23 ms·
This comment is skewing what LIC is. LIC is a neighborhood in its infancy because it was rezoned from primarily industrial to residential/commercial only a few
by rm999 8y ago
This comment is skewing what LIC is. LIC is a neighborhood in its infancy because it was rezoned from primarily industrial to residential/commercial only a few years ago. But it's basically the perfect neighborhood for the city to grow into. In defense of the neighborhood I lived in for years:
> There's very little in terms of culture
There are literally 100s of artists who work out of LIC. Many of those "empty warehouses" are actually art studios full of spaces rented out by artists. It's the densest concentration of artists in the outer boroughs, and probably beats out 90% of Manhattan too. Check out the LIC art walk, or the LIC art open, or PS1. I agree with the lack of basic amenities (see: neighborhood in infancy), but lack of culture is an absurd accusation.
> Realistically it's the densely overcrowded 7 train, getting worse each year, with no relief in sight
Why not mention the E, N, W lines, which feed a lot of Queens and more of Manhattan than the 7? LIC (especially Court Square) is a convenient neighborhood to commute into, if it's nothing else. Also, LGA and JFK are both straight shots on the highway (15 and 30 minutes respectively) and JFK is easy by subway+airtrain. This beats out most of the rest of the city, any other criticism should be pointed towards the placement of the airports.
- beatpanda 8y ago> There are literally 100s of artists who work out of LIC. *were
- steveEnix 8y agoBeyond MOMA PS1, whose influence on the neighborhood is hard to understate, there has been a lot of independent art and theater projects in the area. (RIP Five Points.) Food wise, there's M.Wells, Mu Ramen, and a handful of other Michelin ranked restaurants with easy access to Queens' wide array of diverse food options. It also has the probably highest ratio of breweries to people of any neighborhood in New York. And there's the largest rock climbing gym in the city, plus a separate BKB branch. Before I moved out to SF for work, I was an adamant believer that LIC was the most underrated neighborhood in New York. (And I did not live in the eye sore condos.) From Amazon's standpoint, I think they nailed it. New York's tech scene is already growing and the Cornell Tech campus is a short walk from LIC. Unfortunately, I don't think the small art scene that broke out of Brooklyn will survive Amazon's reign.
- SippinLean 8y agoI'm aware of the zoning history, I'm a former resident as well. Good counterpoints, all. I think "the perfect neighborhood for the city to grow into" is an optimistic and accurate description. >It's the densest concentration of artists in the outer boroughs Surely this crown belongs to Bushwick, but LIC is not entirely devoid of arts and culture (Flux Factory being an example of a repurposed warehouse you describe).