The Long Island City area was one that harbored a lot of potential for development especially in the realm of real estate and that was something that the city government was able to recognize. The riverside properties as well as the spectacular views of the city were not being utilized correctly to its full extent however that would change thanks to the Queens West Project. The Queens West Project was initiated in the early 1980’s and was a 2.3 billion dollar project that would oversee the improvement of 74 acres of land in the Long Island City area that was largely dominated by abandoned buildings, factories, and warehouses. 44 of the 74 acres would be used to create 11 residential complexes that would host 4500 residential living spaces and 120,000 square feet of commercial space. 13 acres of the land allotted was also set aside for usage as public park space, as well as a library and two public schools. The Queens West Project was such a success that it was expanded in 2009 by Mayor Bloomberg. This time 350 million dollars and 30 acres of land were allocated to the city to transform the Hunters Point location in Long Island City for further real estate development. These projects greatly increased the aesthetic appearance of the neighborhood which ultimately improved the neighborhood in its entirety.
