2-17 51st Avenue, #1110

There’s something antiquated in Long Island City’s name, for this diverse, newly arty destination located in the New York City borough of Queens hasn’t been an independent city since 1898. And geographically, it’s on Long Island like the rest of Queens, without being of Long Island. The other major date in the life of Long Island City — a much more recent milestone — is 2001, when a centrally located 34-block industrial area was rezoned to allow mixed-use development, including residential high-rises. Amazon or no Amazon, everything about Long Island City spells a good investment. Gentrification in this well-educated area has taken hold in a way that is impossible to miss, if unevenly apparent. Across the East River from Manhattan, Long Island City isn’t just one Queens neighborhood: It takes in the villages of Astoria and Hunters Point (which are the most buzzy and desirable), as well as Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Middletown, Sunnyside, Blissville, and Bowery Bay. As a result of Long Island City’s sprawl, real estate prices, accessibility, and amenities vary considerably.