Amazon Said To Choose Queens for Second Headquarters

From The NY Times:

Amazon’s HQ2? Make That Q for Queens

New York City last week announced $180 million in new spending on Long Island City to bolster transit, fix the sewer system and attract new, good-paying jobs. Now it appears that spending was, in part, deliberately timed. Amazon is nearing a deal to name Long Island City, a fast-growing neighborhood on the western edge of Queens, as one of two locations that would together house as many as 50,000 employees in its ever-expanding work force, according to two people briefed on the negotiations.

Corner of Restaurant Row & Austin St.

The going-out-of-business signs caught my eye a couple of months ago and now things are really getting going: some big-time development going in at the corner of Austin Street and Restaurant Row. I know originally the yogurt place was supposed to be turned into some type of Mediterranean grill. Does anyone know if that is still what is happening? It sure would be one mammoth Mediterranean grill if so, since there are now two adjacent storefronts that are part of this development...

Austin Street Construction Site Update

We noticed that that big hole-in-the-ground construction site next to Bareburger has taken down its "Coming Soon: Urgent Care" sign. This is potentially a good "sign" for the neighborhood. I know many readers found it downright laughable that a third walk-in medical clinic was potentially in the offering for our main shopping thoroughfare. Especially when we have already lost one of our wonderful movie theaters to one, and an Italian restaurant to another!

I have no problem with a walk-in medical clinic, but do we really need three of them on our main shopping drag? Especially when there are so many great new shopping or eating establishments we could still use.

Below is what the site used to look like. The "Coming Soon ProHealth" sign has now been removed.

If I recall correctly, the original idea for this site, or at least the original rumored idea, was for it to become a clothing store like H&M.

Sterling Bank

I think someone had commented on this blog a while ago that Sterling Bank might be the next building up for redevelopment. I noticed these signs in the windows upstairs advertising office space. I can't confirm any plans to close the bank and develop the property, but I thought the fact that they're advertising for a new tenant may say something about any immediate plans or lack thereof. Or maybe it doesn't. Any way, food for thought.