“I was raised in this apartment,” Peter Diaz, 37, said, as he glanced at the Manhattan skyline from his 3rd floor window. Surrounded by a multitude of turntables, headphones, and speakers, he took a sip from his Coors Light beer, and he continued to reflect on his life in Long Island City, “I always loved that I could see the Empire State building from here.”
Located in northwestern Queens, Long Island City or “L.I.C.” as it is often referred, is the largest neighborhood in the borough, and as of recent years, the most susceptible to changes caused by gentrification. “Growing up, this neighborhood was very industrial. You know if you go a little this way,” Diaz said, using his just-lit cigarette to point west, “You can still see some of the old warehouses.”
The neighborhood has always shown its true Queens colors by being predominantly occupied by immigrants, working class people, and artists, Diaz being one of them. “It’s pretty cool because there’s a strip that’s Indian. It started as one store, then two stores, and now they have a thriving community,” he continued, “then from here to 36th it’s predominately Brazilian, I want to say.”
It was just last month that marked the 5th year of Diaz’s return to the apartment he grew up in, after his mother, who was diagnosed with scoliosis, moved out. However, the apartment isn’t the only thing Diaz reclaimed.
In addition to the property, Diaz also inherited the current problems that come with living in a rent-controlled apartment. “I’ve been in court for about four years now,” Diaz said. “I’m fighting Vantage to keep my apartment’s rent from rising four times.”
Vantage Properties LLC is a multi-family unit landlord, well known for buying out properties throughout Queens, Harlem, and Upper Manhattan. It was just in 2010 that Governor Cuomo sued them on allegations that Vantage was trying to get rid of rent-regulated tenants, in order to raise the rent for new tenants, as reported by New York Times journalist, Charles V. Bagli. Eventually, they ended up reaching a $1,000,000 settlement with the mayor.
Currently, this is an issue of particular significance to Queens residents like Diaz. Over half of the population in Queens is classified as “rent burdened,” where the rent is greater than 30% of income, according to the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. “The constant harassment from Vantage has me looking into law school.” Diaz said with a laugh. “I have a stack of papers so high from them. I walk into court with two briefcases.”
Rent-control is only one of the changes that has occurred in Long Island City. Residents are also acknowledging that L.I.C., slowly but surely, has taken a new course in the past decade or so with the rise and expansion of so many developments. “Being raised here as a kid, this block was pretty quiet, ” Diaz said in a nostalgic tone, “but I knew developments were bound to be built, because I lived so close to the city.” Recognizing its close proximity to Manhattan yet cheaper property rates, realtors and business owners alike have been determined to capitalize on this neighborhood for years.
However, aside from the developmental changes, Diaz has also seen L.I.C. transform from primarily a resting place for factories and warehouses to being classified as the largest art district in New York City, comprising of museums, galleries and a great deal of studio space.
As an award-winning DJ, Diaz, also known by his stage name as “Petey Complex”, utilizes the abundance of recording studios in L.I.C., “I scratch hooks for artists who record at Goblin Studios a few blocks from my apartment,” Diaz explained as a hip-hop song leaked from his computer speakers and faded into the background. “He recently won the DMC NYC Regional DJ Battle, and came in second nationally,” his roommate and long term friend, Cherie Merenda, 34, interjected proudly.
Despite his love for music, Diaz was not always a full-time DJ. Before his musical career took off, he worked as a sales coordinator for the largest publishing company in the state, Penguin Random House. “I love words, english was my favorite class,” Diaz said, “My english professor almost got me to major in it, but I didn’t want to be a journalist because it was really tough, and teaching just wasn’t going to happen.”
Presently, Diaz travels around the country putting his DJ’ing skills to the test and hosting events. He is part of the collaborative group “Get Summered”, along with photographers, artists, and designers. “We have a pretty cool collective full of really creative people, for instance, my Melody works as the motions director for Ralph Lauren,” Diaz said. Described as a movement by it’s creators, “Get Summered” focuses on creating fun events, good music, and even apparel. Co-collaborator Victor Krebs, otherwise known as DJ Vic, said of Diaz, “Peter is a true artist and New Yorker, he possesses so much talent and soul and he’s a great addition to the collective.”
It has been nearly 24 years since Diaz fell in love with hip-hop music, and began DJ’ing at the tender age of just 13. “I was in Jamaica [Queens] at my uncles block party, and I heard ‘Lodi Dodi’ by Slick Rick come on through the largest speakers I’d ever seen. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a DJ.” Diaz said as he rummaged through photos of his youth. Then picking up a picture of the Queensboro Bridge, he added: “I wouldn’t live anywhere else, man, Queens has my heart.”
