What To Know About Long Island City Area’s Residential Development and Transportation

With the announcement from Amazon that it has chosen New York's Long Island City for part of HQ2, Localize.city took a data-driven look at the area to see what’s in the pipeline for residential development and transportation. The area has the largest number of apartments currently under construction. It’s also No. 1 for number of new units authorized as well as for permits filed but not yet approved.

The strain of the influx of new residents is already being felt on LIC’s streets, which will incrrease in the following months. While transit upgrades may be on the way, the neighborhood is No. 1 for issue like complaints about parking, blocked bike lanes and is in the top 10 for complaints about parking placard abuse. 

"When Amazon moves part of its second headquarters to Long Island City, it will have a tremendous impact on the neighborhood and others nearby," said Localize.city urban planner Stephen Albonesi. "But if any area in New York is poised for a major influx in residents, it's Long Island City, where a building boom is already remaking much of the area and where residents have been grappling with how to meet the demands of thousands of new people.”

 Other takeaways are is that the neighborhood would be six times bigger than Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, with up to 24,000 units of housing, 52 acres of parks, 19 schools and more than 1 million square feet of retail and office space, officials have said. It would take at least a decade to build and would better connect Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside.

While more units will pop up groceries and pharmacies are still scarce, and publicly accessible gyms may be in short supply because they’re included as amenities within many private developments.

But more retail is on the horizon: roughly 500,000 square feet is expected by the early 2020’s. Much of it may skew toward chain stores, large grocers and movie theaters, which could make Long Island City more of a an area to work rather than live.

To see the full report click here.

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A Lobby To Welcome You Home

The list of what to look out for during an apartment hunt can seem never ending. You probably attend each viewing with reams of paper reminding you about things like location and the quality of the view. The more bases you cover, the less chance there is of landing in an imperfect living situation, right?

But, despite a world of preparation, many of us forget to consider one crucial thing; the entrance lobby. It wouldn’t even cross many of our minds to spare this a thought. You aren’t buying the lobby, after all. Surely the apartment should be more important?

When you break it down, though, that lobby is the first thing you’ll see when you arrive home. It’s the first impression your guests will form of where you live. Hence why many landlords go all out by investing in expensive floor tiles, and even contacting aluminum canopy manufacturers to provide an entrance to come home to. The grander the entrance, the better the prospects. With that in mind, you may want to start your next viewing appraisal before entering the potential apartment. For proof of things to look out for, consider the prowess of these top New York lobbies.

The Galleria, 117 East 57th Street

From the moment you set eyes on The Galleria, it’s clear to see that this complex has something to shout about. This entrance canopy ticks all the boxes. Things only improve as you get closer, and spot the iconic swooping glass entrance. Without needing to set foot in the building, it’s clear these apartments come complete with dreamy contemporary designs. What more could a property hunter ask for?

The Osborne, 205 West 57th Street

Many would argue The Osborne has the best lobby in the city, and it’s difficult to disagree. Built back in 1885, this couldn’t be further from the modern glitz you’ll find at the Galleria. Instead, this lobby will put you in mind of a stately manner. The gilded ceiling is only the tip of this lobby iceberg. You also have brownstone walls and traditional paintings galore. You could go as far as to say this is the dream apartment block for fans of Downton Abbey.

River House, 435 East 52nd Street

Of course, New York’s most impressive apartment building had to find its place onto this list at some stage. A pillared stone gate leads you into this beautiful lobby, complete with gardens and river views. The highlight, though, is the cloakrooms which you’ll find there for all your party needs.

The Plaza

Whether you recognize it for its iconic appearance in Home Alone 2, or because you’ve marveled at it many times; The Plaza also deserves a look-in. The lobby for this apartment complex is about as grand as you would imagine. Again, the entrance brings to mind a stately manner house. This image is only furthered by the iconic chandelier you’ll fail to miss when you walk in. How does that sound for impressing anyone you bring home?

 

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Corcorans Top-Producing Agent Richard Phan Joins Douglas Elliman

Richard Phan

Richard Phan, has decided to move from Corcoran on to Douglas Elliam where he was an integral member of the Carrie Chiang/Janet Wang Team, and was involved in some of the most prominent sales in all of New York City. Notably, Phan is acclaimed for selling Manhattan's most expensive townhouse in 2017 for $79.5 million. He will be based out of Elliman’s headquarters at 575 Madison Avenue.

“We are thrilled to have Richard join us at Elliman,” said Steven James, Douglas Elliman’s President and CEO, New York City. “His professionalism, attention to detail, absolute discretion and integrity are highly-valued by everyone who knows him.  He is well respected among his customers, clients and colleagues and I’m confident that his vast knowledge, focus and drive will serve him well at Elliman.”

To date, Phan has sold over $1.1 billion in property covering all sectors of the condominium, cooperative, new development and townhouse markets. He touts an extensive client list and has experience working with top corporate executives, international investors, artists and professionals from the financial services, real estate and fashion sectors.

“After a very successful decade with my former team, the timing seemed right to take the next step in my career, and I’m so happy to embark on this new chapter at Douglas Elliman,” said Phan. “I’ve always admired Elliman’s dedication to their customers and agents, and how the firm has adapted to new technologies and grown its reach into exciting new markets.”

Originally from Hawaii, Phan also has an intimate understanding of the West Coast market. Previously, he worked at Hawaii’s largest title and escrow firm – giving him a unique perspective into the legal components of real estate. This multi-dimensional experience will make him a strong asset to Douglas Elliman. 

 

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How to Keep Yourself Looking Fresh & Young Each Day

Are you tired of looking in the mirror and wondering why you look so exhausted, even if you don’t necessarily feel it? It’s a common problem that many people experience, but there are some changes that you can make that should help keep yourself looking fresh and young each day. It’s not particularly complicated; it’s just a case of taking logical and healthy steps each day. Read on to learn more about how to do that.

Care for Your Skin Better

Caring for your skin will really produce the results you’re looking for, so this is something that you should definitely try to do. Your skin will be more radiant, fresh and youthful if you spend more time looking after it. This should involve cleansing your skin with a product that suits your skin type and moisturising a couple of times per day. You should also remove any makeup before sleeping.

Spend Time Getting Active Outdoors

Being active and not shutting yourself in your home and your office is vital when you want to look fresher. It’s all about making sure you expose yourself to sunlight and get the natural vitamins you need. Being active and being outdoors can also help you to feel better about yourself as well, so it’s something you should definitely think about.

Get More Sleep

You’ll certainly look refreshed and youthful if you’re getting a good 9 hours sleep each night. That’s what you should be aiming for, but many people with busy lives don’t get close to that many hours of sleep each night. That’s clearly a problem, so work on sleeping more. You will look more alert, more awake and more refreshed when you start each new day. Avoid caffeine after midday for better sleep at night.

If You Smoke, Stop!

Anyone who’s still smoking in 2018 needs to realise that this impacts their skin. Your skin will look discoloured, tired and drained if you smoke a lot. It’s much better for your appearance if you choose to switch to a cheap e liquid. You will notice a change in your appearance and how fresh you look each day once you give up the cigarettes once and for all.

Don’t Rely on Caffeine to Stay Alert

If you’re having to rely on caffeine to start awake each day, the chances you have problems that need to be addressed. If you're always relying on caffeine, it should tell you that you’re working too much or not resting enough. And that caffeine won’t help you look less tired, even if it helps you feel a little less tired for a short period of time. Try to stay alert without it from now on.

No one wants to look tired and drained every day, and you really don’t need to. It’s up to you to make the right changes, and it can be done. Just start by following the guidance and advice that’s been outlined above. It won’t be long before you notice a difference to how you look each day.

Have something you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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How To Vacate Your Stress On Your Next Holiday

The vacation you’ve been planning for a while now is on the horizon and you’re super excited. You should be because holidays of a lifetime don’t come around too often. When they do, you’ve got to enjoy every moment or else it will be a damp squib. Stressed holidaymakers don’t do any of the above as they are too worried about the little things to enjoy the break.

Let’s face facts – vacations aren’t hassle-free. You’ve got to plan it, get to the airport on time, and figure out how not to argue with the family. The last one is almost impossible, by the way. Unfortunately, the tension takes away from the experience as you can’t let yourself go and immerse yourself in a new culture for two weeks.

What you need to do is to find out a way be super chill on the morning of the vacation and beyond. Then, the retreat you’ve been planning and looking forward to for months will live up to the expectations. Here are the options.

Hire A Professional

Every time you lack expertise in an area, you call someone who has skill and years of experience in the field. If a pipe in the house burst, you wouldn’t deal with it yourself. No, you’d call a plumber and ask them to take a look at the damage. Well, it’s okay to do the same thing with a holiday. Yes, some experts deal with vacation planning and you can find out more about them by following the link.

The important thing to consider is that they plan everything from the flights to the accommodation and more. Give them a call and talk them through what you want from your vacation and they’ll send you an itinerary within a couple of days. Then, you either accept it or ask them to tweak it. Regardless, the plan should be perfect after a couple of conversations.

Most people don’t know these businesses exist because planning a holiday seems simple. The truth is it isn’t so sometimes it’s nice to have a professional on which to rely.

Apply For TSA PreCheck

One of the most stressful parts of the vacation is the traveling. Once you’re on the plane, there is nothing to worry about. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the in-flight entertainment with a beer and a snack. However, getting on to the flight isn’t as straightforward. Firstly, there are long lines at the check-in desk and then there is security.

With a TSA PreCheck, you can walk straight through the long queues at the security area and straight into the lobby. There is no waiting around and no difficult immigration officers trying to catch you out. Don’t worry because the people that do this aren’t a risk; everybody is pre-approved at an earlier date. Find out more with this comprehensive post. Apply by going to the TSA homepage and filing an application and then wait for their decision. Hopefully, they’ll be no mad rush to the gate.

As well dealing with the airport, don’t forget about getting there. Book a taxi and set off with plenty of time to spare in case there is traffic.

Talk To The Hotel

You got the plane, just about, and now you’re about to check-in to the hotel. On arrival though, there are a couple of nasty surprises which grind your gears. Apparently, the rules mean that no animals are allowed in the rooms during the duration of your stay. Or, that your meals aren’t included in the price and you’ll have to pay extra.

Revelations like this happen all of the time due to a lack of communication. Hotels list their deals online and customers see the prices without reading the terms and conditions. Scrolling through the rules and regulations is a must before any vacation. If that’s too much like hard work, then speaking to them on the phone or via email is less hassle.

Ask them any questions which will ruin your vacation and add more stress. For example, is there an elevator? Can the seniors in the party have a ground floor room? What’s the noise level like at nighttime?

Download Your Banking App

Money is a big deal, especially if the vacation is a treat. You want to splash the cash without putting your finances at risk when you land back home. It’s a sensible thing to worry about, even if it the thought of it stops you from enjoying the holiday. Rather than fretting, the average person can view their account information online. Just download the app, track your spending, and pull back if it gets out of hand.

To understand what’s too much, there should be a budget in place. It doesn’t have to be comprehensive, but it should exist to help you rein it in. A basic way to create a plan is to work out how much you can spend per day. As soon as the $200 limit is reached, you can take action by shutting off your pockets or spending less the next day.

One final money-related tip is to split up your cards. Carrying too much plastic is a worry if you get pickpocketed. It’s not a nice thing to say yet there are criminals everywhere and you need to be aware.

Go With The Flow

Arguments happen because people have conflicting views. For example, you want to go out and explore the town and the kids want to sit by the pool. Once soon as they lose, they start to moan for the duration of the day which makes things worse. Typical.

Remember that you’re on vacation and it’s about going with the flow. Having a lazy day by the pool is perfectly acceptable, especially when you have a full two weeks. If you can’t stand the serenity, leave the kids with the hubby and go off alone.

No one said everybody has to spend every waking moment together on vacation. Anyway, getting some “me” time is an excellent way to de-stress.

 

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Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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