Little Tokyo in LIC?

When thinking of Long Island City, the only thing Japanese that comes to mind is the Noguchi Museum. If Hiroyuki Takenaga gets his wish, according to a New York Times article published yesterday, LIC (in the central Court Square/Jackson Ave area) will become a massive Japanese business district. The only thing is, this area has been the next big thing since I lived there, and that was 1997.

The LIC of 2006 is a developer's dream - a prime area that has been touted the next Williamsburgh forever. Artists have long had studios in the area - and with PS1 being there, of course it's an artist's haven. Everyone seems to want a piece of the action. My favorite part of living in the area, aside from the $350 I paid monthly in rent (yes, a 2 bedroom was really $700 at one point there), the best part was that view. Walking out of my building offered the most amazing view of the skyline there was. It is priceless. I think our Japanese friend's "golden triangle" may just be a dream at this point, as he's a little late to the developer's party. I mean, last summer LIC was slated to be the Olympic Village for a little thing called the....urrr....Olympics.

Speaking of LIC and the great Queens hype, the area still has a way to go in terms of development. There are no pharmacies, only one supermarket (a shabby C-Town on 21st and 44th Drive), and a couple of laundromats. Sure, they now have some cool bars, and the restaurant scene has really picked up over the years, but basic amenities are still few and far between. I love the area and would love to move back, but I remember living there and getting on a train just to get some Advil. I know LIC has slowly become more of a "neighborhood," but the pace is almost too slow.