over the cluster zones, the city released a searchable "Find Your Zone" map that allows New Yorkers to enter their address to find what zone they live, work, and go to school in.
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October 2, 2020

37 middle-income apartments available at resort-like rental in Long Island City, from $1,990/month

A housing lottery launched this week for 37 middle-income apartments at a new, amenity-packed rental in Long Island City, Queens. Dubbed The Cove and located at 43-12 Hunter Street, the 18-story tower contains 123 apartments and boasts ground-floor retail, an outdoor roof terrace, a game room, a library, and a fitness center. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which include $1,990/month studios, $2,345/month one-bedrooms, and $3,072/month two-bedrooms.
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September 23, 2020

New COVID-19 clusters found in South Brooklyn and Queens, where virus cases have tripled

Urgent action is required in four areas across Brooklyn and Queens where there has been a serious uptick of positive coronavirus cases, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday. The city's Health Department identified a new cluster in Midwood, Borough Park, and Bensonhurst, which officials are calling the Ocean Parkway Cluster, after the avenue that connects the neighborhoods. Health officials have also found an increase in cases in Edgemere-Far Rockaway, Williamsburg, and Kew Gardens. The new cases account for 20 percent of all cases citywide as of September 19.
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September 23, 2020

Lottery launches for 185 affordable apartments at Long Island City’s Hunter’s Point South

A year-and-a-half ago, developer TF Cornerstone broke ground on their two-building, 1,194-unit project at Hunter's Point South, located along the East River in Long Island City. Anchored by a new half-acre public park, the pair of ODA-designed towers will be 60 percent affordable. Today, a lottery launched for 185 of these low- and middle-income units, available to those earning 50, 130, and 165 percent of the area median income. The available homes range from $698/month studios to $2,704/month two-bedrooms.
See if you qualify
September 22, 2020

Art Deco P.S. 48 becomes the first historic landmark in South Jamaica, Queens

The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission voted today to designate Public School 48 in South Jamaica, Queens as an individual landmark. Built in 1936, PS 48 was an early example of a school building serving as a "monumental civic structure" in the community. "Its Art Deco style details, which are quite striking in person, make it unique, and it is one of the first elementary schools New York City to incorporate this architectural style," said LPC Chair Sarah Carroll, who also noted that it's the neighborhood's first historic landmark.
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September 15, 2020

Inside the amenity spaces at Long Island City’s supertall Skyline Tower

New York City's tallest building outside Manhattan topped out a year ago and is set to commence closings and move-ins this December. Located in Long Island City's Court Square section, Skyline Tower is a 778-foot luxury condo tower with 800 units, with current availabilities ranging from a $739,000 studio to a $2.5 million three-bedroom. And when the new tenants move in this winter, they'll be able to enjoy amazing amenities, including a 75-foot indoor pool, a pet spa, and a fully equipped gym.
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August 24, 2020

Car-free blocks with diverse outdoor dining options open in Queens

Two neighborhoods in Queens hit especially hard by the coronavirus are slowly getting back on their feet thanks to a new communal dining experience. David Rockwell and his firm Rockwell Group unveiled last week two new community outdoor dining areas on car-free blocks in the Queens neighborhoods of Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, part of the firm's DineOut initiative. Both communities, which are considered to be among the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City, offer a variety of cuisines, including Tibetan, Nepali, Indian, Thai, and more.
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August 20, 2020

Murray’s Cheese opens a new flagship in Long Island City

When Murray's Cheese first opened in a small storefront on Cornelia Street 80 years ago, they primarily sold milk, eggs, and butter. After becoming a Greenwich Village institution, Murray's has since expanded, moving to a larger storefront across on Bleecker Street in 2004, and opening a location in Grand Central and cheese-aging caves in Long Island, where the business just announced they'll be opening a new shop and restaurant. According to a press release, "Murray’s Cheese Bar LIC will be the restaurant’s flagship location and its first-ever full-service bar, with an adjacent cheese shop offering more than 400 specialty items."
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July 31, 2020

Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

The Queens County Farm Museum is set to reopen its 47 acres to the public on Sunday after temporarily closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the reopening, Queens Farm will also unveil its first-ever site-specific art installation: Cover Crop by the artist Aaron Asis. The half-acre artwork includes a "planted composition" with crisscrossing paths, letting visitors discover the farm's cover crops, including sweet peas, buckwheat, and rye.
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July 8, 2020

190-year-old Neir’s Tavern reopens for outdoor dining in Woodhaven

After nearly shutting its doors earlier this year because of a rent increase and then temporarily closing in March because of the coronavirus, it's been a tough few months for Neir's Tavern, a bar in Queens founded more than 190 years ago. But, with support from regulars, the historic establishment in Woodhaven reopened this month for outdoor dining, the New York Post reported.
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July 2, 2020

$2B project in Astoria calls for massive mixed-use district with 2,700 housing units

A proposal to build a mixed-use district in Queens that would encompass five blocks and create thousands of new housing units was unveiled this week. Dubbed "Innovation QNS," the $2 billion project would bring 2,700 units of mixed-income housing, 250,000 square feet of creative office space, 200,000 square feet of retail, a new school, two acres of public open space, and new neighborhood amenities to Astoria. With ODA Architecture as the architect of the master plan, the mixed-use district is a joint private venture led by Silverstein Properties, Kaufman Astoria Studios, BedRock Real Estate Partners.
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July 1, 2020

In Ridgewood, Queens, 40 middle-income units up for grabs, from $1,797/month

In Ridgewood--the Queens neighborhood that's right on the border of Bushwick, has lots going on, but is still somewhat under-the-radar--a middle-income housing lottery has just come online for those earning 130 percent of the area median income. The brand-new building, designed by Aufgang Architects and known as The Strand, offers tons of fun amenities (do note additional fees may apply) like onsite parking, a laundry room, bike storage, fitness center, outdoor terraces, co-working lounge, and a media/gaming lounge. The 40 apartments up for grabs range from $1,797/month studios to $3,508/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
June 24, 2020

With baseball set to return next month, Yankees and Mets will train in New York

Baseball is back. After the coronavirus pandemic put the sport on hold for over three months, Major League Baseball on Tuesday announced a plan to return, with "spring" training to resume on July 1 and opening day games scheduled for July 23 and 24, with no fans. The training will take place at the home stadiums for teams, meaning the Yankees and Mets will return to the Bronx and Flushing starting this week.
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June 23, 2020

118 affordable apartments up for grabs at new Far Rockaway rental, from $367/month

Applications are now being accepted for 118 apartments at a newly constructed affordable rental in the Queens neighborhood of Far Rockaway. Located at 19-15 Nameoke Avenue (also known as 14-14 Central Avenue), the eight-story building incorporates the existing Community Church--the Nazarene into the residential part of the building, which contains 142 total apartments. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $367/month studios to $1,472/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify