The View
46-30 Center Blvd.
Long Island City, NY 11109

The View, appropriately named, is currently the only condo building on the water in Long Island City which has protected views of the city and the East River. Directly behind the building is the beautifully landscaped Gantry State Park with benches, playgrounds, gardens and walkways. All apartments have floor to ceiling windows but the apartments that face west to the rear of the building have unobstructed breathtaking views of the city and the park.

A TF Cornerstone development built in 2008, The View is 18 floors and 184 apartments. One, two and three bedroom layouts are available. There are no studios. With mostly 2 and 3 bedroom layouts, The View especially appeals to families looking to be close to the city and still maintain a neighborhood lifestyle. Apartments feature quality kitchens with Viking appliances, Subzero refrigerators, wine coolers and natural stone countertops. Master Baths are elegant with marble, a soaking tub and a stall shower and double sinks. The amenities at The View include valet for dry cleaning, a 24 hour fitness center, 24 hour doorman and concierge. Residents are entitled to the amenities at The Club by Rockrose, the luxury rental building across the street. Here they can enjoy the pool, the rooftop deck, fitness club, and cinema room for a club fee.

The commercial space of The View recently welcomed the Crank Cycling Studio in March 2011. Led by partners Sunai Rejep and Anthony Maniscalo, they offer a 25 bike studio with memberships as package deals or individual rides. Their latest promotions can be found on their website at www.cranknyc.com

Solarium
5-43 48th Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11101

Built in 2009, Solarium is 8 floors with 35 apartments. Solarium stands distinctively amongst the neighboring condos as being one of the first green buildings in Queens. When you walk into the lobby there’s a TV showing the wind turbines on the roof. Power generated from the wind provides electricity for the elevator and lobby. How much wind do you need to start producing electricity here? 2 miles an hour! After learning this fact, I felt a little concerned about taking the elevator up to the 2nd floor where the gym was located. No power outage, no problem. From the balcony of the fitness room you can see apartments 1C and 1D.  These apartments are unique because they are the only two apartments in the building with a real backyard. The other 33 apartments all have either a balcony or a terrace. Other common space includes a kid’s room and a rooftop deck with an outdoor projected theater.

Solarium has an 8 hour doorman service- 4 hrs in the morning 8am-12pm and 4 hours in the afternoon 2pm to 6pm. All apartments are also equipped with video intercom. Parking is available on the lower level. The apartments are spacious and feature high end finishes for luxury living. Floors are bamboo, kitchens have stainless steel appliances and Caesar stone countertops, 2-in-1 washer/dryer combination, and living areas are pre-wired for surround sound with in wall speakers. There are two ground floor retail spaces. The current tenants include Verizon Wireless and Uncle Louie G Italian Ices and Ice Cream.
Solarium is conveniently located 2 blocks away from the Vernon Blvd-Jackson Ave subway stop.

There’s character in a conversion building that cannot be recreated with new construction. And when it comes to Hunter’s Point South, few can compare to the conversion of The Powerhouse. Converted in 2008, Powerhouse is the only condo building in LIC that is brick with high arched oversized windows. Reminiscent of a turn of the century grand subway station, it once was an actual railroad power station. The building still retains some of its original structural elements with a spacious lobby, high ceilings, original steel columns and beams, exposed brick walls and concrete floors.

The Powerhouse stands out as a classic design without compromise on modern amenities. It’s where you live in LIC when you want to live in splendid luxury. Why worry when there’s a 24 hr. concierge there to accept you grocery deliveries and store in cold storage? Stay healthy with the state of the art fitness center that offers classes like Yoga and Zumba, and find a personal trainer. Relax in the full service spa which offers a range of beauty treatments, sauna and massage services. Plus a movie screening room, free building wifi and a secure kid’s playroom, there’s plenty to do right at home.

The panoramic city views from the roof garden are, for a lack of a better word, breathtaking. Located on the 12th floor, here you can get some fresh air and some sun while lying back on a lounge chair. You can reserve this area for private parties. It’s open to residents Sunday to Thursday 7am to 10pm and Friday to Saturday 7am-11pm. It’s a popular spot for the 4th of July celebrations as it offers a clear view of the Macy’s fireworks. The city planning for the Hunter’s Point South waterfront may soon challenge these panoramic views. With construction already well on its way, the waterfront is destined to become “middle-income” housing with seven 30 story buildings. Regardless of this impending and unfortunate loss of partial Manhattan cityscape, this building will continue to attract buyers who look for a home in a building with integrity, style, luxury living and quick commute to the city.

The Yard
2-26 50th Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101

Launched by the developer of The Powerhouse, Cheskel Schwimmer, the yard of the Powerhouse is now a 12 story, 83 unit condo and suitably called “The Yard.” The lobby, although not quite complete, is accented with reclaimed wood from an old rail yard. That being said and knowing about the history of its sister condo, Powerhouse, I expect to see some old school charm brought in with reclaimed materials and earth finishes throughout the building once completed.

The Yard takes into consideration the new reputation for Long Island City as a growing neighborhood for families. Although mostly 1 bedrooms, there are 16 two bedroom residences. Most apartments will have some outdoor space. The 9th floor 2 bedrooms have cascading terraces, the 1 bedrooms on the 3rd floor also have terraces and the rest all have balconies. Some apartments with exposure to the west will have partial views of the city. Kitchens carry mid range level appliances Frigidaire and KitchenAid, backsplash and counters are Caesar stone, the microwave is hidden in a pull out drawer. Floors are primed and sealed white oak. Windows are energy efficient double paned. Each room is individually controlled with Amana electric units for heating and cooling.

The building offers a 3rd floor community room with art gallery, a small 24 hr fitness center, a 12th floor garden style roof deck, 16 hour doorman and valet parking garage. Reasonable common charges include gas and water- 1 bedrooms are in the mid 400’s and mid 600’s for the 2 bedrooms. The building has a 15 year 421a tax abatement which goes into effect the end of August 2011. The Yard is not FHA approved-you will need at least 20% down to purchase here.

5-39 51st Ave

Long Island City, New York 11101

This is a well maintained prewar walk-up residential building with 3 apartments. The first floor apartment is a duplex with a unique layout. You enter into a living room. A hallway with ample closet space on both sides extends from the living room and lead to the bedrooms. The master bed is to the right, a smaller bedroom to the left. Both bedrooms have large closets. A stand-up shower is in the only bathroom on this floor. About 600 sq. ft. on the first floor, this layout turns interesting with a spiral staircase off the living room area down to the basement to the kitchen. From here there is access to the unit washer/dryer and another large bedroom with walk-in closet. The full bath with tub and window is right off the master bedroom.  Exclusive access to the very large backyard is through the bedroom.  The second floor and third floor apartments have similar 2 bedroom layout like the first floor with the exception of a small kitchen where the first floor has the spiral staircase. Some closet space is lost where the washer/dryer is installed but it is better to have the convenience of the washer/dryer units in the apartment.  The third floor does have a stairway to the rooftop and exclusive access to the use of that area. The building is pet friendly.

Although modestly priced for the area, what ultimately drives the rental of these units quickly is the location. The Vernon Blvd-Jackson Ave subway stop is 5 minutes to Grand Central on the 7 train and entry to the subway is at the end of the block. There’s lots of great places to eat on Vernon Blvd and the walk to Gantry State Park and the new Ferry service to Williamsburg and Manhattan is a few block away.

Long Island City now has a new hotel- the Z Hotel. It opened June 15th, 2011 on 43rd Ave and 11th Street, right off the Queensboro Bridge. The owner of the 100 room hotel is Henry Zilberman. Naturally you think the Z in the hotel name stands for Zilberman. However, hotel employees claim that it is a mystery what the Z stands for as Mr. Zilberman has assured them it has nothing to do with his name and he is not ready to disclose what the Z represents. While this is Mr. Zilberman’s first venture into the hotel industry, the service business is second nature for him as he owns the 777 Limousine Car Service most people have become familiar with from the television commercials.

The Z Hotel, like you’d expect from a hotel, has a lovely chandelier in its lobby. Design slightly eclectic, there’s a subway station mural behind the front desk and a train departure board displayed above the elevators. Wide stairs lead down to the lounge which is on the lower level. Complete with grand piano, bar, tables, mosaic tile Z Hotel sign and dark wood floors, it is a little reminiscent of a Western bar. They serve a continental breakfast here every day- 7am to 10am on weekdays and 8am-11pm on weekends. The rooftop deck has panoramic view of the city, boasts 2 bars and a brick oven. Open 7 days a week from 5pm to 1am, you can come here for a great views, drinks and some pizza.

With a ten minute drive to midtown Manhattan, it is no wonder that another hotel is also coming soon to the area. Just three blocks away from the Z hotel there is a hotel currently under construction. The blue glass façade is already installed. This will be a 7 story hotel at 44-29 9th Street.

The Industry LIC
21-45 44th Drive
Long Island City, NY 11101

The seven-story, 76 unit, The Industry at 21-45 44th drive was developed by the brother who founded Silver Cup Studios in Long Island City. The condominium is mix of spacious studio, one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom homes.

Dine at home! The industry provides luxury kitchen space with Domus Led Italian under cabinet lighting, Eurofase pendant lighting, Blanco sink, Custom Italian gray oak cabinets, Silestone counters in Blanco Maple, and Blomberg dishwasher with matching built-in gray oak door panel to upgrade your cooking and dining area.

The Industry is built for the resident convenient. Doorman attaended lobby, storage units, on-site parking, video intercom system, gym are available at the building as well as the landscaped roof terrace with chaise lounges on the top floor make your life easier.

Architecture, Kathy Park, who lived in the neighborhood said,” the building is built with strong foundation and layouts are very useful”

E,V,G, lines are available on the same block and 7 line is only 5 minutes away. Visit The Industry to get more for your budget!

Arris Loft LIC
27-28 Thompson Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101

If you are looking for more space place, Arris Loft is just 5 minutes away from the city. This artistic loft building provides a full service 24-hour doorman, concierge, valet parking service, boasting a magnificent roof deck and a fully-planted Japanese-style interior courtyard. You can also enjoy a state of the art fitness center, a lap pool, sauna, massage room, and party room. This 8 stories building was converted to condominium in 2008 and designed by world renown architect Costas Kondylis.

This building comes with various and unique layouts. 14 ft ceiling and sliding doors give you additional work and storage space. If you an artist, you will fall in love with this neighborhood surrounded by new galleries including P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center. Arris Lofts also offers 17 commercial artist studios, ranging in size from 378 sq. ft. to 705 sq. ft.

For commuter, E,V,G, and 7 trains are just 3 minutes away. Get your morning coffee at Starbucks in the Citi group building where they provide free Wi-Fi.

  

Avalon Riverview North
4-75 48th Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11109

Avalon Riverview North is 40 floors with 610 units. For the month of March there were only 3 vacant apartments.  What makes this luxury rental so popular? The apartments have hardwood floors, crown molding, GE stainless steel appliances, black granite countertops, garbage disposal in the sink, walk in closets, and washer and dryer in all one, two and three bedroom apartments, except the studios (which have access to the laundry room on the 4th floor). If you don’t feel like doing laundry, there’s the dry cleaning service on the premises with next day service.

The gym is up to date with cardio and strength equipment, free weight and a classroom. They don’t offer group classes but you can meet there with your personal trainer anytime because it is open 24 hours. The community room has a kitchen, free wifi, and a pool table. This area can be reserved by the hour for private parties at a charge. This building is pet friendly with dog breed restrictions for what they consider aggressive breeds like Pit bulls and Rottweilers. For each pet up to two maximum, there is a one time non-refundable pet fee of $500 with monthly charge of $50.

They are liberal with international students and those with bad credit, only requiring a full month security. The security deposit for a renter with good credit is a flat $2000.00 for one, two and three bedrooms. One month rent as security goes for all studios. There is an application fee of $125 per person and common area/amenities charge also applies per lease. You must have renters insurance to live here. While indoor parking is available, the price will vary on your proximity to the entrance of your spot. Prices for studios range from $1800 to $2100, one bedroom $ 2500 to $3200 and two bedrooms $3600 to $4100. Rental prices will fluctuate depending on availability and lease terms. They do offer short term leases anywhere from 2 to 4 months.

The View at East Coast 4720 Center Blvd is a highly luxurious residential building, located in Long Island City, designed by the renowned architectural firm Handel Architects. It is one of my favorite buildings in Long Island City because of the high end finishes and for its prime location. This elegant high rise building offers spectacular views of the East River and Manhattan skyline, feature floor-to-ceiling windows inviting streaming light and panoramic views, high ceilings, gourmet kitchens, floor to ceiling windows, granite kitchens and marble bathrooms. Most of the units also have their own private terraces, balconies, or gardens. The amenities includes The East Coast Club, billiards room, a state-of-the-art fitness center, rooftop garden, and a spa fitness center, a rooftop terrace and a private park.

 
Pricing

There are currently one, two, three bedrooms available at The View at East Coast. The average price per ft² in the building is $998. The prices for One bedroom starts around $616,000 – $747,000, Two bedrooms are priced around $895,000- $1,234,000, Three bedrooms starts from $1,316,000 – 2,120,000. All prices are subject to change.

 
Location

Long Island City is just a few short minutes away from Midtown Manhattan by subway. The neighborhood is quickly becoming an extension of Midtown. The city has transformed over the years to one with galleries, waterfront parks, and brownstone blocks, but if what you are looking for is a piece of serenity after a long day of work, then The East Coast 4720 Center Blvd. is the place for you. LIC offers a bevy of green spaces, incredible views, and spacious apartments around every corner. With the city just minutes away, you are surrounded by stylish boutiques, exceptional restaurants, and famous museums and galleries. Come be a part of this picture perfect community just a subway away from your favorite city.