Oct. 5, 2016 By Christian Murray
A Queens-focused real estate conference that took place in Long Island City this morning drew dozens of bankers and brokers—but also several anti-development protesters.
The event, held at Gantry Loft, was organized by QNS and included a number of panelists who were there to discuss the opportunities that are available within the borough’s residential, commercial and industrial real estate market.
The event, which cost $95 a ticket, included speakers such as Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and council members Jimmy Van Bramer and Elizabeth Crowley.
The event was going as planned until one of the speakers was interrupted by the leader of a group called “Queens is Not for Sale.” The group claims that existing residents are being displaced by rapid development.
“We are here today because we represent the people of Queens that the Mayor’s affordable housing plan has left out,” the protester said. “We are domestic workers, fast food workers, taxi drivers, day laborers, seniors, among others.”
“Queens is being billed as the ‘new frontier,’” she said, adding that this ‘new frontier’ has been our home for many years. “This is about displacement.”
The protester was escorted out of the building and was joined by about 30 activists on Borden Avenue who were holding “Queens is Not for Sale” signs, who were also yelling out that message.
Ziggy Mintz, one of the protesters, said “the future of our neighborhoods are not being determined by the community but by the developers.”
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54 Comments
I just love it when people “discover” areas that have long been lived in by others. So obnoxious.
I am relinquishing the title of MRLIC to the FAKE MRLIC. From this point forward I will be known as MRLICMYASS. Thank you.
To Jimbo, When I mean people are not forced out, that’s a good thing. If Greedy developers take over mine or any building they should show some compassion for people who want to stay here and the one’s who don’t want to can leave of their own free will. No one should be FORCED OUT.
To Not the real or fake MRLIC: Since I had the moniker first , that person will ALWAYS be the FAKE MRLIC. as I have said before, anyone can copy anyone’s moniker since there is no password needed,
I live in a rental building in LIC for a long time. People move in and out as they please. No one is forced Out !!!!!!!!!
100% agree. You dont like it live somewhere else.
The FAKE MRLIC wrote the Oct 7, 3:18 am post.
Definitely a demonic developer who can’t control his glee at the chaos he is causing. Disruptors make money off their disruptions.
what chaos are developers causing?
I have a metaphysical question. Cam the fake MRLIC actually be fake anymore if he (and I assume this sad person is a man) has now adopted the moniker MRLIC? Have you considered, MRLIC, that you are now the fake MRLIC while the FAKE MRLIC is in fact the real one? Blows your mind a little, doesn’t it?
You smoke too much.
Well it does not blow my mind. It is also not metaphysical. You strike me as the kind of person who uses the word ‘literally’ often.
I’ll bet you have been literally punched in the face quite frequently in your life.
Hibbity Dibbity Doo Daa
To all of you gentrification lovers. If it were you forced to move out of your long time neighborhood, you would not like it one bit. Many of you sound Elitist.
To all of you gentrification lovers. You would not like it at all if it happened to you. No one should be forced to leave their neighborhood if they on’t want to. Many of you sound Elitist. I live in a rental building in LIC for a long time. people come and people go, but no one is FORCED OUT.
Real Estate developers are vultures. Making money off putting poor people out on the street is evil, pure and simple. Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but don’t think you are George. You are Mr. Potter.
How are people forced out? Developers take people’s apartments? Does LIC belong to you? I like when these people talk about LIC as if they own it. Developer buys a piece of land or a building they can do as they please they are well within their rights.
Only because they paid off politicians to give it to them. That does not make it right. It only makes it legal.
Gentrification is great, not sure why everyone puts it down LIC needs more High Rises, Condos etc , less useless art , that PS1 is a complete waste of good space as well as the sculpture center. Let’s make LIC awesome , let’s not make it garbage like brooklyn
No matter who you are and when you came here, you displaced someone. Someday you will be displaced yourself. To live in a major city is to cede control of your surroundings.
Hmmmm? My building sits on a lot that was previously used as a garage.
Who exactly did I displace?
American Indians, waves of Polish, Germans, Dutch, Norwegians, Irish, Eastern Europeans, Russians, Asians, African Americans, the shipbuilding industry, the glassworking industry, the oil refining industry, industrial chemical production, etc etc etc etc. I know this comes as a shock to you, but NYC is older than the parking lot that predated your building.
Wrong.
Well reasoned
Buy or bye.
You will rue the day you said those words.
You smug wretch.
What’s the matter? A dose of reality striking a nerve?
he is the one that started this whole mess Jimmy Van Bramer between this and the homeless shelters he could care less – more money in pockets that is for sure — look out everyone —
Ummmmm.. Anyone who is actually from Queens most likely has property in Queens. They are pretty happy about the development and “gentrification” as their property values are Soaring!! The protestors seemed to be outsiders upset they were priced out of Brooklyn and now perhaps Queens?- sorry not sorry
Property value means nothing if you don not want to sell. Where are you going to go? You sell and everything around you costs the same anyway! What move out of State? You move out of state. I am from here and earned being here. Property value increase just creates for more property taxes which doubled in the last 10 years.
If you are from here, how could you ‘earn being here?’. You have no control over it, it was automatic.
AQN–you would sell your grandmother to make a buck wouldn’t you?
Actually I love this borough, I was born here. My family owns property here and now I own property here because we have always believed this was the best place to live. In response to your comment- no I wouldn’t sell out for a buck- that is you who looks to offer nothing to a community except reaping the rewards of the next cheapest housing for yourself. Why don’t you offer something to a community first before you comment or attack the people who have built it ;).. Bye bye!!
High property values are great until family/ friends are priced out. Youth will have a much higher hurdle than you did to buy your hood, many will choose elsewhere. It gets lonelier as the hood gets more $$$. It’s not all upside, even for a ‘Native,’ whatever the F that means.
Exactly! Sickness and family tragedy kind of wrecked the hopes I had to leave the place I was born so I am still here. I never left home but home has left me.
Nope. No property. Just invested my whole life in the community. Does that count?
No.
Ah, a conquistador! Risen from Hell to rampage, rape and pillage again.
Take your meds.
Not true, Queens is a haven for most immigrant communities and a lot of queens residents rent their apartments. Sure places like Bayside and Astoria have homes and all, but Flushing, Jamaica, and Forest Hills are mostly buildings. All this gentrification only corners in those people who are currently living in cheap housing within Queens. You got Long Island to the east and Manhattan/Brooklyn to the west, and both options are too expensive to move on to.
Flushing, Jamaica and Forest Hills are mostly buildings… Really?? Doesn’t seem you’ve been passed Queens Blvd or Main St. Not sure what your point is and definitely not from Queens. And for those that are questioning what an actual “Queens Native” means -simply put it is someone that was born and raised here. Not someone who ventured into the borough as a cheaper alternative and are now upset it is not.
Gentrification is what it’s all about. LIC is being over developed and many people know it. Mr. Van Bramer , I guess escorting out people you are supposed to help is OK to you. I hope you dont want to run for mayor Jimmy.
Are these protesters the same anti gentrification people that spoke at the church a few weeks back?
It was that group. They just posted on Facebook “jimmy van Bramer, we are watching you”. With pics of the protest on fb.
That horse has bolted so long ago it’s now the glue holding your sign together
Don’t want to be displaced? Buy your home. Or rent and be subject to the market. This idea that a subsidy program should be in place to keep renters in their homes is just creates protected classes and distorts the rental market.
The “protected” class of people in New York are in fact the wealthy developers — who receive generous tax breaks and subsidies that far outweigh anything given to working and middle class people in this city — and the spineless corrupt politicians who serve them. It’s their policies that are distorting the real estate market in New York. Stop constantly blaming regular people who are just trying to survive in this increasingly nightmarish city.
So, someone paying $500/month for a 2 bedroom rent controlled apartment isn’t a market distortion? Really?
Let’s try this: I want to buy a steak, but I only have a dollar. Decades ago, I used to buy steak for $2.00/lbs, so, by your logic, I need a government program that keeps the price of steak $2.00/lbs for me in perpetuity. That is basically what rent control is.If you think is reasonable, it is you who needs to pull your head out of your behind and get it examined.
Neighborhoods change, buildings change, and, like Owner says below, buy or bye. Get over it.
Get over yourself Frank. You are nowhere near as smart as you think you are. A person who can’t afford steak can eat beans. A person with roots in New York, such as family, a job, the history of their lives can not switch to something cheaper. So, you say, they should leave because developers have much better ideas for the land they eat, sleep, dress, cleanse, live and die on. Well, get your mind around this: building a new life is hard. It is not just a matter of packing your suitcase in one place and unpacking it in another. And anyone who lets their love of profit or their dream of a shiny new neighborhood where once there was a well-established one blind them to this fact is using only one part of his brain, the reptilian part. Come back with a plan that addresses everyone’s needs, that does not throw the old or weak or witless off the lifeboat into the water and we can talk. Until then go back to school. You didn’t pass basic human ethics or morality. Get over yourself, you indistinct splotch on the sidewalk!
So, you are unable to live anywhere but LIC? You couldn’t move to a cheaper neighborhood elsewhere in Queens? The Bronx? What a special case you are.
.
It actually is quite easy to pick up and move to a new neighborhood. I certainly have done it more that a dozen times around the world, and expect to do it a dozen more down the road. If you cannot do this, then you are honestly the modern equivalent of a serf, bound to the land.
.
Obviously, you harbor a great deal of anger about your inadequacies and are trying to externalize blame to those evil gentrifiers. How pathetic. I might feel sorry for you if you weren’t such an obvious jerk.
Frank you need to have your head examined. But first you must straighten up because you are all bent over and your head disappears between. . . Oh, never mind.
The fast food workers, day laborers and domestic workers will always be able to get their subsidies whether vouchers or city owned housing.
The people who should be protesting (but don’t have the time) are the middle class people who built Astoria and LIC and are seeing their quality of life decrease year by year.
DeBlasio’s “affordable” housing scam with $2000/month 1 bedroom apartments and zero percent increases on rent stabilized leases (while property taxes skyrocket) are the real issues.
The time to reign in the developers is before they begin constructing their megaprojects. Why can’t there be additional reviews of and restrictions on these 500 unit and 1000 unit luxury projects so that something is given back to the neighborhood (rather than just a lottery with a handful of high priced “affordable” housing units)?