St. John's Queens Hospital was located at 45th and Jackson Avenues in Long Island City. It was opened in 1891 and was the first hospital in Queens. The larger buildings in this old postcard were erected in 1900 when the hospital expanded. The institution later moved to a new location at Queens and Woodhaven Boulevards in the 1960s, where it remains today.
The Citicorp tower, also known as Court Square One, is a 48-story, 1.4-million-square-foot office building that opened in 1989 on the site of the old St. John's. You would have thought by the way politicians of the era embraced its construction that it was the second coming of Jesus. Unfortunately, it's approval paved the way for other high-density development projects that are destroying the character of the waterfront mixed-use community of Long Island City. Queens residents used to laugh that their first skyscraper was giving the finger to Manhattan, but the joke's on us because actually, it's the other way around.
Scott Rechler, the president of Reckson Associates Realty Company, said Long Island City was "one of the last remaining underdeveloped New York City submarkets."
It won't be long before it is one of the most overdeveloped. The Citicrap tower has now produced offspring.
3 comments:
The first "City Corp(se)" tower was well described in a letter to the editor which ran in the N.Y. Times, posted by an architect, at the time that it was first erected. It read something like this. "....A giant glass weed has sprung up in Long Island City...."! Many more have followed in its "wake"! A burial service ought to be held for L.I.C. In lieu of a "beanstalk" maybe "Jack" can climb one these towers that poke through the clouds! This new area should be named, "Manhattan East" in keeping with the spirit of "Queens West"!
Well the point is that the elected representatives and community board has sold the community of Hunters Point down the river. This disregard has disrespected the very people that on paper, they were to serve.
Reminds me of the story of the leadership of a suffering third world county.
Maybe, Hunters Point should apply for a seat in the UN across the river. Perhaps only then will its people get the repect they deserve.
Well the point is that the elected representatives and community board has sold the community of Hunters Point down the river. This disregard has disrespected the very people that on paper, they were to serve. Reminds me of the story of the leadership of a suffering third world county. Maybe, Hunters Point should apply for a seat in the UN across the river. Perhaps only then will its people get the repect they deserve.
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