Long Island City Queens (LIC New York)

For my creator vlog and NYC shenanigans → / urbancaffeine
Long Island City in Queens is an ideal walkable community. It has access to several New York subway lines, two NYC Ferry stations, and an LIRR station. It’s got a culture and art scene, plus the ultimate duo - a Trader Joe’s and a Target. Sadly it’s slowly pricing out a lot of people since it’s so desirable. Learn more about LIC in this video.
RELATED LINKS:
‪@NotJustBikes‬ video on zoning → • The Lively & Liveable ...
‪@CityBeautiful‬ video on zoning → • U.S. Zoning, Explained
G Train video → • NYC's silliest subway ...
🌟 New to this channel, you might like these videos. 🌟
Why are the streets of Queens so confusing → • What's the deal with Q...
When you move to New York → • When you move to NYC
Your tiny NYC Apartment → • Every inch counts in y...
🌟 Interested in supporting Urban Caffeine? 🌟
PayPal → paypal.me/UrbanCaffeineStudio
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📸 Credits from Shutterstock Videos 📸
0:28 Pepsi Cola Sign from the water → BlackBoxGuild
2:34 Pepsi Cola Sign from the water → BlackBoxGuild
3:36 Aerial shot on Vernon Blvd in LIC → Rick Ray
3:41 Long Island City residential buildings → Sliced Bread
3:44 Long Island City residential buildings → Sliced Bread
4:15 Long Island City residential buildings → Sliced Bread
4:31 3:36 Aerial shot on Vernon Blvd in LIC → Rick Ray
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[@pcongre]

06:03 (Hbf / HB = central station : ) )

[@UrbanCaffeine]

That's right! Thanks.

[@frednich9603]

as a tourist I stayed in LIC once last year and plan on staying there twice this year. There are some nice hotels well connected to the subway, and by New York standards they are afforable

[@MichaelCusanelli]

As someone who works in the LIC Trader Joe's, I can confirm that all the residents here take full advantage of it, on some days its practically as busy as any of the Manhattan stores.

[@nah_144]

I love how much transport is around L.I.C.

[@philpots48]

I moved to LIC in 1986, it was nothing but warehouses and a few small apartment buildings. Then Citibank built the first skyscraper. I moved out in 1998 and across the street from where I lived, the vacant lot is now the 14 floor Hilton.

[@queensmum]

Great video! Used to live in LIC, it was a fun place to live even before before Trader Joe’s and Target. We got priced out of the neighborhood and moved further into Queens, it’s sad people are getting pushed further away by high rents. But love our new neighborhood too feels more like neighbors are open to getting to know each other. The lottery exists but it still requires two adults making good salaries to be “affordable” - if it’s still the same, you get priority if you work for the city (teacher, firefighter, etc). Don’t know if it’s still a problem but there were not sufficient school seats for all the kids coming into / being born into the neighborhood. If you have kids and are thinking of moving there, maybe visit some of the playgrounds and ask the locals about the schools.

[@amazing50000]

Side Note: Long Island City was a independent city in Queens County until 1898, when Long Island City (and the western half of Queens County} was annexed into New York City to become The Borough of Queens. The eastern half of Queens County became Nassau County in 1899.

[@landocalrisian2014]

Ah! Didn't know that even when I lived in Queens over 33 years ago 👍🏽

[@isotriangel]

This is also the case with Elmhurst (at the time Newtown), Flushing, Jamaica and Hempstead-- the latter being taken by Nassau County.

[@amazing50000]

@@isotriangel Right 👍 The Town of Flushing, The Town of Jamaica, The Town of Newton and The Town of Hempstead (the western half of Hempstead became The Rockaways in the borough of Queens in 1898, the eastern half became part of Nassau County).

[@edwin5licqb906]

Most of what you shown was the development of Long Island City south of the Queensboro Bridge, which in y opinion looks like an extension of Manhattan separated by the river. Yes before there were factories, but a lot of nice houses were there , especially near St. Mary’s Church. People of lower, and middle class were forced out….unfortunately I feel the same is in store fore housing north of the bridge.😞💵💵😢

[@skillman46]

Astoria, Steinway and Sunnnyside were part of LIC.,Any zip code beginning with 111 denotes a LIC neighborhood. Zip codes starting with 113 denote the old town of Flushing and 114 signifies neighborhoods that were part of the municipality of Jamaica.

[@user-jh6kl8jq8l]

116 rockaways

[@paulortega155]

I would say another good reason for the gentrification (other than the fact that there's not enough AFFORDABLE space in Manhattan) is like Dumbo, lots of profitable companies move their offices away from Manhattan to obtain cheaper property. Everytime I wait for the at Queensborough Plaza I see an office for JetBlue. It's quite remarkable how fast these condominiums are built. There's an entire massive block that is waiting to be built into a condo but there's one small townhouse that won't refuse to move which is quite funny but also sad to see how things turn out for people who worked hard to keep their homes and then get displaced.

[@IIAOPSW]

LIC basically got started because of the LIRR (and the New York and Flushing RR, which eventually became the Port Washington Branch). Before there was any tunnel, every train went to Hunters Point and a ferry service took you the rest of the way to Manhattan. This was how all the railroads ran on LI until 1902. The place existed by and for the railroad customers.

[@sleepy9102]

Amazing video. I love the production and information quality.

[@n8rab]

Well organized and presented, with good graphics. Perhaps you could have mentioned, as another key facet of LIC living, the insane amount of construction and development. Since I moved here in 2017, I'd estimate about 25-30 buildings within walking distance have broken ground, opened for business, and everything in between. Right now four buildings are rising right outside my window! Still, it's a great neighborhood.

[@joecastagna]

Love your stuff keep making it. I can tell you are really passionate about the videos you make and you're doing a fantastic job. You managed to teach me a great deal about the subway system and the city I love so much. Your graphics are top notch too. I can tell that you're conscious of balancing breath and depth which is not an easy task. Get some Merch goining I'd buy some!!

[@MTAFan585]

I’ve always noticed that it’s very close to Roosevelt Island which where my cousin lives on the island. I’ve passed by a few times on the 7 train but never seem to get off at Queensboro Plaza or Queens Plaza on the R train. Great neighborhood, it’s like similar to Downtown Brooklyn when all of the buildings start to rise

[@thezenarcher]

For what it's worth, Times Sq-42 St has transfers between every subway line in the city except the G and L trains

[@zengseng1234]

I recently moved to NYC Jackson Heights on the border with Corona and my roommate was just recommending that I go to LIC to walk around. Thanks for the reminder!

[@playboymaxim]

Graduated from Long Island City HS in 1984. Used to commute from Cambria Heights, Q4 and E or F trains

[@Antariksha]

Thanks for this video.. Perfect timing! Moved to NYC from Singapore 3 weeks back and moving to LIC next week :) We are learning a lot from you.

[@justingerald]

We're gonna be neighbors!

[@deriansilva368]

Can’t wait for Williamsburg video! Best rezone ever!!!

[@terrybear3434]

My hood. I grew up in LIC. What a change in just 10 years.

[@davidfrischknecht8261]

I absolutely refuse to step one foot inside Target.

[@a.j.2105]

Great video. Can't wait to visit LIC

[@LECityLECLEC]

your channel is amazing!

[@twgood5882]

1:45. Watching from Court Square.

[@kenho-tingwong4346]

Thank you for this video, I’m from the Netherlands and your videos are different from the other KZbinrs and very informative to me. Keep the good work!

[@irmakalember9403]

Txs I never been to New York passed thorough it once

[@ryandimento6351]

What an amazing video! I'm visiting NYC with my friend for a whole day in 2 months!!

[@bojatzl5711]

Thanks for your video. ❤ On Wednesday we are coming to NYC the first time - and we stay in LIC. 🤗😂

[@foisixes677]

Enjoy your visit!

[@bojatzl5711]

@@foisixes677 thank you, we are very curious and excited to see this metropole.

[@smith2354]

I’m glad to see how nice my city’s become, just wish it wasn’t so unaffordable for me.

[@mariovarkas]

5:58 ... greetings from Zurich, Switzerland

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

I say, I can visit Long Island City in Queens soon. : )

[@mood4eva98]

I really love your videos sooo much I don’t have to feel home sick all the way in Texas

[@atrocchia]

Affordable housing is a relative term. It means one thing in Long Island City (Queens) and something very different in East New York (Brooklyn).

[@SirHeinzbond]

Zürich, yeah! thanks for another good and informativ video!

[@yo_ronin456]

Great vid , very informative

[@coolaunt516]

Also love Jane Jacobs!

[@StanfordChiou]

I'd always thought of Queensbridge,-north of the Queensboro Bridge-as distinct from Long Island City.

[@anniinnyc7905]

Hi Thea! Love your channel and have been watching for half a year. Can you introduce more about Queens NYC? Thankssss~~

[@UrbanCaffeine]

Woah! Thanks for staying tuned. I've been trying to make a Queens video FOREVER. Eventually will get there. 🤞

[@kevinb8881]

I agree, Long Island City is VERY expensive!!!

[@jetfan925]

I would love to see more videos like this in other boroughs and its nearby suburbs that don't suck.

[@jessemessi27]

Your channel is a delight

[@yo_ronin456]

Thanks for this . I'm moving out there soon and doing research

[@javierperezjr563]

love your channel!!

[@koga115]

I can't wait to see you do more Brooklyn areas! :3 love the videos!

[@Ron_Berimbolo]

New subscriber. Great vid. I work in LIC off of Jackson Ave.

[@fbafoundationalbuck-broken6011]

GREAT VIDEO.

[@bonoki3870]

thank you for another wonderful & informative episode. at some point, can you an episode explaining the "lottery" process to live in one of those apartments? thanks again.

[@skillman46]

I don’t remember the highly industrialized section of LIC being as dangerous as you described. It had a lot of prostitution at night.,The dangerous part of LIC has always been and continues to be the NYCHA development called Queensbridge Houses.

[@shawnhall9792]

I'm from LIC and what she said in the video is correct as a kid we never liked getting off the train at queensboro plaza due to the drug's and pimps I felt more safe walking by queensbridge house's . My dad still lives in Ravenswood it's not as bad now especially since all of LIC is gentrified

[@oceanblue7862]

It'd be fun to see a "You know you're from NYC if you...." vlog. or "you know you're from Manhattan if...." etc.

[@patrickv1834]

Good info

[@poohoo4495]

Another great video. 😁🎉

[@terrybear3434]

Ravenswood is now the name of the projects.

[@skillman46]

If you can’t afford to live in a place than move to a place you can afford. The problem with low income housing in places that are pricey is people get the apartment but can’t afford the restaurants or stores in the area and get frustrated.

[@oceanblue7862]

Great videos! Very informative! If you could, could you make a vlog on how New Yorkers do their grocery shopping? How much weight could you carry and how often do you go per week? do you usually go to the one nearest your place? Thanks!

[@deepnation10009]

I am so glad AOC stopped Amazon from coming to LIC!

[@stevenbiffoni9883]

You have a very well done video I was glad that you mentioned costs It is a disgrace that people have to enter a lottery to get a decent place to live. As for the CPC I seriously doubt they have the low income renters at heart And I wonder if the CPC ever takes into account items such as effects on water pressure fix

[@maxipaxi1892]

As a New Yorker living in Zurich, your analogy is a bit off. The map you show is of the S-Bahn which is more like Metro North or LIRR than the subway. Great video!

[@straighft]

LIC is like amazing I just don’t want it to start getting all packed and busy w tourists and stuff 😅

[@WhatsOnTheOtherEnd]

Now that I've moved to NYC, I wonder what you'll have to say about my neighborhood!

[@williamthomas3562]

I think describing LIC as gentrified misses the mark a little-as it was an industrial neighborhood with an extremely low population, the development of the last decade involved very little direct displacement, and if anything, the highrise boom sucking up the yuppies these days means that Astoria and Sunnyside are much more affordable than comparable neighborhoods in Brooklyn. It’s also worth noting that LIC is now majority nonwhite, which I think complicates the traditional narrative of gentrification.

[@mohammedsarker5756]

Astoria/LIC are the best neighborhoods in Queens!

[@oceanblue7862]

What do New Yorkers typically do in the weekend? I know it'd be hard to generalize, but there may be some things that are typical depending on one's age. For example, here in Northern California, it's very common to go for hikes (any age) as we live in a valley and surrounded by hills and mountains. How about there?

[@SixHundredandThirteen]

LIC is the only neighborhood in Queens that I see that has been really gentrified. Queens is the borough that all the New Yorkers move to after being pushed out of there borough for high rent.

[@HypidPlays]

I live in astoria but its on the edge so it says LIC on some stuff

[@campbellgraham1979]

I’m visiting NYC in July and staying in LIC cos the hotels are 1/3 of the price compared to Manhattan.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

Great idea! And it's not that hard to get to Manhattan from LIC.

[@NYCSquadCubing]

It interesting

[@843Reboot]

didnt know there was a target in LIC ololol

[@julianduqueg]

Is there a KZbinr like you for Washington DC?

[@UrbanCaffeine]

I would love to visit DC and ride their metro at some point.

[@rockvilleraven]

@@UrbanCaffeineMetro fares are distanced based with the exception of after 9:30 pm and weekends when it’s a flat $2. They just had their biggest fare hike in their history getting rid of midday off peak fares and raising the regular ones. The maximum distance fare is capped at $6 bucks.

[@ItsYaBoiiiDB]

I will try to make nyc videos very soon

[@justingerald]

Hey that's whre I live.

[@jtmix5545]

LIC was better when it was heavily industrialized !

[@trapmuzik6708]

We call it Queensbridge

[@peskypigeonx]

That’s a slightly different neighborhood, which I guess in boundaries could be part of LIC, but has those projects

[@cicchiamichael]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹👍

[@cicchiamichael]

I have subscribed.👍

[@RaulRodriguez-js5xz]

LIC is super overrated and doesn’t even have neighborhoods

[@LuckyBombay]

Can’t you just say “developed “ instead of using the word “Gentrified” ?

[@DariusssSaid]

ALWAYS Mail a physical paper application when applying for lottery based housing 🗝️🔑🫡