2001 – LIC’s Commercial Core

The City Council approved a plan in 2001 to rezone 37 blocks that surround the central transportation hub of Long Island City.  The district, zoned to enable its development as NYC's 4th Central Business District, encompasses the areas of Queen Plaza and Court Square, and allows a density of development equal to that of many parts of lower and midtown Manhattan.

The commercial core, anchored by the 1.5 million square foot tower built by Citibank in 1989, is experiencing unprecedented growth.  Two new class A office towers have been completed: Court Square Place, a 250,000 square foot facility to be occupied by the United Nations Federal Credit Union, and another 500,000 square foot facility to be occupied by Citigroup’s credit card division.  Also slated for the commercial core is Gotham Center, a 3 million square foot office complex to be developed by Tishman Speyer Properties at the north end of Jackson Avenue.  The first phase of Gotham Center construction began in 2009. 

Related Links 

Hunters Point Subdistrict Rezoning, NYC DCP

LIC Rezoning: Executive Summary, NYC DCP, 2001

Plan for Long Island City: A Framework for Development, NYC DCP, 1993

Queens West

NYC EDC Vision for LIC

NYC Department of City Planning 

MTA East Side Access Project and LIRR Sunnyside Station

Queens Community District 1 (Astoria, LIC)

Queens Community District 2 (LIC, Sunnyside & Woodside)

The Dutch Kills neighborhood of LIC