Long Island City (LIC) is an expansive, resurgent neighborhood in western Queens experiencing unprecedented population growth and new development, while still harboring a slice of the industrial activity that, until recently, defined its identity.

A juxtaposition of dynamic land uses with historical and modern influences gives LIC a kaleidoscopic landscape of iconic rooftop signage, elevated subway tracks, bridges, factory buildings, row houses, and modern towers - all set against a magnificent waterfront backdrop.

Just five minutes from Manhattan, Long Island City is an increasingly popular residential destination amongst young professionals and students due to its amazing concentration of world-class cultural institutions, four college campuses, and the bright future of its growing neighborhoods.

[back to top]

LIC actually spans three distinct communities, all in various stages of evolution. In recent years, each has become home to more and more of the over 16,000 students enrolled at LIC's four academic institutions: LaGuardia College, Devry College, Keller Graduate School of Management, and Briarcliffe College-Queens.

Directly west of both LaGuardia and Devry, the 37-block LIC Core District consists of two primary hubs - Queens Plaza and Court Square - with Jackson Avenue serving as the main thoroughfare connecting the two. Substantial public investment promises to make this central business district increasingly pedestrian-friendly and full of public plazas and parks in the near future.

Flanking the LIC Core on the east and west, respectively, are Sunnyside and Hunter's Point. Rapid residential development in Hunter's Point has finally given the neighborhood a critical mass of residents - and transplanted Manhattan and Brooklyn restaurants, galleries, cafes, spas, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other neighborhood amenities have begun to pour into the area. Vernon Boulevard, the lively main drag, is becoming a popular 24-hour entertainment destination stocked with restaurants, bars, and other nightlife.

Finally, Queens West, along the East River, is a burgeoning community featuring recently-completed high-rise condominiums and boasting an unrivalled, breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline. Residents and visitors alike can marvel at the view from Gantry State Park, a charming 2.5 acre park with piers, barbeque pits, and a waterfront bike path. Upon completion of the comprehensive development planned for Queens West over the next decade, its entire 74-acre waterfront will feature an exciting mix of high-rise residences, restaurants, galleries, bars, and a continuous public esplanade.

[back to top]

LIC is located across the East River from Midtown Manhattan, just a five-minute subway ride from Midtown's major transit hubs. Queens Plaza, located in the LIC Core, is the area's major transportation hub, providing roadway access to the Queensborough Bridge as well as subway and bus connections to much of Queens, Brooklyn, and the rest of Manhattan.

LIC is easy to access via the following variety of transportation options:

• Seven convenient subway lines: 7, E, V, G, N, R, & W
• Long Island Rail Road at the Hunter's Point Station, with a second station planned in the near future
• Numerous bus lines including 19A, 39, 67, & 101R
• Ferry landing at Queens West provides service to Midtown, Lower Manhattan, and Brooklyn

[back to top]

Long Island City boasts the greatest concentration of art in NYC outside of Manhattan, housing nine world-class arts organizations, several creative companies, and a growing artisan community. P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, a former public school converted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a major arts institution, is one of the area's greatest attractions, featuring emerging artists and cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions. Nearby, the 5 Pointz is a spectacular living collection of graffiti art by local and world-renowned artists covering the façade of a large warehouse of artist studios. Also, the Socrates Sculpture Park along the East River mingles public park space with large-scale outdoor sculptures created by emerging local artists. Other renowned area museums include the Fisher Landau Center for Art, the Noguchi Museum, and the Museum of the Moving Image.

Silvercup Studios, best known for The Sopranos and Sex and the City, is prominently located in the Hunter's Point neighborhood and is now embarking upon a dramatic expansion project. Its new two million square foot campus will include soundstages, commercial and retail space, and an additional 1,000 units of housing along the East River waterfront.

[back to top]

Residential and commercial development has exploded in Long Island City and shows no signs of slowing down in upcoming years. More than 4,300 new units of housing have already been constructed in Queens West, with several thousand more units under construction or in design. In the LIC Core, approximately 1,500 residential units are slated to go on the market in the next two years. Over 5,000 housing units, community/ cultural spaces, and a waterfront park are planned at Hunter's Point.

To fully transform LIC into a series of comfortable 24-hour neighborhoods and business districts, nearly $50 million in City, State, and Federal funds have also been secured to for public improvement projects. At present, Jackson Avenue and Queens Plaza are undergoing streetscape improvements & open space development.

[back to top]