Gotta hand it to this QueensLink group for plugging away at this day after day. I had a great time researching this and heading down to visit the area, and you never know where this might end up. Also this video isn't sponsored I just like transit lol

After 2+ months of looking on Streeteasy every day, Claudia finally found her dream apartment. "The listing photos were tragic, but I spotted the massive windows with original shutters and of course, the Pier Mirror. The home was built in 1900 and was originally owned by a doctor and his family. I toured it the next morning, became BFFs with the broker of the building, and got accepted soon after."

Claudia moved in on November 4th, 2023 and got to work making updates almost immediately. "I had the walls painted a fresh creamy white color, installed floor-to-ceiling shelves and made some renter-friendly updates to the kitchen. I love how tall the ceilings are and all of the original dark moldings. I feel like the months of getting denied by other apartments was all so I could find this place. We were made for eachother!"

If there’s one piece of advice I can give to others moving into a new space, it’s to never rush. Slowly collecting pieces you truly love is so worth it in the end. I love pieces that tell a story and hold memories.

The history of New York City’s lost City Island monorail is a fascinating chapter in urban planning that illustrates both ambition and failure. In the early 20th century, City Island—located in the Bronx—was a vibrant maritime community with limited transportation connections to the rest of New York. To address this, a bold plan was conceived in the early 1910s to link City Island to the mainland via a monorail. The project, officially called the Pelham Park and City Island Railroad, was envisioned as a cutting-edge transportation solution using elevated rail technology. The system was designed to stretch over the wetlands of Pelham Bay Park, reducing the need for more invasive infrastructure.

Construction began in 1910, and by 1914, a prototype was operational. However, it was short-lived. The monorail faced significant technical issues, including mechanical failures and derailments. Public skepticism and political opposition grew, and with World War I diverting resources and attention, the project was abandoned. City Island residents continued to rely on other modes of transportation, such as streetcars and ferries. Today, the remnants of the monorail are long gone, but its story remains a curious reminder of New York’s ambitious—yet sometimes impractical—transportation experiments.