While Manhattan was once thought to be the epicenter of New York culture, in recent years, it’s become abundantly clear that the city’s outer boroughs have everything Manhattan has to offer—and in many cases, more. In fact, Long Island City has recently emerged as one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhood, with countless new residential projects in the pipeline to accommodate the growing number of people who can’t wait to call this amazing neighborhood home. So, what’s so desirable about this part of Queens, anyway?
1. Proximity to Manhattan
If you don’t love the nonstop pace of Manhattan but aren’t exactly looking for a yard and a picket fence in one of the far-off areas of an outer borough, Long Island City is the perfect place to call home. Thanks to the neighborhood’s convenient ferry, residents can get from LIC to Manhattan in just about half an hour, while a ride on the 7 train can take under 15 minutes. Have a car? Your ride across the Queensboro Bridge to Manhattan’s East Side will take just seven minutes.
2. Amazing museums
Think Manhattan is the only borough with a world-renowned museum scene? Think again. Queens has countless cultural institutions, but Long Island City is the neighborhood the bulk of the borough’s best museums call home. Walk the streets of this waterfront enclave and you can check out MoMA PS1, SculptureCenter, the Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, and the famed Dorsky Gallery, just to name a few.
3. An abundance of job opportunities
As businesses are being increasingly crowded out of Manhattan, they’re finding homes in other boroughs and neighborhoods—Long Island City included. Companies like Citi, JetBlue, and FreshDirect all have offices in Long Island City, and the area is about to see its employee population surge, thanks to Amazon’s recent announcement that the retail giant would set up its first New York outpost in this desirable enclave. So, how many jobs will Amazon bring to LIC? More than 25,000, according to recent estimates.
4. Great restaurants
Looking for a great place for that special birthday dinner, first date, or just to catch up with friends? Long Island City’s foodie culture is sure to win you over. In addition to stellar food trucks, like the Burmese Bites Food Cart and The Halal Guys, and the neighborhood’s wealth of gastropubs, Long Island City is also home to a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, including M. Wells Steakhouse, Casa Enrique, and Tanoshi.
5. The amazing architecture
If you’re eager to enjoy a home in a beautiful new build, Long Island City might just be the neighborhood for you. The Queens area is home to some of the city’s most exciting architecture, like the condos at Dieguez Fridman and Beyer Blinder Belle-designed CORTE. The glass-encased modernist luxury building not only offers floor-to-ceiling windows, sleek modern kitchens, and stylish stone-accented baths in its light-flooded condos, it’s also home to a 24-hour doorman, fitness center, playroom, landscaped roof deck, pet wash room, private parking and storage, and a live-in super.
You don’t have to live in the middle of Manhattan to get the true New York City experience. In fact, the city’s best neighborhood is just across the water in Long Island City. From museums to restaurants to opportunities for career advancement, there’s no place like this Queens enclave to call home.
