LICNYC took a closer look at Purves Street, a quait little industrial dead end street near Court Square that pretty much tells you the whole story of the LIC transformation. (map)

Purves Street is one block North of Court Square. You may know it because SculptureCenter is on that block, the Maya Lin designed renovated industrial fabrication building that houses avant garde installations, performance, mixed media, painting, and...well, sculpture. Very very occasionally, they'll even have a party.

Or you may know it for the even more recent building with blue and white aluminum cladding -- the more economical and more view-friendly condo tower just steps away from the flashier Arris project next door.

LICNYC knows it as a quiet little street with a pile of abandoned tires at the end of the block, convenient DOT truck parking for big yucky trucks, and even an entire parcel or two that those guys "own" (the DOT, we mean) and don't use for much of anything except storing orange traffic cones.

There's also Nastasi's back entrance -- that's the dude who fixes Lamborghinis and Ferraris and also the owner of the building next to the Citibank tower that is soon-to-be Sovereign Bank.

There are 5 or 6 more buildings on the block that are auto repair, construction, or demolition type users. Across Jackson Ave is one of the best lunch places in the five boros (and definitely in LIC) -- Sage American Kitchen. You must check it out some time.

Well, all that is changing fast. Another big project is going up on Jackson Ave and while Mr. Nastasi doesn't look like he needs to sell we think the other buildings on the street will soon feel tired of the condo shadows and go condo for themselves. Au revoir Purves!

Check out the gallery pictures for a closer look.