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A. Neighborhood
amenities:
The Townhouse building is two
blocks from the distinctive Gantry State Waterfront Park.
This beautiful, state-of-the-art park extends about two
miles along the East River, across from the United Nations
(UN) Headquarters, with a breathtaking view of Manhattan
skyline - Downtown to a good section of Uptown.
The immense high-rise
condominiums and commercial buildings (spearheaded by City
Light Building), along the East River Waterfront, complement
the skyscrapers of the fabled borough of Manhattan.
These buildings have
increasingly become more visible on the main streets e.g. on
Center Boulevard, Vernon Boulevard and Jackson Avenue as
they ‘mushroomed’ on to various segments in the
neighborhood.
These are all part of the
massive development that is not so adversely and critically
impacted by the current dip in the real estate market in New
York City, as shown by the ongoing construction activities
and the influx of new residents.
Senior Center.
Adjacent to the Townhouse is Saint Mary’s/Catholic
Charities Senior Center. It is where the Seniors congregate
for their favorite cultural and social activities. The
building housing the Senior Center is an historical
landmark. It used to be the Convent/Residence of the
dearly-loved religious ous nuns who ran Saint Mary’s
Parochial School.
Banks.
Banks, notably, the skyscraper Citibank Building, Chase
Bank, the United Nations Credit Union and a host of other
banks have also taken their respective blocks in Hunter’s
Point.
Schools.
La Guardia Community College leads the cluster of various
schools situated in Long Island City. On the horizon is the
Law School of the City University of New York
Supermarket and other Stores.
The neighborhood has “Food Cellar” Supermarket and Eatery, a
brand new supermarket showcasing conventional as well as
organic produce and household merchandise.
Modest-size groceries and
delis abound, especially, on Vernon Boulevard, the Main
Street of Hunter’s Point.
Farmers’ Market/Green
Market. The vendors sell their fresh produce – vegetables,
fruits and even bakery items – coming from the different
Northeast States, on Saturdays. Look for them on 48th
Avenue next to the City Light Building.
Drugstores.
Duane Reade, a familiar ‘hometown’ pharmacy-chain in NYC has
opened in Hunter’s Point, which, like the Food Cellar, is
now part of the Waterfront scene. The neighborhood
pharmacy, Vernon Boulevard Pharmacy – next to the corner of
49th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, has kept its
regular clientele and is still making good business.
Sights, sounds and the
sumptuous sweet smell of life
The residents, their friends
and tourist visitors to the neighborhood get their annual
spectacular treat by being at one of the vantage viewing
points for the Macy’s Fireworks which is usually
launched on the East River, next to Hunter’s Point.
Not to be outdone, the
Annual New York City Marathon participants run along
Jackson Avenue and Vernon Boulevard as they are greeted by
the delightful land cheering crowd of spectators who wait
with heightened enthusiasm for the early frontrunners.
An experimental theater
‘temptingly’ called “Chocolate Factory”
dishes out new plays – the launching pad for hopeful
theater wannabes.
Restaurants.
But the incredible edibles are the international cuisines
concocted at restaurants serving dishes that are
distinctively Italian, Irish, French, Chinese, Thai,
Japanese, Mexican and the quintessential American barbeque
house, diners, coffee shops, delis and pubs. A
Filipino/Japanese gourmet restaurant has recently joined the
widening circle of restaurants.
Delis. Bakeries. The mouth-watering directory of eateries also includes the ones across
the Pulaski Bridge over the Long Island Expressway, next to
the Queens Midtown Tunnel – on to Greenpoint, Brooklyn –
home to the second largest Polish community in the United
States, second to Chicago, and arguably, outside of Poland.
Here are Polish restaurants serving the authentic
kielbasy and pierogies – among others, and
bakeries featuring down-home babkas for the
sweet-tooth sweet people.
Food – and more Food.
Have a cart ,
will go shopping. COSTCO Wholesale Outlet is a boon to
Hunter’s Point residents. While others can only conjure up
the idea of being close to Costco - for the neighborhood,
it’s a dream-come-true. The Outlet is just 10-12 min. away
– on #103 Bus or by car.
Pizza Parlors and other
Fast Food Galores.
There is
always something for the ever-in-a-hurry food patrons. And
pizza aficionados won’t be disappointed as they get their
fill - just making rounds of a number of pizzerias and
restaurants serving – pizzas!
Sports Centers/Facilities.
Practically most, if not all,
high rise condominiums are open to membership, not just
to
their residents but the public as well. In addition, there
are numerous sports centers around like YMCA
and
other household-word sports clubs.
Home Furnishings and
beyond. Home
Depot is also in Long Island City, on Northern Boulevard –
accessible by car, bus and subway. And there’s Bed, Bath,
and Beyond to boot.
Museums/Film and TV
Studios.
P.S.1 Contemporary Museum, Noguchi Japanese Museum, Socrates
Sculptural Arts Park, Film and TV Studios like the American
Museum of the Modern Image/Kauffman Film/TV Studios and
Silver Cup Studios.
B. Latest developments on
Development.
Sometime last year (2009), the City of New York purchased an
unused 30-acre on the southern tip of Hunter’s Point. The
City plans to develop the site for housing projects to
benefit NY police, firefighters, nurses and teachers.
The State of New York and
private developers have also envisaged a Convention Center
which will be built along the waterfront.
The new US Immigration Office
for Queen’s, Brooklyn and Long Island will be relocated from
Glendale, Long island to Jackson Avenue, in Hunter’s Point
sometime this year, 2010. |
