Click on the heading above to view events this month in Queens, generally including some business related gatherings or seminars.
Click to quick scroll down to Queens Business & Real Estate sections, including: Real Estate & Development, Government & Employment, Home Improvement, Banks & Loans, Manufacturers & Wholesalers, Retail & Shopping, Restaurants, Transportation.
Jet Blue Operations in QueensBehind The Scenes At Jet Blue LICMay 19, 2012 / Long Island City / Queens Business / Queens Buzz. I decided to take a look behind the airline ticket counter to see what goes on behind the scenes of a scrappy competitive airline upstart. That description best describes the Queens hometown airline - Jet Blue - which recently relocated within the borough, moving from Forest Hills [and Darien, CT] to the Met Life Building off Queens Plaza in Long Island City. Jet Blue officially opened its Long Island City location on April 3rd, 2012. They had been moving folks into the building in waves, after about a year of preparations. The first wave came on March 9th, and the last wave came on April 4th, 2012. There are currently about 1,000 Jet Blue employees working out of the Long Island City facility. In this report I focused on their operations center which handles many of the behind-the-scenes logistics. This report will give you a close up look at what goes on behind the scenes every day at Jet Blue as it prepares, schedules, executes and monitors an airline that has a fleet of between 150 - 200 planes, about 2,000 pilots, about 3,000 flight attendants, and an LIC operations crew of about 250 that runs 24/7 every day of the year. The Jet Blue Operations Center is shown looking through an aquarium, in the photo above. Click here to read our report about Jet Blue in Long Island City LIC Queens. |
Real Estate & Development In Queens
Roosevelt Island To Become Techno QueensBorough of the Arts, will one day become The Borough of Applied SciencesMarch 7, 2012 / Long Island City / Queens Real Estate / Queens Buzz. I just returned from a breakfast where the NYC Deputy Mayor of Economic Development presented the NYC plan to develop an eleven acre campus on the southern end of Roosevelt Island, into an applied sciences academic institution. Development of the new facility will take place over the course of the next thirty years, but the first classroom will open [somewhere in a leased facility] in the fall of 2012. When the applied sciences campus is done, the facility is expected to include about 2 million square feet of new construction and a half million feet of open space. Over the course of the next few decades, the institution is expected to become the academic home to 280 faculty members, a student body of 2,500, and to provide ongoing employment for about 8,000 people. Click here to read the rest of our report on the presentation given by Robert K. Steel at the LIC Partnership breakfast about the new applied sciences development on Roosevelt Island. |
Sunnyside & Woodside Re-Zoning PlanProposal Moving Through The Process – Timetable SetApril 13, 2011 / Sunnyside & Woodside / Sunnyside Real Estate / Queens Buzz. Queens Borough president Helen Marshall highlighted the effort to re-zone Sunnyside and Woodside in her State of the Borough Address this winter. Following the release of the proposed zoning changes on February 28th, I spent time studying the proposal to re-zone the Sunnyside and Woodside neighborhoods and followed up with a representative of the NYC Department of City Planning to be sure I properly understood the proposed changes. It's worth mentioning that the rezoning changes were recently approved by Community Board 2, about two weeks ahead of deadline. The thrust of the Sunnyside Woodside rezoning effort appears to be to standardize construction regulations within these neighborhoods in order to prevent out-of-character development, reduce commercial overlays, enhance street life through the allowance of sidewalk cafes and to set height limits on new buildings which is not specified in the existing zoning. Current Sunnyside and Woodside zoning only specifies how much you can build by way of limiting the Floor Area Ratio [FAR] – and doesn’t set limits on specific building dimensions, most notably building height. Click here to view the timetable of the Sunnyside & Woodside Re-zoning proposal and to read the rest of our report, which includes a brief zoning history, and a summary of existing and proposed zoning changes including diagrams and photos. |
Hotels In Queens - Long Island CityDutch Kills LIC Real Estate "On The Rise"March 21, 2011 / Long Island City LIC / Long Island City Real Estate / Queens Buzz. Over the past year I’ve watched the rapid growth of eleven hotels in the Dutch Kills neighborhood of Long Island City. They’re located within an eight block area, near the N / Q subway lines in LIC. Construction on many of these Long Island City hotels appears to have been completed. Although there are at least a couple of them which appear to have quite a bit more work to do. Six of the new Dutch Kills Long Island City Hotels are already in operation. Click here to read the rest of our report about new hotels in Long Island City - in the Dutch Kills neighborhood of LIC. |
Government & Employment In Queens
Queens State of the Borough Address 2012Boro President Helen Marshall Informs Us We’re Holding Our OwnJanuary 24, 2012 / Flushing / Queens Government & Economy / Queens Buzz. Today I attended the Borough President’s State of the Borough Address in the Colden Auditorium at Queens College in Flushing. Queens College President Dr. James Muyskens opened the program, followed by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. There were hundreds of people in attendance. The audience included government officials, members of the police, fire and sanitation departments, a number of community board members, educators, healthcare administrators as well as members of the press. Helen Marshall’s address covered education, healthcare, parks, the economy, business, development, aviation [the airports], culture, historic preservation and awards to a few denizens of the borough for outstanding work. In the photo Queens Borough President Helen Marshall looks a graphic which includes the plans for the new technical center planned for Roosevelt Island by Cornell University and Technion. Click here to our report with photos of the Queens State of the Borough Address 2012. |
Employment & Unemployment - QueensQueens Unemployment Versus NYC, NYS & U.S.March 11, 2011 / Queens Business / Queens Buzz. I recently attended a conference where I was able to obtain some information about the employment composition of Queens. I also obtained recent NYC, NYS, U.S. and Queens unemployment statistics, all of which are included in this report. It's worth noting at the outset that Queens has a very diversified economic base. This explains why Queens is outperforming the city, the state and the nation in creating jobs for its people. Click here to read more about unemployment / employment in Queens 2011. |
What About The Debt Ceiling Deal?Opinion & Perspective - Here's My Two CentsAugust 3, 2011 / Queens NY / Queens Buzz. These have been a grueling two weeks for anyone watching the budget battles on Capitol Hill. The Senate, Congress and Executive branches of government got into the ring and slugged it out until they [and we] were exhausted. Democracy is messy. It's about debate. It's about proposing ideas, listening to the ideas of others, and then rounds of endless repetitive rebuttals. It's not as clean as one dictator, king or self-anointed group of cronies, neatly deciding what to do, with no argument, no transparency, and no say by anyone else. Click here to read the rest of the opinion on the debt ceiling deficit reduction budget deal of 2011. |
Supreme Court Re-writes ConstitutionGives Legal Entities Rights To Meddle In Electoral ProcessQueens / January 21, 2010. This is an opinion piece about the Supreme Court campaign finance ruling in favor of giving legal entities the right to spend unlimited sums of money in support of political candidates. Our opinion is that legal entities should not be allowed to spend any resource whatsoever in support of a political candidate. If the people governing a legal entity [regardless of whether it is a corporation or a labor union] want to donate money or resource to a candidate, let them do so as individuals. But disallow them from reaching into the pockets of their shareholders, employees or membership to further their own special interests. Let these people [shareholders, employees and members] speak for themselves. We compare this ruling to what happens in the book 'Animal Farm' written by author George Orwell in the middle of the 20th century, whereby some of the pigs in the book are made more equal than others. Our argument is that these people already have too much power vis a vis everyone else, and their unchecked influence will be harmful to the republic. We welcome readers to share their opinions at the end of the piece. Click here to read our opinion on the Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling. |
Home Improvement & Construction In Queens
Crystal Window & Door SystemsAn American Asian Tiger In FlushingMarch 21, 2011 / Flushing Neighborhood / Queens Buzz. I had occasion to tour the plant of Crystal Windows, one of Queens most successful manufacturing operations. Crystal Windows is a manufacturer of windows and door systems used in homes, apartment buildings and business buildings. Their plant is located in Flushing just off the Whitestone Expressway and it encompasses 225,000 square feet, covering the better part of a very large city block. The plant production facility begins with receiving at the south end of the plant and ends in shipping at the north end of the plant. Click here to view our report on a successful manufacturer of windows and doors in Queens NY, including a photo slide show of the plant in operation. |
Solar Panels & Energy In QueensLICBDC Seminar - Solar Energy Tax Incentives 2011March 20, 2011 / Long Island City / Queens Buzz. I just returned from a seminar detailing government incentives for installing solar on residential and commercial buildings in 2011. Based on what was presented in the seminar, anyone contemplating this sort of investment, might want to think about doing it in 2011. The federal, state and city government are all offering tax incentives which add up to significant savings and shorten the payback period over which a building owner could recoup their investment in a solar energy system. Solar is a hedge against increases in oil prices, and demand for such systems is likely to grow. Given the tax incentives it’s possible, that as we approach the end of the year, companies selling solar energy systems might become quite busy. The photo to your left shows a roof top solar energy system. Click here to read our report about the tax incentives for solar energy in Queens NY in 2011. |
Finance - Banks & Loans In Queens
Economic Outlook 2012 - Queens EconomyFederal Reserve Economist Discusses 2012 Outlook At LIC Partnership BreakfastFebruary 13, 2012 / Long Island City / Queens Business / Queens Buzz. I attended a lecture given by New York Federal Reserve Economist Rae Rosen at the LIC Partnership breakfast in Long Island City. In the lecture the economist talked about many of the critical factors that would play a role in the outcome of how the economy would perform in 2012. How these factors play out will ultimately impact the kind of economic year Queens, NYC and NYS will have in 2012.
U.S. Economic Performance in 2012 Vs AveragesThe U.S. economy grew 2.8% in the fourth quarter, ending the 2011 year on a strong note, after a slow beginning. For 2012 the consensus forecast is between 2.5% to 3%, with the highs above 3% and the lows just above 1% which still implies a growth year. The U.S. average growth rate since the end of WWII has been about 3.28%. According to one report I read, the probability the U.S. will slip back into recession has fallen to 23%. Click here for our report of the lecture given by Federal Economist Rae Rosen at the LIC Partnership breakfast in February 2012 - Queens Economic Forecast 2012. |
Small Business Financing In Queens NYCSBA In Queens & Business Outreach Center In CoronaJanuary 31, 2012 / Corona / Queens Business / Queens Buzz. Last summer I decided to take Queens Buzz through the SBA process to raise capital to raise capital and to provide a description of the process that a new or struggling enterprises must go through in order to obtain non-traditional funding. Over the course of the past decade, government and non-profit organizations have increasingly become aware of the importance and value of helping new and small businesses survive and thrive as a means of retaining and creating jobs within communities. In the current economic environment, helping these small companies is critical to accelerating the current economic recovery. I entered the process of seeking a loan in July of 2011 ... click here to read more about the Business Outreach Center in Corona Queens. The photo above was taken at a 2012 seminar sponsored at the Business Outreach Center in Corona Queens entitled Financing Your Business. |
Manufacturers & Wholesalers In Queens
A Titan In Our MidstTitan & Optima Foods - Greek Food In Astoria QueensAstoria / Queens Buzz. Astoria has long been known as the Greek section of Queens and NYC. And for nearly 30 years Titan Foods has been serving the Greek section of Queens and NYC with imported Greek food. In 1991 Optima Foods, which is owned by the same folks as Titan, began operating as a mid sized importer and since that time has grown to become one of the leading distributors of Greek food along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Click this link to read the full story about Titan Foods - Greek food stores in Astoria Queens. |
Fresh Pasta Made Daily In Queens NYCassinelli Food Products CompanyThis is a report about the Cassinelli Food Products company. It's one of the last old world Italian pasta making companies in Queens. The Cassinelli pasta company makes fresh pasta in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens daily. Click here to read the full report about fresh pasta in Astoria Queens NY. |
Retail & Shopping In Queens
All Natural Hand Made SoapsThe Little Soap Shoppe In AstoriaFebruary 7, 2011 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. I found a unique little shop just off Ditmars Street on 36th Street about six months ago. The name of the store is The Little Soap Shoppe and its owner is Vivian Dritsas. Vivian is an enthusiastic local producer of handmade soaps who I enjoyed meeting. Before I left she gave me a soap sample to take home to try out. A few weeks later I tried the raw cut of handmade soap and I instantly noticed the difference. The lemongrass soap I used is one of four of the handmade soaps reviewed in this story. Click here to read more about the Little Soap Shoppe in Astoria Queens. |
Auto Insurance In QueensThings To Look For & Consider When Buying Auto InsuranceDecember 15, 2010 / Queens NY / Queens Buzz. This report is to identify some of the things to think about and look for when purchasing auto insurance in Queens. One of the insurance professionals I interviewed while working on this report provided me with some colorful comments. Perhaps the most memorable was the most instructive. He explained to me that when it comes to buying auto insurance – or for that matter any insurance, he said, “Most people don’t know what they bought, and they don’t find out until they’re filing a claim.” When I was a bit younger, this statement would easily have applied to me. Click here to read our report about things to think about / look for when buying auto insurance in Queens. |
Transportation In Queens
Traffic Makeover - Jackson HeightsDOT Finds Inexpensive Fixes To CongestionFebruary 22, 2011 / Jackson Heights Neighborhood / Queens Buzz. The Department of Transportation unveiled a traffic study, complete with proposed solutions, that look to ease some of the traffic congestion in Jackson Heights. The study area roughly includes the areas from Roosevelt Ave to Northern Blvd and from 72nd Street to 84th Street. The plan includes changing traffic flows, modifying a couple of bus routes, specifically allocating spots and times for freight parking, reallocating parking spaces and adjusting meter rates in high demand / low availability parking locations. All in all it looked like a workable plan which incorporated a significant amount of input from the community, including this past go 'round wherein they presented the plan to the community for final feedback before implementing it. Click here to read more about the Department of Transportation DOT traffic plan for Jackson Heights. |
East Side Access Project Moving AlongHow Will This Project Affect Queens Real Estate?Queens Real Estate / October 4, 2010 / Queens Buzz. Progress on the East Side Access Tunnel project has been visible in Queens since early Spring 2010. The MTA has been busy drilling a new tunnel under the East River from LIC / Astoria, using the Sunnyside Railway Yard as its staging grounds. The photo to your left shows the view of the new tunnel being built underneath the East River from an Astoria / LIC perspective. The tunnel connects into Manhattan around 63rd Street. Meanwhile in the Sunnyside railway yards, many of the buildings that once dotted the landscape have been demolished. Thankfully this doesn't include an old train station which has been around for many years [see photos in rest of story / slide show]. They’ve also cleared away a number of old warehouse and garage like structures along 43rd Street between Northern Blvd and 39th Avenue. Click here to get an update on the East Side Access Project impact on Queens real estate. |
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