Vernon Boulevard retail near new development in Hunters PointThe rebirth of Long Island City and Hunters Point has been well documented, but the influx of new residents are frustrated that retailers haven’t followed them to the neighborhood, the New York Times reported.

The Hunters Point population has grown 64 percent in the last 10 years to 11,311 residents, and September rents were up 18.1 percent from a year ago, the Times said, suggesting the new residents are bringing greater wealth with them.

“You had certain types of retail there that may have accommodated long-term residents,” said Long Island City Partnership President Gayle Baron, “but may not be the same requirements for newer residents because of the difference in age and income level.” [more]

The Hunters Point section of Long Island City is experiencing a boom in new development, NY1 reported, with $700 million of construction happening inlcuding four new residential towers in the works.

“This all used to be industrial waterfront, much of it abandoned. Now we have 10 acres of beautiful waterfront park land, five residential buildings, a public school and a lot more coming on the way,” said President Paul Januszewski of the Queens West Development Corporation.

Since development began in 1997, Januszewski said, Hunter’s Point has experienced a major transformation. By the time of its completion in 2013, the area will have 11 residential buildings, two public schools, a park and a public library. [more]

Gramercy-Flatiron ranked number one on the top-10 list of New York neighborhoods that are best for singles, compiled by the Daily News, based on nightlife, population of young people, income, crime and affordability. In Gramercy-Flatiron, home to 34,000 people, the median house price is $525,000, and the area “has everything a single person could want,” if you can afford it, according to the Daily News. More than 73 percent of the people rent and over 75 percent of the population is single. Its location is also a draw. [more]

Formerly thought of as an industrial haven, the Hunters Point neighborhood of Long Island City is snapping up retailers and restaurants, transforming the area into a residential-friendly nabe, according to residents. Joseph Conley, chair person of the Community Board 2 in Queens, said that the Hunters Point community has been pushing for a residential rebirth, and that the movement is paying off. “We’ve seen a tsunami of residential development,” Conley said. “To attract even more residents… we’re looking for more of those amenities that people would be looking for in a typical [residential] area.” Contrary to much of the city, which has been seeing more big-box retailers move in, the majority of the new retailers and eateries in Hunters Point are small businesses, according to community members, such as the Breadbox Café, which recently opened in a former auto mechanic’s space.

Residential real estate growth in Long Island City and Astoria has outpaced the
city as a whole, with the area’s housing stock rising 4.8 percent from
2002 to 2008, compared to the citywide rate of 3.6 percent. A total of
3,640 apartment units were added to the two Queens neighborhoods during
the six-year period, according the U.S. Census Bureau’s Housing and
Vacancy Survey. Much of the borough’s growth has been attributed to the
massive Queens West development and Hunters Point South, a site which
was considered as an Olympic Village contender for the 2012 games. The
Queens West development encompasses 40 acres of the Long Island City
waterfront and includes seven fully-completed residential towers, while
the Hunters Point development aims to be the city’s largest affordable
housing complex since the 1970s, with 5,000 residential units planned.
“We are not surprised to see this type of residential development,”
said Gail Baron, president of the Long Island City Business Development
Corporation. “When you’re five minutes from Midtown Manhattan, it makes
sense.” [Crain's]
[more]