May 12, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
The iconic LIC Clock Tower is now safe.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to landmark the 11-story building, known for its neo-Gothic detailing, gargoyles and its glass clock face.
The Clock Tower – located at 29-27 Queens Plaza North– was the tallest building in Queens prior to the construction of the Citigroup Building in 1990.
“For nearly a century, the Queens Clock Tower building has been one of Long Island City’s most recognizable structures, greeting hundreds of thousands of commuters as they enter the borough,” Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said in a statement.
“The Commission is proud to recognize this iconic building, which represents a significant period of development in Long Island City.”
The designation marks a victory for a months-long community campaign to landmark the tower, which was once the Bank of Manhattan Building. A petition to landmark the Clock Tower garnered more than 1,600 signatures.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer also wrote a letter to the LPC last year calling on the agency to landmark the structure.
Queens Plaza Park Development, a partnership between Property Markets Group and the Hakim Organization, purchased the tower last November.
The owners could not immediately be reached for comment.
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13 Comments
Very negative neighborhood. All people do is complain.
Does anyone ever have anything good to say?
I predict a massive fire within a year.
Why wasn’t the King Boulevard building land marked. It was one of the stops along the Underground Railroad for many Irish and Hispanic immigrants during the 1980’s. My uncle Del loco stopped in at the bar next door when he came to America. Those sandwiches are disgusting!
@El loco
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission defines a landmark as a building, property or object that has a special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the city, state, or nation. New York City has more than 23,000 landmarks including individual, interior and scenic landmarks and historic districts.
Your post isn’t funny or clever which is typical for you. Just reeks of Fox stupidity.
You humiurless imbecile I was only joking. And you fell for it. Get a life. I’m surprised you’re able to pass the I’m not a robot test. Can you pick which one is the cake. Duh. Hey can you give me that explanation again about the land marking process again?
Land Pirates
this gets landmarked, but the sunnyside theater that was in regular use wasn’t? i realize most will say that the theater was a shithole, but that can always be fixed.
That can always be fixed?? By who?? Who will pay for that????? The owner of the theater didn’t care so who was going to pay to fix it up………..you live in a dream world!!
It’s ugly. Should have been demolished and new building should have been required to have some type of clock or something. I think the claim as the clock tower being the tallest building in Queens until the Citigroup building being constructed is erroneous, Silver Tower on Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens and the Kennedy coop on Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills are both taller than the clock tower.
That’s nice but it never displays the right time.
You’re right and the building doesn’t have many businesses in it or residents. Basically, its empty.
Everyday.