8 THE QUEENS COURIER • NOVEMBER 1, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
City pumps $180M for new LIC investment plan
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
Long Island City will receive $180
million from the city for development
projects, the de Blasio administration
announced Oct. 30.
Th e funds are a part of the Long Island
City Investment Strategy, an eff ort to
bring improvements to the fasted growing
neighborhood in the United States,
despite community pushback against
more development. Th e city has identifi
ed seven areas of focus as part of the
plan: housing, transportation, infrastructure,
education, jobs, open space and arts
and culture.
“We are investing $180 million in Long
Island City to address the needs of today
while preparing for a more sustainable
future,” de Blasio said.
Th e strategy comes aft er three years of
city agency work led by the New York City
Economic Development Corporation
and a community outreach process that
began in 2015 under the Long Island City
Core Neighborhood Plan eff ort, a zoning
study that researched potential areas of
need and development sites in the neighborhood.
In June of this year, the de Blasio
administration, joined by Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer, met with local civic
leaders, who pointed out community
areas of concerns and related community
needs. Th ese sessions infl uenced in the
outline of the strategy.
A document outlining the strategy
— including fund allocations — can
be found online on the LIC Investment
Strategy website, which went live on
Tuesday and details goals and future
plans for each of the the seven areas of
focus.
Part of the new city money will be
used to increase space for current and
future businesses, supporting industrial
business growth through International
Development Association (IDA) funding,
working with Amtrak and MTA to create
new space and jobs around Sunnyside
Yard.
Th e strategy will also work to connect
LIC residents with job opportunities by
expanding access to work training in
fi elds such as the life sciences, manufacturing
and tech.
Th e city and the EDC plan on creating
more aff ordable housing in the LIC
area and to “encouraging developers to
incorporate deeply aff ordable housing
in private developments.” Both entities
state that they will identify pipeline sites
and make repairs and improve infrastructure
to two established aff ordable
housing units, Queensbridge House and
Ravenswood Houses.
Th e city references its plan to complete
Hunters Point South in the investment
outline.
A total of $95 million will be used for
a fi rst phase of sewer upgrades and a
complete LIC-amended drainage plan
(ADP), developing green infrastructure
to protect Newtown Creek, reconstruct
bulkheads and 44th Drive pier, resiliency
improvements for FDNY Engine
Company 260, updating building codes,
new fl ood resilient zoning rules and
increasing outreach for Business PREP
emergency preparedness grants for small
businesses.
A total of $15 million will be spent on
improving Baby Queensbridge Park, Old
Hickory Playground, Bridge & Tunnel
Park and Court Square. Queensbridge
Houses play areas and basketball courts
at Ravenswood Houses are also set to
receive improvements.
Th e city plans on creating new public
open space under the ramps at Dutch
Kills Street and encourage private investment
in the creation of new open space.
Long Island City should expect to see
several new schools pop up in the neighborhood,
since $60 million of the $180
million is going to be used for the construction
of new schools .Th e city will also
use funds to continue to work with parents
and stakeholders at CEC 30 and SCA
to check on school use and need.
Th e city plans on improve the neighborhoods’
art and culture scene by creating
at least 35 new workspace units for
artists and strengthening youth and community
development programs through
increased marketing.
Captions: All photos are from the Long
Island City Investment Strategy website
Ghost eatery to replace Astoria's Salt & Bone
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
Salt & Bone, the barbecue restaurant
located at 32-07 30th Ave. in Astoria,
closed its doors on Oct. 25. But, the
restaurant will reopen with a new name
and menu.
Th e name of the new eatery is Bare
Bone Weekend and will be a “ghost
restaurant,” or a delivery only eatery. Th e
food will follow in the style of the restaurant’s
name and be a mix of Salt & Bone
barbecue, Bareburger burgers and vegan
comfort food from 7 Day Weekend.
“With Bareburger we’ve always made
sure guests were able to eat with their
friends at the same table regardless of
allergies or dietary preferences. Bare Bone
Weekend will do the same while off ering
a better variety of options,” according to
CEO of Bareburger Restaurant Group
Euripides Pelekanos.
The new concept came after
Bareburger noticed a positive shift in
demand for vegan/vegetarian options
aft er introducing Beyond and Impossible
meat proteins. Pelekanos teamed up with
the 14-year veteran vegan chef, Rudy
“Vegicano” Ramos, to start developing
a menu for an all vegan concept that is
now known as 7 Day Weekend.
“Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen takeout
and delivery become 50 percent of the
caption on photo: The (??? - please check corrections)
restaurant business. We wanted to focus
on higher-quality delivery which focuses
on faster delivery, hotter food and greater
consistency,” Pelekanos added.
Having a web-based restaurant allows
Photo via Google Maps
for more menu fl exibility and more customers
since seating will never be a problem.
Ghost kitchens are growing in popularity
as the demand for takeout food
from quality restaurants rises.
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