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The name is a wink at the past: 2-20 Malt Drive rises on a former sugar-processing and beer-distribution site, right where Center Boulevard meets the Long Island City waterfront.
Today it's the South Tower of the two-building Malt Drive complex — a brand-new luxury rental on a brand-new street, with Malt Drive Park at the front door and the Manhattan skyline out the window. If LIC's waterfront living had a flagship, this is a strong contender.
The basics
Completed around 2022 in Hunter's Point South, 2-20 Malt Drive offers studios, one-, and two-bedrooms. Every apartment comes with the things renters actually fight over: oversized windows and serious natural light, high ceilings, induction cooktops, in-unit washer/dryer, and — on the right exposures — direct East River and city views. Pets are genuinely welcome here, which brings us to the amenities.
The amenities
This is a full-service, amenity-forward building, and it shares perks across both towers:
- A rooftop oasis — an outdoor lap pool, sundeck, and BBQ grills with skyline views.
- A state-of-the-art fitness center with a dedicated training room.
- A HomeWork coworking lounge, clubroom, and two social lounges with billiards and games.
- A children's playroom, bike storage, and on-site parking.
- An attended lobby and live-in super — the service touches that make a building run.
- JoJo & Co. Pet Club right off the lobby, for on-site pet care.
The showpiece is the rooftop pool deck, and the ferry-and-park location is arguably worth as much as any amenity inside.
Building at a Glance
- Address
- 2-20 Malt Drive, Long Island City (11101)
- Area
- Hunter's Point South, on the waterfront
- Homes
- Studio to 2-bedroom rentals · South Tower of the Malt Drive complex
- Built
- ~2022
- Parking
- On-site garage
- Transit
- NYC Ferry steps away · 7 at Vernon Blvd–Jackson Ave (~0.5 mi)
What it costs
This is a premium waterfront building priced at LIC's higher end — but it leans hard on concessions to fill units, and that's where the real story is. Approximate base rents as of mid-2026:
Typical Monthly Rent
- Studio
- from ~$3,600
- 1 Bedroom
- ~$4,500 – $5,000
- 2 Bedroom
- ~$6,500 and up
The honest cons
- It's expensive. Even with concessions, this is top-of-market LIC pricing.
- Gross vs. net effective is confusing. Those "months free" deals make the advertised number and the number you actually pay two different things — get both.
- It's a big amenity building. That means more turnover and a more transient feel than a small building.
- Views and light depend on the unit. Exposure and floor make a huge difference here — ask exactly what a specific apartment faces.
Moving into 2-20 Malt Drive?
Waterfront high-rises mean COIs, loading docks, and freight-elevator reservations — the kind of details 365 Move handles every day. Let us take the building logistics off your plate.