The Call for Projects was open from Jun 13, 2024 - Aug 02, 2024. Thank you for your submissions.
Community input is vital throughout the process and the LIC DRI team will provide opportunities for feedback on community priorities and preferences.
The project proposals received through the open call from Jun 13, 2024 to Aug 02, 2024 can be found at the link below.
View All Project Submissions
Following initial feasibility evaluation, the twenty five projects received through open call were narrowed down to a total of seventeen projects. The projects that are now under consideration for inclusion in the SIP can be found at the link below.
LIC DRI Community Vision and Goals
LIC DRI Vision
LIC will continue to grow and evolve as a diverse, mixed-use neighborhood that supports its existing community and businesses. New open spaces, streetscape improvements, and pedestrian amenities will better connect the neighborhood and make it a safe, walkable and resilient community. Investments and support for local businesses and the arts will ensure LIC’s vibrant cultural, industrial and small business economies can all co-exist and flourish.Theme 1/ Open Spaces
Improve access to LIC’s waterfront parks from upland neighborhoods, and build new resilient parks, plazas and open spaces throughout the community.
- Improve access to the waterfront by alleviating truck congestions, sidewalk parking and poor pedestrian conditions, especially on 44th Drive and Queens Plaza.
- Where possible, reclaim street right-of-way and areas under elevated transportation infrastructure for public open space.
- Provide a range of amenities and expand programming opportunities for all ages within new and existing open spaces.
- Invest in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) such as rain gardens, green roofs, and permeable pavements to manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and increase green spaces.
Theme 2/ Pedestrian Environments
Improve pedestrian environment and connect LIC neighborhoods and destinations.
- Implement traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures including pedestrian bump-outs, traffic medians, additional crosswalks, landscaping, seating, and lighting especially along Jackson Avenue, Vernon Boulevard, 21st Street and 11th Street.
- Make streets within the IBZ(s) pedestrian friendly through pedestrian signage, tree planting, and improved crosswalks.
- Address conflicts along the Dutch Kills Greenway to ensure the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians.
- Transform Queens Plaza South and 44th Drive into key connector routes by enhancing pedestrian walkways with landscaping and public amenities.
Theme 3/ Arts and Culture
Support and expand LIC’s arts and cultural offerings and increase their visibility.
- Promote existing cultural attractions and neighborhood identity by commissioning local artists to create murals on building façades and art installations in parks, plazas and along local streets.
- Highlight local cultural destinations by adding signage and route maps within major transit stations and bus stops.
- Connect cultural destinations using signage, wayfinding and other creative measures.
- Support existing cultural attractions to stay in the neighborhood and attract new ones through capital investments in permanent spaces and equipment.
- Create opportunities to activate public space through arts and performances
Theme 4/ Recreation and Community Amenities
Expand and improve access to recreation and community amenities.
- Encourage the development of indoor recreational and community amenities that are affordable and open to residents and workers.
- Expand community amenities through investments in libraries and community centers.
- Include spaces for both team sports and individual exercise equipment in new and existing public open spaces.
- Increase the number of community dog parks/runs.
- Invest in existing and new active public spaces that can support both sports and arts programming.
Theme 5/ Local Economy
Retain and foster LIC’s vibrant economy through increased visibility and support for local businesses and industries.
- Support the establishment of economic incubators and shared office, tech and fabrication spaces in IBZs.
- Develop attractive public spaces and plazas that serve the local workforce and provide spaces of respite during lunch breaks and after office hours.
- Encourage mixed-use projects that combine affordable residential, commercial, retail, cultural, and/or light industrial uses where appropriate.
- Support long-standing existing businesses by making capital investments that allow them to remain in the community.
- Attract new businesses that complement the existing small business and industries ecosystem through marketing and capital investments in the public realm.
Additional Information
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration projects must:
- Be a capital project, e.g. new development and/or rehabilitation of existing buildings, public space improvements, signage or branding projects, façade enhancements etc. Proposals for planning studies or ongoing operating costs e.g. staff expenses, are not eligible for this grant.
- Have a project sponsor who can lead the planning and implementation, enter into a contract agreement with the DOS, and has the ability to cover project costs while awaiting reimbursement from DOS.
- Demonstrate control of the project site, either by the project sponsor or a partnering entity, and support from any required private partners or government agencies. This includes support from the relevant City or State agencies for projects that involve publicly owned land and right-of-way.
- Have a defined scope and budget based on professional plans or estimates from comparable projects. The budget should demonstrate that the proposed project would be fully funded once funds requested through DRI grant are taken into account
- Demonstrate that it will contribute to the economic revitalization of the Long Island City DRI area, support affordability, support area businesses, including projects that create or retain jobs, improve quality of life, activate public spaces, and achieve climate goals.