Long Island City and Sustainable City Principles

Abstract

This chapter aims to determine the extent that the planning of the Long Island City (LIC) neighborhood addresses Sustainable City Principles (SCPs). LIC is one of three selected case study Queens’ neighborhoods (of nine studied neighborhoods over three New York boroughs). The chapter firstly provides a background to LIC, including results of an on-ground author’s survey of the neighborhood. Three key Sustainable City Principles (SCPs) (as adopted in Chap. 2) are then introduced, including: Heritage Protection; Housing Provision: and, Open Spaces Allocation. Current development in LIC is then examined using the three SCPs as a guide The LIC neighborhood needs and issues are then examined (under the three SCPs). This examination is centered on the annual profile report completed by the Queens Community Board 2 (containing LIC) for the City Council. A LIC case study redevelopment project (e.g. Hunters Point Redevelopment) is then selected. The SCPs are addressed for this case study and conclusions drawn. Finally, an overall conclusion is drawn on the extent that the planning of LIC addresses the SCPs. With this conclusion, it’s noted that comments are made in the final chapter (after examining all neighborhoods) on the extent neighborhood planning in New York addresses SCPs. It is also noted that the final chapter will comment on neighborhood planning addressing SCPs in any city or urban area (also referencing futurists and planning theorists as introduced respectively in Chaps. 1 and 2).

Plate 11.1

Sonam Dolma Brauen (Source Wikipedia 2017)

Addendum 11.1: Key Needs and Issues Within Queens Community District 2 Statement of Needs Report Fiscal Year 2017

• (a) The population of the Board is 113,200 (3% increase over 10 years to 2010, following a 15.9% increase 1990–2000). The combined population of this Board and Board 1 (Astoria) is 304,305.

• (b) The income support in the Board area is 32.6% and the population.

• (c) The Board area is a diverse zoning district consisting of one, two family homes as well as a large number of multiple dwellings. The area includes Queens West, a very rapidly expanding residential district; commercial, manufacturing and industrial areas; mass transit systems and is accessible by a number of arterial highways, bridges, and the Queens Midtown Tunnel.

• (d) The Long Island City Business Improvement District and the Sunnyside Business Improvement District are working to improve and enhance the commercial districts in CB 2.

• (e) Southwest Queens lacks a primary care medical facility and outpatient clinics to serve the medical needs of Community Board 2’s increasing population. The Long Island City area is severely underserved by the City’s public health network. In a health care survey, by the Floating Hospital of New York, Long Island City was found to be one of the most critically underserved communities in New York City.

• (f) The Board is the home to one of the largest populations of senior citizens. CB 2 is in need of expanding the Meals-on-Wheels program. As a growing population in Western Queens we are in need of additional full service senior centers in Hunters Point.

• (g) The Board has identified a need for new schools to alleviate overcrowding and to create additional classroom space.

• (h) The Board is requesting additional sites for possible rezoning in our area in order to expand the availability of affordable housing. The Board would like 200,000 additional units of affordable housing.

• (i) The Boards requests additional sites for rezoning to expand the availability of affordable housing.

• (j) With less than 20 acres of parkland, Community Board 2 is greatly in need of further development of open spaces into parks. Pocket sized areas or vacant and unused properties that lay dormant are acquired and developed into open space under the “Greenstreets Program” and other programs, to provide recreational areas for our diverse population