Long Island City: Hunter's Point South


March 26, 2008 -

Across from the United Nations in Long Island City, Queens, lies one of the last empty pieces of land on the East River. This 24 acre lot boasts dramatic views of the Empire State building from 30-foot-high cliffs, rolling hills covered in wild trees, and more access to the river's edge than any other site in Queens. Currently it is an idyllic, private barbeque spot, with homemade swings and benches looking out across the water at Manhattan's midtown rush.

Work has now begun to develop this plot of land into a massive housing complex. Given the name Hunter's Point South, this site is managed by the city's Economic Development Corporation (EDC). It is an extension of Queens West, the monolithic state-owned luxury-housing development to the north. The proposed map of HP South includes at least 13 high rise residences and three new city streets. Controversy over whether any of the 5,000 proposed housing units will be "affordable" has been reported in The Daily News and The Real Deal.

The EDC is resolutely focused on developing New York's few remaining industrial waterfront areas, with other projects including multimillion dollar projects in Sunset Park, the South Bronx, Staten Island and Willett's Point.



Abandoned Pier


Homemade Swing


Bench's View


Gramercy


Road to Queens West


Cliff and Woods


Danger on the Waterfront

6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 26, 2008 at 3:02 PM

    Great shots, how'd you get access to this area or did you 'give yourself' access?

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  2. samMarch 27, 2008 at 3:34 PM

    pretty cool shots nate - the location scout gig-a-ma-job is sweet!

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  3. Emma MariaMarch 28, 2008 at 2:38 PM

    oh i love these!!
    especially the swing.. how strangely idyllic.
    you gonna post them on flickr too?

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  4. Richard Nickel, Jr.March 28, 2008 at 7:58 PM

    Love the tattered flag.

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  5. UnknownApril 2, 2008 at 12:43 PM

    These pictures made me feel 7 years old again. This is the LIC waterfront I remember.

    Before all the development, this was a place where a child could skip stones in the East river and look at sun going down on "the City" across the water. It was a place to think, dream, escape, and find adventure. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. sympathetic compassApril 4, 2008 at 8:14 AM

    Happy to see you back, scouting the waterfront.

    ReplyDelete