HUNTERS POINT SOUTH: LONG ISLAND CITY’S WATERFRONT GEM

 

Hunters Point South NYC East River View

There are few places in New York City where you can stand along the water, look across the East River at the spectacular Manhattan skyline, and feel as though you have discovered a little piece of paradise. Hunters Point South, in Long Island City, Queens, is one of those special places.

What was once an industrial stretch of factories, warehouses, railroad facilities and working waterfront has become one of the most attractive residential and recreational neighborhoods in New York City. Today, its beautiful parks, waterfront promenades, restaurants and impressive residential buildings have helped transform Long Island City into a destination for residents and visitors alike.

And while the views of Manhattan are certainly a major attraction, there is much more to Hunters Point South than its skyline.

A Waterfront With a History

Long before luxury apartment buildings and landscaped parks arrived, this part of Queens was a center of industry. Factories, lumber yards, warehouses and railroad operations once lined the waterfront. The East River was an important part of the area's commercial life, moving goods and connecting Queens to Manhattan and beyond.

Some reminders of that history remain. The famous Pepsi-Cola sign has become one of the neighborhood's best-known landmarks, while the old industrial structures and railroad gantries recall a time when this waterfront looked very different.

The New York Daily News also had a major printing facility in the area, built in 1972 on a site that had previously been home to a sugar refinery. The neighborhood's transformation has been dramatic, but its industrial past remains part of its identity.

Today, the waterfront offers a completely different experience: walking paths, lawns, gardens, playgrounds, places to sit and enjoy the river, and some of the most memorable views anywhere in the five boroughs.

The Parks Are the Heart of the Neighborhood

Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter's Point South Park are the jewels of the waterfront. Together, they provide residents and visitors with a remarkable amount of open space in an increasingly crowded city.

Gantry Plaza State Park is especially recognizable for its restored industrial gantries, which once helped move rail freight onto barges. They now stand as reminders of the neighborhood's working waterfront and provide a dramatic backdrop for photographs of the Manhattan skyline.

Hunter's Point South Park offers expansive lawns, waterfront walkways, recreational areas, playgrounds and places to relax. Whether someone is out for a morning walk, enjoying an afternoon with the family, exercising, or simply watching the sun set over Manhattan, the parks offer something for everyone.

The waterfront has become a gathering place for the entire community. On warm days, it is filled with people enjoying the outdoors, taking photographs, meeting friends and making the most of one of Queens' most beautiful public spaces.

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy: The People Behind the Parks

 

President Rob Basch And Barbara Etzel

 

Beautiful parks do not take care of themselves. Behind the lawns, gardens, flowers, trees and clean walkways is a tremendous amount of work, dedication and community involvement.

A major part of that effort comes from the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, led by its president, Rob Basch. Rob has devoted years to making sure the waterfront parks remain beautiful, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.

Rob and his wife, Barbara Etzel, are deeply involved in the community and the effort to care for these special public spaces. Their commitment goes beyond simply attending meetings. They give their time and energy to the ongoing work of maintaining and improving the parks, supporting volunteer efforts and helping make sure the waterfront remains a place the entire neighborhood can enjoy.

The work includes gardening, planting flowers and bulbs, removing weeds, organizing cleanups, supporting park improvements and working with city and state park officials. The Conservancy also helps provide equipment, replacement plants and other resources that contribute to the parks' upkeep.

The organization has built a strong volunteer effort, including regular gardening sessions that bring neighbors together to improve the grounds. It is the kind of work that visitors may not always notice, but they certainly benefit from it every time they walk through the parks.

Jessica Sechrist, the Conservancy's Executive Director, brings an impressive background in parks, public programming and community development to Long Island City.

Jessica began her career supporting public programs at Bryant Park in Manhattan. She later spent seven years managing programming, operations and security for a park in downtown Newark, New Jersey. She also worked as a consultant on parks and public-space projects throughout the United States.

She joined the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy in 2021 and lives in Long Island City, giving her a personal connection to the community she serves.

Before entering the parks world, Jessica attended New York University, where she studied High Medieval History and Golden Age Islamic Thought. She grew up in Upstate New York, where visits to the state parks of the Finger Lakes and Central New York helped inspire her appreciation for public green spaces.

Today, Jessica helps oversee the Conservancy's programs, bringing free activities, educational opportunities, fitness classes, outdoor movies, children's events and cultural programming to the waterfront. She also works to protect and improve the parks, advocating for better maintenance, more trees, environmental education and public investment.

Her work helps make the parks much more than beautiful places to take photographs. They are places where families can spend time together, children can learn, neighbors can meet and people of all ages can enjoy the outdoors.

Ann O'Connor, a founding board member, has also contributed to the Conservancy's community efforts, helping bring family-friendly and pet-friendly activities, arts programs, wellness events and other programming to the waterfront.

Together, Rob Basch, Barbara Etzel, Jessica Sechrist, Ann O'Connor, other board members and the many volunteers help make the waterfront a special part of everyday life in Long Island City.

Their work deserves recognition. The parks are a tremendous neighborhood asset, and the people who dedicate their time to maintaining and improving them are a big reason why.

A Neighborhood That Loves Its Dogs

 

Local Legend Stitch On NYC Waterfront

 If there is one thing a visitor quickly notices about Hunters Point South, it is the dogs. The neighborhood has become one of New York City's great dog-friendly communities.

Walk along Center Boulevard or through the waterfront parks and you will see dogs of every size enjoying the scenery with their owners. The parks and sidewalks have become a daily meeting place for dog owners, many of whom know one another through their regular walks.

It is easy to understand why. There are beautiful walking routes, open spaces and plenty of places to stop and enjoy the outdoors. For many residents, their daily walk with the dog is also a chance to catch up with neighbors and enjoy the community.

Hunters Point South has a strong claim to being one of the dog capitals of New York City.

Restaurants Add to the Waterfront Appeal

The dining scene has become another major attraction. From waterfront restaurants with spectacular views to longtime neighborhood favorites, Hunters Point South and nearby Vernon Boulevard offer a variety of places to enjoy a meal.

Osteria Brooklyn @LIC On the Water

Osteria Brooklyn @LIC On the Water deserves special attention. Located at 1-50 50th Avenue, the restaurant brings Italian dining and a waterfront setting together. Its chef and owner, Raffaele Solinas, comes from Alghero, Sardinia, and brings years of culinary experience to Long Island City.

Solinas studied at the Culinary Professional Institute of Hotel and Restaurant Management and worked in luxury hotels and restaurants in Sardinia before traveling the world with Princess Cruises. When his travels brought him toward New York Harbor, he decided to make New York his home.

After working at Giovanni 25 and serving as executive chef at Baraonda, he opened Osteria del Sole in Greenwich Village in 2003. The Long Island City Osteria Brooklyn location opened in 2020.

The menu has included a range of Italian favorites, from house-made pastas and risotto to seafood, traditional meat dishes and pizza. Standouts have included Fettuccine Osteria with its white truffle sauce, crab ravioli, bucatini cacio e pepe, pappardelle with oxtail ragù, linguine alle vongole and branzino. Desserts have included seadas, a traditional Sardinian pastry served with honey.

It is a restaurant that offers residents another reason to stay close to home and enjoy the waterfront.

Frank Ottomanelli's By The Water

Frank Ottomanelli's By The Water

  

Frank Ottomanelli's By The Water is another major part of the Hunters Point South dining scene. Located at 52-10 Center Boulevard inside Hunter's Point South Park, it combines a casual waterfront restaurant with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline.

The Ottomanelli family has a remarkable history in the New York food business. Its roots go back to 1900, when the family's food tradition began with Gennaro Ottomanelli and a pushcart selling cured meats. Over generations, the Ottomanelli name became associated with quality meats, butcher shops and a loyal New York clientele.

Frank Ottomanelli has carried that tradition into a new generation. His family's reputation for quality meat is at the heart of the restaurant's appeal. The menu features burgers, chicken, Belgian fries and other casual favorites, with signature choices such as the Otto Cheeseburger and Butcher Burger.

But there is more to this waterfront location than a good burger. Frank has helped make the space a place where people can gather, celebrate and enjoy the outdoors. The restaurant offers event spaces for weddings, corporate functions, fundraisers and private parties, with the East River and Manhattan skyline providing a remarkable backdrop.

Ottomanelli has also worked to bring more activity to the park, including entertainment and opportunities for local performers and artists. Community events, music and outdoor activities help make the restaurant part of the neighborhood experience rather than simply a place to grab lunch.

It is a family food-business story that has traveled from a New York pushcart more than a century ago to a restaurant overlooking one of the city's most beautiful waterfronts. Frank Ottomanelli has brought an old-fashioned emphasis on food quality and family tradition to a very modern Long Island City setting.

Santa Chiara Caffè - Gelateria

Santa Chiara Caffè - Gelateria offers a different kind of waterfront experience. Located at 52-41 Center Boulevard, it brings a taste of Italy to the neighborhood, with coffee, pastries, gelato and a relaxed café atmosphere.

Santa Chiara is particularly known for its gelato, prepared in small batches in the Italian tradition. For anyone who appreciates a good Italian dessert, it is an appealing stop after a walk along the waterfront or an afternoon in the park.

The pastry counter adds another reason to visit. Italian-style baked goods, croissants, tiramisu and other sweets make it a natural place to stop for an afternoon treat. Coffee and espresso drinks are also an important part of the experience, whether someone wants a morning cappuccino, an afternoon espresso or a leisurely coffee break.

Santa Chiara also offers light café fare, including sandwiches and panini, making it more than just a dessert shop. Its indoor seating and outdoor tables give customers the opportunity to sit back, enjoy something to eat and take in the waterfront atmosphere.

On a beautiful day, the outdoor seating is especially inviting. With the East River nearby and the Manhattan skyline in view, Santa Chiara provides the kind of setting that makes a simple coffee or gelato feel like a little Italian getaway.

For residents, it is a neighborhood café. For visitors exploring Long Island City, it is a wonderful place to take a break and enjoy the scenery.

American Brass

American Brass has also become a familiar name along the waterfront, offering a polished dining experience in a setting that takes advantage of the neighborhood's remarkable location. Its menu and atmosphere make it a popular choice for people looking for a special night out or a relaxed meal near the river.

Manducatis Rustica

Manducatis Rustica is especially meaningful to the area's Italian-American history. The restaurant is led by Gianna Cerbone, known to many as Mama G. Her family's restaurant story in Long Island City goes back generations.

Her parents, Vincenzo and Ida, opened the original Manducatis on Christmas Day in 1977. Gianna continued that family tradition when Manducatis Rustica was established in 2008. Her father, Vincenzo, passed away in 2021 at the age of 91, but the family's legacy remains an important part of the restaurant's story.

For longtime residents, Manducatis is more than a place to eat. It represents the generations of family businesses and Italian-American culture that helped shape this part of Queens.

Tournesol

Tournesol, also on Vernon Boulevard, offers a different kind of dining experience. The French restaurant has long been part of the neighborhood's restaurant landscape and is appreciated by people looking for a cozy place with a European feel.

Together, these restaurants help give Hunters Point South and Long Island City a dining identity of their own. Residents no longer have to cross the river to find interesting places to eat.

New Buildings, New Residents and the Question of Affordability

The growth of Hunters Point South has been extraordinary. Residential towers have changed the skyline, brought thousands of new residents to the waterfront and helped create a neighborhood that barely resembles its industrial past.

The larger Hunters Point South development was planned to include thousands of homes, with a significant affordable-housing component. That commitment is important because the success of the neighborhood should not be measured only by the number of new luxury buildings or the price of the apartments overlooking Manhattan.

As Long Island City continues to grow, affordability remains one of its biggest challenges. The neighborhood needs to remain a place where people with different incomes and backgrounds can live, work and raise families. Preserving a mix of housing options is essential to keeping the community diverse and vibrant.

Growth has brought new businesses, restaurants and services, but it also places greater demands on transportation, schools, public spaces and neighborhood infrastructure. The challenge will be making sure that the area's public amenities keep pace with its growing population.

A Special Part of Queens

Hunters Point South has become one of the most recognizable waterfront destinations in New York City. Its combination of parks, restaurants, residential buildings, historic reminders and extraordinary views makes it different from almost anywhere else in Queens.

It is a place where longtime residents and newcomers share the same sidewalks, where dogs have become part of the neighborhood scene, and where families, runners, photographers and visitors all find something to enjoy.

The transformation of this waterfront is a remarkable New York story. An industrial landscape has become a thriving community, but its greatest value is not simply the new buildings or the real estate.

It is the public waterfront, the parks, the neighborhood businesses and, most importantly, the people who work to keep this community special. People like Rob Basch and Barbara Etzel, Jessica Sechrist, Ann O'Connor, and the many volunteers who give their time to protect and improve these public spaces deserve recognition.

With its remarkable views, beautiful parks, vibrant dining scene and unmistakable connection to the East River, Hunters Point South has become one of Queens' waterfront gems.

And as the neighborhood continues to evolve, its greatest challenge will also be its greatest opportunity: preserving the history and community spirit that make it more than just another collection of luxury towers overlooking Manhattan.

Photos By James Edstrom