FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com APRIL 14, 2016 • The Queens Courier 3 Pepsi-Cola sign in LIC is officially a NYC landmark By Angela Mat ua amatua@qns.com/@AngelaMatua The iconic Pepsi-Cola sign overlooking the East River in Long Island City was designated Tuesday an official New York City landmark by the Landmark Preservation Commission. After a public hearing in February, the LPC decided to prioritize the sign, along with 94 other sites for landmark designation. Many of the sites were backlogged on the agency’s calendar for decades. The sign was constructed in 1940 and erected on the roof of the Pepsi- Cola bottling facility in Long Island City. It was also the longest electric sign in New York State when it was first constructed by Artkraft Signs, a sign company responsible for several Times Square displays. According to the LPC, the 50-foot painted Pepsi bottle was probably replaced in the 1970s with an updated bottle featuring the company’s contemporary design. “During its public hearing there was widespread support for the designation of the Pepsi sign,” said LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan.“Its prominent siting and its frequent appearances in pop culture have made it one of the most endearing and recognizable icons on the Queens waterfront.” It was restored in 1993, due to the sign’s significant deterioration. Pepsi sold its facility to the Queens West Development in 2001 and the plant was demolished shortly thereafter. The sign was temporarily relocated and was moved to Gantry Plaza State Park in 2009. It is now located at 46-00 Fifth St. According to LPC documents, several public hearings were scheduled to vote on the sign’s status, including two in 1988 and one in October 2015. “It’s one of the most notable icons in Queens, and although it enjoys many protections, it is really most appropriate that it also becomes a New York City Landmark,” said Commissioner Diana Chapin. “This will celebrate its presence as an important piece, not only of NYC, but of national, corporate and individual history.” The City Planning Commission will have 60 days after the vote to review and submit a report to City Council about the impacts of the designation on zoning, any public improvements that should be made and other city development plans. The City Council will have 120 days to modify or disapprove the designation, though their approval is not required. After the vote, Mayor Bill de Blasio has five days to veto the decision, which can then be overridden by the City Council after 10 days. Commuters may soon see a different direction on bus route between College Point & Flushing By Briana Ellis bellis@qns.com/@briinformed Changes to a critical bus route between College Point and Flushing were unveiled during Monday night’s Community Board 7 (CB 7) meeting at Flushing’s Union Plaza Care Center. Warren Schreiber, CB 7’s third vice chair and chair of the Transportation Committee, explained MTA’s proposed travel path adjustments in the College Point and Flushing areas, which are slated to take effect in June or July of this year. The plan was first discussed among members of the CB 7 committee back in February. Alternations to the Q65 bus route include a travel path change from 14th Road to 14th Avenue in College Point. Schreiber said 14th Avenue is a more reliable and much wider two-way street that will eliminate two bus turns. He did, however, mention that some members of the College Point Civic Association were opposed to the travel path switch, since pedestrians would have to walk an extra block to the bus stop. In Flushing, the Q65 will be relocated from Bowne Street to Parsons Boulevard and share bus stops with the Q26 line. “Parsons Boulevard is a much better street to run a bus,” Schreiber said. “Bowne Street is not as wide and parking had to be prohibited. On Parsons Boulevard, the buses will be able to go on both sides and accommodate the two-way traffic.” He added that parking on Parsons Boulevard should not be affected by the changes since the space is already limited. Currently, the Q65’s local service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and runs limited service during peak hours. Look out for more updates on its bus route changes in the near future. Photo via Wikimedia Commons Photo courtesy of Flickr/Fraser Mummery The Landmark Preservation Commission voted to designate the Pepsi-Cola sign as a landmark.
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