Does anyone actually live out in LIC where the new buildings are?

is it safe?

let me say this:

for anywhere in NYC and the rest of the world when you travel....

if you look like a mark and act like a mark you will be targeted..

don't matter if its upper east side or harlem or bushwick

You can look like a mark and be safe in the UES, but not in Harlem.

check the papers
plenty of muggings on the UES

I guess no one lives in LIC is streeteasy saavy. Not worth to buy there then.

I guess you're on your own, then. "Commute home" after work, have supper, go out for breakfast on Saturday morning, check out shops & services, talk to people. You'll get the info you need. LIC has been 'coming' for a long time, maybe that time is now. Go for some field trips then come back & tell US. Have fun, it's an urban adventure!

The area where the new condos are being built is very safe. I have a friend who has lived there for many years and is very happy. I also just sold an apartment there and the commute from the city is very fast. It's the first stop in Queens from Grand Central on the 7 train. The subway station is approximately 2 - 3 blocks from the neighborhood you're asking about. I'll admit I was a little worried the first time I went out there to show the apartment at night, but it was very safe. There are a lot of young families moving there. It's very friendly and the views from the high floors in some of the buildings are incredible. It's not a bad neighborhood at all, but you have people talking negatively about it that have never been there.

The neighborhood is safe. The problems with the neighborhood are a lack of restaurants/bars/shops etc. But it has been getting better in recent years. When you consider the 5-10 minutes door to door to get to midwotn that may not be a big issue to you. I think the biggest problem with the neighborhood is that the 7 train pretty regularly will not have service to or from Manhattan on weekends due to track work. On those weekends there really isn't any way to get into manhattan. Personally I would look more towards astoria, or even out towards forrest hills. Both of those neighborhoods are more affordable and already have everything you need so you don't have to worry about "what if the neighborhood never comes."

I've been going there every weekend for the past couple of months and never had a problem with the 7 train. I guess I was just lucky.

I've been going there every weekend for the past couple of months and never had a problem with the 7 train. I guess I was just lucky.

Long Island City. There must be some wonderful views of Manhattan from there.

#10 it has been good the past few months. It seems to be about once a year for 2 months they do track work which shuts the 7 down to and from manhattan. The summers are always fine as the Mets are playing, but come winter it is a crap shoot.

If you're lucky enough to get a place with a city view, it is amazing. A friend of mine lives in a new rental bldg right on the river with an awesome view. But I can only guess that there aren't too many such units and they probably come with a huge premium. Is it worth it? Not sure myself.

I believe the E and V trains also run from that neighborhood, one stop to Manhattan - as an alternative to the 7...

The E/V stops at 23rd and Ely (Court Square, where the Citigroup building is), not the 7 stop these guys are talking about. The 7 also stops at 23rd and Ely... its the... 3rd? stop in Queens rather than the first.

Please let me know otherwise if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the "main" street where all the shops and restaurants are and will be is Vernon Blvd. This is also where a lot of the new developments such as 5SL and others are. This area is the Vernon-Jackson station on the 7 (1st stop in Queens). Wouldn't you want to live in this area if you're gonna look at LIC rather than where Citi bldg is? Some other areas of LIC (e.g., like where the Arris Lofts is) does not appeal to me at all.

Is the new Duane Reade on Vermin Blvd.? That's all I need to know. And the Irish carpenter pub ... where's that?

Bringing back another Long Island City thread?

Tempting....

ps: love the "Vermin Blvd." bit - wish I had thought of it myself!

The Long Island City Renaissance Authority thought it up ... it's an important sign of Long Island City's revitalization that vermin can live there -- toxicity levels have ticked down a bit.

But not THAT much -- animal poisoning is still illegal.

alan you are very clever