LONG ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS® TURNS NAR GRANTS

INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN

THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

Marlo Paventi, the senior director of public policy & government affairs for The Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) said the Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden was yet another opportunity to create a safe, productive space during the pandemic.

She noted that LIBOR was happy that the town of Babylon provided an amenity that will pay dividends perpetually.

When the garden opened a few years ago, LIBOR thanked Shaffer, Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory and Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean Pierre for their support of the project.

The LIBOR community amenity initiatives are wonderful examples of cross-generational ideas and projects that will provide connections within the neighborhoods for generations to come.

LONG ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS® TURNS NAR GRANTS

INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN

THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

The town of Babylon horticulturist oversees the Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden, which produces various fruits and vegetables depending on the season.

The garden was created on less than an acre of town-owned land by the senior center parking lot. It features raised beds to allow gardening access by people with limited mobility.

“Engaging in gardening activities has been proven to have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety while promoting a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

The therapeutic aspects of working in a community garden cannot be understated, as it provides a peaceful and nurturing environment for individuals to connect with nature and each other,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer and Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Antonio Martinez, in a joint statement.

“The Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden is a shining example of how a simple initiative can have far-reaching benefits for our community.

Together, let us continue to cultivate a healthier and happier community for all.”

LONG ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS® TURNS NAR GRANTS

INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN

THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

The Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) used an NAR Placemaking Grant to create the Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County on Long Island.

The garden provides fresh fruits and vegetables to a local soup kitchen and the Wyandanch Senior Nutrition Center.

“The Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden not only provides access to fresh produce but also fosters a sense of community and well-being among our residents.

The proximity of the garden to the senior center is invaluable, as it allows our seniors to engage in meaningful activities that promote physical health and social interaction,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer and Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Antonio Martinez, in a joint statement.

“Furthermore, the provision of free produce in a lower-income community like Wyandanch is a testament to our commitment to addressing food insecurity and promoting healthy eating habits.

By offering fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, we are not only nourishing bodies but also empowering individuals to make nutritious choices for themselves and their families.”

LONG ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS® TURNS NAR GRANTS

INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN

THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

The Long Island Board of REALTORS® funded urban space is shaded by a large sunshade sail provided by Rockaway Brewing Company.

It is fixed to the Rockaway building and spans over the sidewalk and the Street Seat.

The colorful theme of the Street Seat matches a mural on the face of the adjacent Rockaway Brewing Company.

Rockaway graciously agreed to cover the liability of the space and maintain it.

“Community is at the heart of real estate, which is why REALTORS® volunteer at twice the rate of the general population,” said LIBOR President Kevin Leatherman, in a statement released during this year’s spruce up of the Long Island City Street Seat.

“We are incredibly proud of our members who go above and beyond helping consumers buy and sell homes.

At LIBOR, we are committed to creating better, more vibrant communities, and volunteerism is central to that mission.

Our REALTORS® are dedicated to making a lasting impact, ensuring that our neighborhoods are wonderful places to live, work and thrive for generations.”

 

 

LONG ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS® TURNS NAR GRANTS

INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN

THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

The Long Island Board of REALTORS® funded a parklet in Long Island City Queens.

“This was done during COVID, to provide more outdoor space for distancing in a bustling Queens community,” said Marlo Paventi, the senior director of public policy & government affairs for LIBOR.

“It is boxed in and protected from cars by larger planter boxes that have bench seating built into them. There also are circular benches built in the middle and connected together.”

A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® Placemaking Grant funded the project that immediately became part of the growing neighborhood’s fabric.

“We hired a consultant, got permits, worked with New York City Parks and hired a firm to build it,” Paventi said.

“Several of our REALTORS® volunteered in July to repaint, plant flowers and spruce up the 2021 project.”

 

LONG ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS® TURNS NAR GRANTS

INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN

THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

Long Island City is a vibrant neighborhood known for restaurants, shops, galleries, event venues and million-dollar views of Manhattan across the East River.

The location at 46th and 5th Street is footsteps from the waterfront featuring Gantry Plaza State Park, NYC Ferry dock and the famous neon-lit historic Pepsi Cola sign. It was the perfect place to turn a trio of parking spaces into a Street Seat.

A Street Seat, sometimes known as a parklet, turns parking spaces into people places by introducing seating, greenery and shade over asphalt.

The Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) chose the location to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of individuals who patronize local businesses—providing a safe and inviting place to rest, meet up, eat and enjoy the community.

 

INCLUSION FOR ALL IS THE ONLY WAY TO DESIGN AND BUILD PUBLIC SPACE

IT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY SIMPLE TOPOGRAPHY 

AND GENTLY SLOPED RAMPS

Much of the Long Island City Queens waterfront was once industrial.

Factories depended on access to the East River.

Now most of the area is lined with exclusive apartments that feature amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.

Developers of the waterfront public space did two things perfectly:

1) They set the buildings back a big enough distance from the water to create miles of fresh public space.

2) The used simple grading of fill soil plus ramps to make the park space wheelchair-accessible for miles.

The boarding spots for the water taxi have ramps.

The various fishing/observation piers that jut out into the East River all are barrier-free.

Gantry Plaza State Park may well be the best free space in all of New York.

At sunset into the night, its views of Manhattan are unrivaled.

And its access is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and their families.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

The only other thing I would add to the super-comfortable room is a grab bar and shower wand in the outstanding shower.

Grab bars and wands are not just for people with disabilities.

We all like to have something to steady ourselves with late night in an unfamiliar shower.

And the shower wand -- it just plain reaches places that even the nicest overhead nozzle cannot.

Bottom line, if work is taking you to Midtown – or your vacation needs a very well-run lodging close to transit, book an Empire State Building-facing room at Executive Hotel le Soleil New York.

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

I specifically wanted a room with a mini fridge.

I have lost more than 100 pounds and the key to it is eating fruit and grains for breakfast and storing healthy snacks along with almond milk for cereal, etc. 

I even emailed to confirm the fridge at booking time.

On arrival, the fridge was room temp, but I figured they maybe just plugged it in.

The next day, my berries looked like they were not doing well.

By the night of the first full day, my nonfat milk had spoiled and I realized that the fridge was barely cooling.

On the plus side, I phoned the next early morning and they switched out the fridge for a great one.

Whoever came to the room put every last item in the fridge exactly as I had left it + they did not disturb one square inch of the other parts of the room. 

Bravo. 

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT\

For less than $3 one-way, the ferry takes you to Long Island City, Wall Street area, Upper East Side and several key stops in Queens.

I used the Hornblower NYC Ferry Service for a lot of work and leisure mobility.

It worked for Manhattan skyline photos at dusk, for running along the river for exercise and for transit that also gave tourist-class views of the city in late summer.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

I never used a taxi or ride share. 

Koreatown food is blocks away.

A huge Whole Foods is a few blocks up by Bryant Park, so I could get milk, berries, cereal and more for breakfast in the room.

The 34 special bus stops very close by and it's a great east-west connector, especially the route that stops at FDR and the East River.

That's exactly where the NYC Ferry (water taxi) stops.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

Daily housekeeping was not done due to COVID.

But I don't like daily intrusions and if I needed a spare towel, shampoo, anything -- it was in my room in lightning speed.

The front desk as warm and fast for check in. 

View of Empire State building through large window in room was a cool bonus.

The neighborhood was quiet at night -- as this is not exactly hipster ground zero location.

There is major train transit nearby at Herald Square, Penn Station and Times Square.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

The price point was amazing. 

A $250 to $300 room for $150 (plus taxes).

Very quiet room with a great bed and efficient layout.

I loved the walk-in shower with endless hot water.

The room is not big, but I don't come to New York to sit in the room.

The storage space, mainly a vertical tower with all kinds of drawers and open cubes, was the best I've seen in a compact room.

It had a great desk (also my breakfast bar) and closet. Lots of outlets and two charging stations on the clock radio.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

Blues, purples, reds, oranges and other pastels enhance the beauty of Manhattan at dusk.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

Even though the super-tall buildings are vintage 2021, there's something about the tone and texture of this image that feels like 1970s NYC.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

Sun setting over Manhattan's ever-evolving skyline of skyscrapers.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

Gantry Plaza State Park is the perfect waterfront location for photographing the Manhattan skyline.

The park, fronting the East River, is totally wheelchair-accessible.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

 FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

The Chrysler Building -- an American art deco classic.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

Moon over Manhattan.

June 2021

First trip since COVID pandemic.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

 FROM LONG ISLAND CITY

A slight thematic blur in this shot across the East River taking in Midtown to Lower Manhattan.