Tuesday, May 13, 2014

LIC Clock Tower going condo

From Curbed:

The sale of Long Island City's Clock Tower building hit public records on Friday, revealing the Criterion Group as the buyer. The developer paid $15 million for the site, which recently housed the Holocenter arts group in its ground floor gallery space. A rep from Criterion told Curbed that they currently have no plans for the building, however, given that Criterion is a residential developer, the Clock Tower will most likely become apartments.

It's funny how Queens Plaza went from an area of business and industry - an economic engine for the borough - to just a bunch of overpriced condos.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let the yuppy movement continue....

Anonymous said...

those ain't yuppies - NY, Bkln, NJ trumps anything there - condos are absentee mini-landlords that try to extract big money from their tiny cement pad rather than participate in building a long term strong community.

Each of those bank buildings on Queens Plaza had incredible banking floors of rich Italian marbles, sweeping murals, polished brass.

A clutch of soaring spaces where any one could have been a fantastic arts center for the community and borough.

All jack hammered away or torn down.

We must thank Queens Community Board One, Councilman Peter Vallone, and local honcho Dutch Kills Civic Czar, hotel king, library grand poohba, prince of Steinway Street shopping, defender of local landmarks, and good friend of Jimmy (We Hardly Know Ya Son) Van Bramer, Mr. "Upzone" Stamatiades.

God Help Us All.

Anonymous said...

The building is zoned R10. Unlike Parkway Hospital site, this can go forward very quickly.

Anonymous said...

Well this takes away the mystery of what will happen to the Steinway Mansion.

Glad that issue has been tidied away by our Queens political class.

Anonymous said...

Understand that Dutch Kills Civic featured yet another developer who wants to turn his parking dealership into a 10 story building (read 12 story builidng after the variance approved by CB1).

Nothing nearby except a train yard and a subway station. Should attract a real discerning tenant.

Northern Blvd will soon be as congested (and as ugly) as Queens Blvd.

Anonymous said...

The building is zoned R10. Unlike Parkway Hospital site, this can go forward very quickly.

Oh joy!

Funny how this can go quickly but nothing else in government.

Anonymous said...

Wait...how long will it take for the new residents of the Plaza to revolt against he early morning drop off of Riker's inmates on their way to a new, productive and rehabilitated life?

Anonymous said...

Economic engine? Crappy, don't you know that NYCHA is the city's economic engine?

georgetheatheist said...

Where are the balconies for this future condo?

Anonymous said...

'''Understand that Dutch Kills Civic featured yet another developer who wants to turn his parking dealership into a 10 story building (read 12 story builidng after the variance approved by CB1).

Nothing nearby except a train yard and a subway station. Should attract a real discerning tenant.

Northern Blvd will soon be as congested (and as ugly) as Queens Blvd.'''

The area is the future junction of Metro North New Haven trains bound for Penn station, LIRR heading to Grand Central, Penn Station, and Long Island City/Hunters Point to the west, and all points East, and has subway access. Why is that a bad place to build? Of all the places in the city to have density, it seems like a good choice. When you don't build here people end up living further out. Where they need to drive everywhere and run over your kid. Why is that better?

Anonymous said...

Where do the kids play? Go to school? Further out sounds like a much smarter choice.

Anonymous said...

'Where do the kids play? Go to school? Further out sounds like a much smarter choice.'

I don't know which lot this is specifically, but the rail yard is less than a mile from Queensbridge park, and the walk or bike ride down there is actually pretty pleasant along the greenway. But the area could use more park land. The area is a future transportation junction with a lot of development potential. It's one of the few places where decking over to build might make sense. If they do, they should make sure to add some open space to it.

The area is still hostile if you aren't in a car. But that has been changing, and could be a great place to live and work in a decade or two.

As for schools, there are plenty of quality schools in the city.

Anonymous said...

I guess you haven't noticed that kids are learning in trailers in schools that are at 200% capacity?

Yes, Queensbridge Park. There's a safe place for junior to hang out.

Anonymous said...

Yeah...more "luxury" condos right next to the elevated line.

Anonymous said...

Nobody is forcing you to live there. What's it to you if someone else wants to?

Anonymous said...

DUMBO, anyone?

SPY VS spy. said...

I don't know which lot this is specifically, but the rail yard is less than a mile from Queensbridge park, and the walk or bike ride down there is actually pretty pleasant along the greenway.

OBVIOUS YOU DO NOT KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS.

I WOULD TAKE A RIDE ALONG QUEENS BVLD, CROSS THE RAIL YARD, AND LEISURELY BIKE UNDER AN ELEVATED TRAIN HUB NEXT TO THE MAJOR ARTERY BETWEEN TWO COUNTIES EACH WITH 2 MILLION PEOPLE WITH 1000S OF CARS RATTLING OVER A BRIDGE.

WE PASS FACELESS DORMITORIES THAT HAVE NO STREET LEVEL STORES, PAST THE LARGEST HOUSING PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY TO ADMIRE A SOON CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR SUNA CITY, THE SONS OF A FORMER DUCT WORKER.

CENTRAL PARK? RIVERSIDE DRIVE? PROSPECT PARK?

NAW, I PROUDLY VOTE THE QUEENS PARTY TICKET AND AM PROUD OF THE TASTE THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS DISPLAYS FOR THE WORLD TO ENVY.

But the area could use more park land.

LIKE THE PLEASANT DUTCH KILLS GREEN! LAWN TENNIS ANYONE? BOWLING ON THE GREEN? CONCERTS UNDER THE GAZEBO?

The area is a future transportation junction with a lot of development potential. It's one of the few places where decking over to build might make sense.

AND CONSIDERING HOW SERVICES SUCK WHY THE HELL WOULD ADDING EVEN MORE PEOPLE AND STICKING US WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS A GOOD THING?

LET’S TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. I DO NOT KNOW A SINGLE PERSON NOT CONNECTED WITH THE POLS THAT WANTS MORE PEOPLE.

BUT WE DO WANT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO BE TREATED BETTER.

WE HAVE MORE USE THAN BEING POTTED PALMS IN SOME POINTLESS PRESS EVENT OVER A STREET RENAMING.

ROOFING OVER THE YARDS WILL BE THE DEATH KNELL FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO LIVE ABOVE A TRANSIT HUB FULL OF EXHAUST WHERE THOUSANDS COMMUTE AND WHERE ONE JIHADI NUTCASE COULD DO SOMETHING STUPID?

I ALWAYS LOVE DEVELOPERS TELLING US WHAT IS GOOD FOR OUR FAMILY WHILE THEIRS IS OFF ON SOME SUNNY ISLE SPENDING OUR TAXES THAT OUR KNUCKLE HEAD POLS GIVE THEM.

If they do, they should make sure to add some open space to it.

WHY STOP THERE? WE NEED A CONEY ISLAND ON THE TRAFFIC ISLAND.

The area is still hostile if you aren't in a car. But that has been changing, and could be a great place to live and work in a decade or two.

AT THE RATE AMERICANS ARE BEING IMPOVERISHED, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.

I CAN THINK OF A FEW UNDERPASSES ALONG THE FDR THAT ARE VACANT, THE RAILROAD TUNNELS NEAR THE HUDSON, AND OF COURSE, THERE IS THAT COLONY UNDER THE VAN WYCK THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

NOW THEY ALL CAN GO LEGIT.

THEY ARE ALREADY USED TO LIVING NEXT TO NOISY TRANSPORTATION ARTERIES.

The area is the future junction of Metro North New Haven trains bound for Penn station, LIRR heading to Grand Central, Penn Station, and Long Island City/Hunters Point to the west, and all points East, and has subway access.

SURE, TEAR UP MY COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT ABANDONED NYC DECADES AGO AND LOOK DOWN ON THOSE OF US THAT STAYED.

THEY ARE ALSO BUSY PASSING LAWS SO THEIR COMMUNITIES DON’T LOOK LIKE A QUEENS SHIT HOLE WITH QUEENS DIVERSITY.

why is that a bad place to build? Of all the places in the city to have density, it seems like a good choice.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

NOW THAT I WILL BE LIVING NEXT TO A TRANSIT HUB. MY LIFE IS NOW COMPLETE.

BAD SANITATION, TERRIBLE SCHOOLS, UGLY BUILDINGS FULL OF TRANSIENTS BEING RUN DOWN BY ABSENTEE LANDLORDS ARE NOW TOLERABLE.

STUPID MONEY GRABBING POLITICIANS NO LONGER BOTHER ME NOW.

DOWNTOWN JAMAICA HERE I COME! I LOVE TRANSIT HUBS.

THOSE DEVELOPERS AND THEIR POLITICIAN STOOGES DON’T LIVE THERE SO HERE IS MY OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THEY DISCOVER THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS AND RUSH TO BE MY NEIGHBORS!

When you don't build here people end up living further out. Where they need to drive everywhere and run over your kid. Why is that better?

THIS SENTENCE MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME!

I AM SURE THIS NOVEMBER HONEST JOE, IN THE QUIET OF HIS VIRGINIA DEN, HAS SELECTED YOUR NAME NEXT NOVEMBER TO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY TO THE WORLD.