The Vanity of an Ancient King

There's a whole new series of new condo/coop construction happening in Long Island City, and while some of the real estate is on the water and is fabulous, it's worth avoiding any of the properties too close to the Queensboro Plaza subway stop. In addition to the quick commute, the neighborhood features a surplus of "gentlemen's clubs," a view of the relatively high crime Queensbridge Houses projects, or the one fortunate building whose front door is the bus stop where they discharge the Riker's Island prison bus every morning at 430. Oh, and fabulous views from each apartment of the shuttered parking garage immediately across the street.