8 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 18, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Could LIC become the next big health and life science industry hub in America?
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
In a towering skyscraper on Crescent
Street, black-suited business owners and
representatives from the life science sector
listened on Tuesday to reasons why
more from their industry should come to
Long Island City.
“It doesn’t just mean more cures, it
means more jobs,” said James Patchett,
president and CEO of the New York City
Empire State Development (ESD).
Th e future of life sciences could be in
Long Island City, according to a study
released today by the ESD, an umbrella
organization for New York’s two principal
economic development public-benefi t
corporations, the New York State Urban
Development Corporation and the Job
Development Authority.
Th e life sciences industry refers to companies
in the fi elds of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals,
biomedical technologies, life
systems technologies, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals,
food processing, environmental
science and biomedical devices. It also
refers to organizations and institutions that
devote the majority of their eff orts to the
research, development, technology transfer
within the industry and its commercialization.
Th e study, called the Long Island City
Life Sciences Feasibility Study, was partially
funded by a grant from the ESD
and conducted by the Long Island City
Partnership.
It analyzed three other U.S. life sciences
hubs and conducted an economic impact
analysis to identify jobs and spending that
could be generated. Toward the end, it
gives specifi c recommendations to further
advance a life sciences sector in Long Island
City which include investing in transit,
beautifi cation and incentive programs.
“LIC’s strengths as a community and
opportunities for space align with life sciences
company needs and the NYC markets
specifi c demands,” said Elizabeth
Lusskin, president of the Long Island City
Partnership.
According to the study, Long Island City
is a “critical part of the industry’s potential
future in New York City.” It cited a combination
of aff ordable space, easy access
to transit and a rich community, which
Lusskin described as talent-fi lled, as the
main reasons to invest in the neighborhood.
“It seems like everyone wants to be in
New York now,” said Patchett.
Th e report highlights the neighborhood’s
ample development sites, appropriate
building stock, favorable zoning for life sciences
uses, relative real estate costs, proximity
to both Manhattan’s East Side medical
research corridor and the Cornell Tech
innovation campus on Roosevelt Island,
convenient access to two major airports
and high quality live-work character.
Long Island City has 8 million square
feet of offi ce and industrial space, making it
one of New York City’s largest central business
districts.
As many Queens residents already
know, Long Island City is the fastest
growing neighborhood in the United
States. According to reporting from the
Intelligencer, from 2010 to 2017, there were
12,000 apartments built in LIC. Th e neighborhood’s
skyline looks similar to that of
New York City’s fi nancial district, strikingly
diff erent than how it looked less
than a decade ago.
As QNS has reported, Long Island City
residents have pushed back against development
a number of times. In a neighborhood
now known glassy high risers, locals
have been weary of more interest.
Farewell to Frank in Whitestone
Family and friends of the late state
Senator Frank Padavan remembered the
late public servant at a funeral service on
Oct. 14 at Gleason’s Funeral Home in
Whitestone.
Colleagues remembered Padavan, who
served 38 years in the state Senate representing
much of northeast Queens, as
a bipartisan leader who worked hard to
serve his constituents.
“My father was of the belief that you’re
a civil servant. You’re there to serve the
people and help the people, not yourself,”
daughter Allison Padavan said. “I
think he did not appreciate the political
climate today. When he was fi rst
going to run in 1972, my mother said,
‘You can’t run, you’re not a lawyer.’ He
said ‘I’m an engineer and engineers fi x
things.’ He did it to help people, that was
always his motivation.”
Frank Padavan, who service in the
state Senate ended following his 2010
loss to Tony Avella, resided in Jamaica
Estates.
— Mark Hallum
With the purchase of glasses,
contact lens e l.
$100OFF
DESIGNER FRAMES
PLUS FREE 2ND PAIR
2 Boxes of Lenses Frames & Lenses
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
Must present prior to purchase. Offer valid at this
location only. Not valid with any other offers, sales,
vision plans or packages.
Offer ends 11/30/18
offers, sales, vision plans or packages. Must present
prior to purchase. Offer valid at this location only.
Offer ends: 11/30/18
������������������������������brand clear sphericalLenses/*Contact
lens fitting additional. Not valid for Toric lenses. Not valid with
any other offers, sales, vision plans or packages. Must
present prior to purchase. Offer valid at this location only.
Some restrictions apply, see store for details.
Offer ends: 11/30/18
Select frames with clear plastic, single vision lensas
vision plans or packages. Must present prior to purchase.
Offer valid at this location only. Some restrictions apply,
see store for details
Offer ends: 11/30/18
OCTOBER SALE
BUY ONE YEAR SUPPLY OF ANY
ONE DAY DISPOSABLE CONTACTS
AND GET A FREE PAIR OF GLASSES
FROM A SELECT GROUP
(Eye Exam Not Included)
11/30/18
link
link
