STORY Austin Christopher Bradley Is LIC 32 | BOROMAG.COM | JUNE 2014 What characterizes an NYC neighborhood? Is it the housing it offers, the history and culture that it embodies, or the landmarks within its borders? I would say that any one, or all, of those options would be a viable source for determining how to describe a neighborhood. Now, how do we characterize a new neighborhood? If we look at Long Island City now, like most neighborhoods, we will not see the same Long Island City we saw 30 years ago. LIC was an industrial hub in the U.S. until the decline in manufacturing, which began in the 1970’s. As the industries of LIC faded, the artists of NYC moved in and claimed the industrial loft spaces as their own community after the opening of P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center. Walking through LIC today, we get a sense of what the neighborhood was, but also we get a glimpse of what it is going to be. The artistic history of the standalone hood speaks through MoMa P.S. 1 and the now whitewashed 5Pointz. We can also settle into industrial memories by walking down most side streets, between large garages and seemingly abandoned warehouses. Determining where the neighborhood is going can be done from the outside looking inward. The LIC skyline, seen from Manhattan’s east side, is beginning to tell a story of its own. The story it tells is more comparable to that of exclusive luxury living, for which the neighborhood is now becoming known. Hi-rise buildings with large windows, lush rooftops, and exciting amenities have begun to take shape against the New York sky, and industrial spaces have begun development for more commercial business use. The shoreline that was once just another rock formation that caught the city’s trash has been transformed into one of the most beautiful parks that NYC has to offer, with arguably the best view of Manhattan. It is not impossible to draw comparisons between Manhattan’s Financial District and the Queens neighborhood known as Long Island City. Starting with the outdoor characteristics, both places are right on the water. LIC resting directly on the East River and FiDi wedged between the Hudson and East Rivers. Enjoying the views in FiDi can be done from South Street Seaport, whereas some of the best views in Queens are from Gantry State Park. EXPLORE YOUR BORO The New FiDi?
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