With a storied history as a major manufacturing hub, Long Island City, Queens has recently morphed into one of New York City’s hottest neighborhoods. Just across the East River from Manhattan, LIC offers refuge for New Yorkers looking to escape exorbitant rents or those who simply want to see a different side of NYC. There are so many reasons to give this unique neighborhood a chance, but here are our top 5 reasons to move to Long Island City.
Close to Manhattan–but not too close
Whether you’re a former resident of Manhattan and want to keep your ex on a short leash, or you like the perks of proximity without some of the pains of, well, living in Manhattan, Long Island City is an excellent alternative. 20 minutes from Midtown or 30 from Downtown via the N and W trains, those commuting into the city don’t have to spend their lives on the train. Living in LIC means getting to interact with New York on your terms, and being able to distance yourself from the stress of the city when needed. No matter what your relationship with the island is like, Long Island City is a great spot.
The best of the borough
Queens is often referred to as “the World’s borough,” and for good reason. The second-largest of the boroughs by population, Queens County is one of the most diverse in the nation. Queens is the true embodiment of New York as the “melting pot,” with countless cultures intersecting to shape the borough as it exists today. The result is fabulous food from any origin–be it Nigerian food in Astoria at Nneji, Salvadoran corn cakes in Ridgewood at Pupusas, or Taiwanese in LIC at Yumpling. There’s a place for everyone in Queens.
Green and scenic
New York City’s imagery may be defined by towering skyscrapers, centuries-old statues, and that one photo everyone takes in Dumbo, but Long Island City has its fair share of sights. For one, Queensbridge Park’s view of Manhattan’s east-side is virtually unsurpassed, and for an even better sightseeing opportunity take the Roosevelt Island bridge to the tram access to get a birds-eye view. Be sure to stop to explore Lighthouse Park, named after the 150-year old stone lighthouse that stands at the tip of Roosevelt Island.
L-I-C(ool)
For many years the home of manufacturing and industry in New York City, Long Island City has not lost its ingenuity. Rather, many former factories have been repurposed, such as the Silvercup Bakery which is now a prominent film and television studio. One such factory’s second life saw it remerge as the studio of famed sculpturist, Isamu Noguchi, whose printmaking-factory-turned-studio lives on as LIC’s Noguchi Museum. Although not of factory-origin, MoMA PS1 also showcases modern ingenuity in the form of contemporary art. As temperatures rise, however, the museum transforms into an outdoor concert venue with the Warm Up summer concert series, which has hosted acts from Solange to Grimes.
ALTA by Common
Our final reason to move to Long Island City is perhaps the most obvious: ALTA by Common. For $1,583/month, Common members can enjoy a private bedroom in a fully-furnished suite with access to a rooftop deck (equipped with a number of gas grills) and an all-new fitness center. With any number of Common-hosted community events, there are countless opportunities to meet new members and find your tribe in Long Island City.
With so much to do in Long Island City, it can be hard to know where to start. Our tip? Begin by exploring ALTA by Common, and see how charmed life in L.I.C. can be.