What is the Queensboro People’s Space?
The Queensboro People’s Space (QPS) is a community-led building project that repurposes a 670,000-square-foot city-owned building into a space for small businesses, artists, and organizations dedicated to education, workforce development, and food justice. The Department of Education currently uses the building (at 44th Dr & Vernon Blvd), but the city has plans to repurpose it in the near future. QPS would be a lifeline for light manufacturers, street vendors, artists and creatives of all types, urban farmers, and non-profit organizations, all in urgent need of affordable work spaces to survive and succeed. We encourage you to check out an early version of our community vision communicated in the QPS feasibility report.
What’s the timeline for QPS?
In 2025, we submitted our community-led vision to the City’s “Request for Expression of Interest” (RFEI). The submitted RFEI responses will shape the City’s final “Request for Proposals” (RFP), which is expected to be announced sometime in 2026. As that process moves forward, we will continue to engage with the City and advocate for a proposal that reflects the community’s vision and priorities.
Who developed the QPS project?
The entire community! Spearheaded by WQCLT, the project began in 2021, when we worked with an architect and put out a call among Western Queens residents and organizations regarding their needs for an affordable working space. All this input was brought together in our first feasibility report, which was then circulated among the community, city agencies, and elected officials. When the city released its Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) in 2025, this report was updated with new financials and partners to reflect the current landscape.
What is WQCLT doing now to advance the QPS vision?
- Forming an advisory committee to help us prepare for the RFP
- Looking for development partners who support our mission
- Reaching out to our community to build grassroots support for the QPS
- Getting our vision in front of as many decision-makers as possible! Read about our guiding principles here.
Can I rent space in the QPS?
Not yet! But if / when the city awards us the RFP, we’ll let the community know!
What can I do to support the project?
There are several easy ways LIC residents can support Queensboro People’s Space (QPS) and help protect public land for deeply affordable commercial and community space.
Call elected officials
Hearing directly from local residents makes a real difference.
- Call the Mayor’s Office: Dial 311 (within NYC) or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) and ask to leave a message for the Mayor in support of QPS.
- Call your NYC Council Member: Find your Council Member and their contact information by entering your address here: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/
When calling, mention that you are a Long Island City resident and that preserving affordable space for manufacturers, artists, and small businesses matters to you. Here’s a sample script you can use.
Volunteer with the QPS Committee
Help with outreach, events, research, or logistics. Any amount of time helps strengthen community support. You can contact us here or send an email to westernqueensclt@gmail.com
Attend a WQCLT event
Join community meetings, info sessions, and public events hosted by Western Queens Community Land Trust to show visible local support and stay involved.
How can I join the fight?
Join the next general meeting in March and join our QPS committee by reaching out to us via email at info@wqclt.org
