Downsizing in Long Island City, Queens

Long Island City at a glance

Queens Community Board 2 covers Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and northwest Maspeth, and describes Long Island City as noted for its waterfront parks and its arts community. Part of the area is also in Community Board 1, which extends into western Long Island City. NYC Planning treats Long Island City-Hunters Point as one neighborhood.

The neighborhood is changing. Council Member Julie Won's office says the City Council approved the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan on November 12, 2025, covering 54 blocks and aiming for about 14,700 new homes over time. Expect construction nearby for years.

Sources: Queens Community Board 2; Council Member Julie Won, OneLIC.

Condos, rentals and row houses in Long Island City

• Towers. Community Board 2's district needs statement (fiscal year 2018) describes one- and two-family homes and a large number of multiple dwellings, including the fast-growing Queens West. This page does not name individual towers: whether a given building is a condo or a rental, and what its board or owner allows, has to be confirmed building by building.
• How to tell. For a condo or co-op, ask the seller's attorney for the offering plan, declaration and by-laws. The Attorney General has guidance on buying a co-op or condo. Ask about common charges, reserves, planned assessments, rules on rentals and whether the board has a right of first refusal.
• Historic row houses. The Hunters Point Historic District holds 47 townhouses on the Historic Districts Council's count, built between 1871 and 1890 and designated May 15, 1968.

Elevator service, package and delivery handling and the walk from the lobby to the subway matter as much as the floor plan. Read the co-op and condo buying guide and the comparison of home types, and have a New York attorney review the contract.

Sources: Historic Districts Council, Hunter's Point Historic District; NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission; Community Board 2 needs statement.

Getting around Long Island City

Several lines meet here. The MTA's 7 line map lists Queensboro Plaza, Court Sq, Hunters Point Av and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av in the neighborhood. Queensboro Plaza connects to the N and W (weekdays only) and is marked accessible; Court Sq is marked accessible and connects to the E and G. The G also stops at 21 St, and the Queens Public Library lists the F at 21 St-Queensbridge. Accessibility varies, so check each station.

The LIRR has two stations. Long Island City is described as accessible, with a ramp. It connects to the Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av subway station, the Q103 bus and NYC Ferry. Hunterspoint Avenue is not accessible; the MTA lists Long Island City and Woodside as the nearest accessible stations. NYC Ferry's Astoria route stops at Long Island City, and NYC Ferry lists a reduced fare for seniors.

The MTA's Reduced-Fare program is open to anyone 65 or older; see our guide to getting around after 65. For buses and door-to-door trips, use the MTA trip planner.

Sources: MTA, 7 line map; G line map; LIRR, Long Island City station; Hunterspoint Avenue station; Queens Public Library, Long Island City; NYC Ferry, Astoria route.

Health care near Long Island City

Mount Sinai Queens, at 25-20 30th Avenue in Astoria, says it has nearly 500 physicians across about 40 specialties. Elmhurst Hospital Center is at 79-01 Broadway in Elmhurst. Confirm that your plan and doctors participate before counting either as your nearest.

Sources: Mount Sinai Queens; Elmhurst Hospital Center.

Everyday life in Long Island City

• Gantry Plaza State Park. A 12-acre waterfront park at 4-44 47th Road with restored gantries, four piers, gardens, a fishing pier and views of the Midtown skyline. It is open daily from dawn to dusk, according to New York State Parks.
• Libraries. The Hunters Point Library is at 47-40 Center Boulevard, and the Long Island City branch is at 37-44 21 Street. Check each for hours.
• Older adult center. Sunnyside Community Services runs a Center for Active Older Adults at 43-31 39th Street in Sunnyside for people 60 and older, with a weekday lunch and fitness and computer classes. Use the NYC Aging center finder for others.

Sources: NY State Parks, Gantry Plaza; Sunnyside Community Services.

Storms, flooding and insurance in Long Island City

Much of Long Island City is on the East River waterfront, and risk varies by block and by building level, including basements and garages, so check each address. Queens County was among the counties in the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

• Use the city's Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder. The city explains its six zones on its evacuation page.
• Look up the flood insurance map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Evacuation zones and FEMA flood zones are separate maps.
• Ask about a separate flood policy, since standard homeowners, condo and co-op policies exclude flood. In a condo, ask what the association's policy covers and what a loss assessment could mean for you. FloodHelpNY has guidance.

Our flood and storm insurance guide has more.

Property taxes and local government in Long Island City

Long Island City is in Queens County, and the city bills property tax. Owners 65 or older with combined income of $58,399 or less may apply for the Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption on a primary residence, covering one to three family homes, condos and co-ops (co-ops apply separately), by March 15 (March 16 in 2026). Enhanced STAR reduces school taxes for owners 65 and older within its income limit, and a buyer registers with the state. A co-op or condo building can apply for the city's tax abatement on owners' behalf. Transfer taxes on a sale can be estimated in the net proceeds calculator, and costs and money and the senior property tax exemptions guide give more detail. A New York lawyer or CPA should confirm figures for your situation.

Sources: NYC 311, SCHE; NY Tax Department, STAR; NYC Finance, co-op and condo abatement.

Questions to ask before you buy in Long Island City

• Is this building a condo, co-op or rental? Can the seller's attorney produce the offering plan?
• What are the common charges, the reserve balance and any planned or pending assessments?
• What are the rules on renting the unit out and on the board's right of first refusal?
• What construction is planned or under way next to the building?
• What does the association's insurance cover, and what should my own policy add?
• Which subway or LIRR station is closest, and is its entrance accessible?
• What do the evacuation zone finder and FEMA's map show for this address?

Start with the downsizing plan. To be introduced to an agent, get matched with one on the operating team at eXp Realty. Introductions go only to agents on that team, so this is not a search of the whole market.