QUEENS

Long Island City Neighborhood Guide

Long Island City is one of the hottest neighborhoods in Queens, providing rapid residential growth and a backdrop for one of the most artistic and creative communities in New York City. The sleek high-rises and views of Manhattan offer a modern feel in a much less hectic environment. The area is saturated with museums, studios, exhibits, and other avenues for its residents to express their creative sides. The vibrant neighborhood is known for its lifestyle of getting out and about and taking advantage of all the indoor and outdoor entertainment opportunities, the diverse eateries, and the greenery of Gantry State Park and Hunter’s Point Park South. Industrial chic meets community charm in the classic NYC waterfront neighborhood of Long Island City.
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Long Island City Real Estate Stats

MEDIAN SALE PRICE

$1,240,000

MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE

$3,700

An Abbreviated History of Long Island City

Long Island City incorporated in 1870 with a population of between 12,000 and 15,000 residents. After some turmoil in the late 1880s, following an embezzlement scandal involving then Mayor DeBevoise, the city continued to exist as its own municipality until it surrendered its independence in 1898, joining all of Queens in annexation into the City of Greater New York. In the 1930s, various infrastructure projects made the neighborhood more accessible to Manhattan and other areas of Queens, including the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, the Queensboro Bridge, and several subway tunnels. In the early 2000s, the area transitioned from an industrial area to a primarily residential one, and the Long Island City we know today began to take form. The area is now a thriving location for the arts, creatives, and leisure and entertainment, while also providing a comfortable, quaint residential haven for its over 60,000 residents.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES

  • Vernon Boulevard Street to the West
  • 36th Avenue to the North
  • Skillman Avenue to the East
  • 53rd Avenue to the South
21st Street – Queensbridge F G
39th Ave N W
Queens Plaza E M R
Court Square – 23rd Street 7 E G M
Hunters Point Avenue 7
Queensboro Plaza 7 N W
Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue 7

Residents Love This Neighborhood Because

  • The piers have some of the best views of Manhattan
  • High rise apartment buildings with all the amenities
  • Diverse cultures
  • The Queensboro bridge provides easy access to walk, bike, or drive to Manhattan
  • Multiple restaurants, cafes, and breweries

What to expect

Cafés

+45
Colleges / Universities

2
Hospitals

3
Libraries

2
Parks

12

Playgrounds

10

Restaurants

+80

Yoga Studios

8

Long Island City Landmarks and Cultural Institutions

A NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR

Get to know the neighborhood by visiting its most notable landmarks and sites. From museums and sculptures, to parks, markets, and hidden neighborhood gems, you’ll find everything you need to know about the neighborhood’s most unique and historical attractions.

Pepsi-cola Sign

Visible from Manhattan and the East River, the neon Pepsi-Cola sign at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City was built in 1940 over the original PepsiCo bottling factory. It was New York state’s largest electric sign at the time it was completed, and was relocated to the state park in 2003 when the Pepsi facility closed.

Moma PS1

The MoMA PS1 was founded in 1971 by Alanna Heiss as the oldest and largest nonprofit center devoted exclusively to contemporary art in the United States. In January 2000, the museum formalized their affiliation with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to collaborate in their objectives of promoting enjoyment and appreciation for contemporary art. MoMA PS1 describes their purpose as “presenting today’s most experimental, thought-provoking art.” This Queens institution transformed an old public schoolhouse into a space for artistic creativity and experimentation, and provides an outlet for artists to intersect cultural, social, and political issues through a distinctive approach of exhibitions and artist involvement.

LIC Flea & Food

LIC Flea & Food has an incredible selection of handmade and vintage apparel and artisan food vendors, plus a local craft beer garden. Some of the regular vendors include Vivian Jewelry, DiLena’s Dolcini, Stufd, Brooklyn Coffee Company, and more.

Gantry Plaza State Park

Gantry Plaza State Park is a 12-acre riverside park with spectacular views of the Midtown Manhattan skyline. Stroll through the park and enjoy the beauty of the numerous gardens and fountains, while exploring the history behind many restored industrial monuments that were originally used to load and unload rail car floats by the waterfront. The park also has recreational facilities open to the public including basketball courts, handball courts, playgrounds, and a fishing pier.

The Secret Theater

The Secret Theater is an off-Broadway theater in the Long Island City Art Center. It was established by actor and director, Richard Mazda, in July 2007. The theater is most widely known for being the home for The Queens Players and for featuring original works by Joel Schatzky starring Bill Krakauer.

Architecture in Long Island City

Second Empire

Modernism

Gothic Revival

Notable New Yorkers

Who Have Lived in Long Island City

Sonam Dolma Brauen

Artist

Steve Hofstetter

Comedian

Zenon Konopka

Hockey Player

Natalia Paruz

Musician

Jessica Valenti

Writer

Popular Food & Drink

John Brown BBQ

27-20 40th Avenue

Casa Enrique

5-48 49th Avenue

The Mill Coffee House

44-61 11th Street

Cafè Henri

1010 50th Avenue

Jacx & Co

28-17 Jackson Avenue

American Brass on the Water

Corner Of Center Boulevard and 49th Avenue

Jora Restaurant & Bar

7-46 11th Street

Bellwether

47-25 Vernon Boulevard

All Notable New Yorker photos courtesy of Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of Sonam Dolma Brauen by smannion; Photo of Steve Hofstetter by wordjunky; Photo of Zenon Konopka by Michael Miller; Photo of Natalia Paruz by Curtis Palmer; Photo of Jessica Valenti by Roanoke College

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