OuterB on Queens Real Estate

Well, it’s happened - all work has been ordered to stop at the construction site of the St. John’s University dormitory. It’s too bad, because the university could really use this student housing, and you know university construction always takes for-ever. But, as reported by the Queens Chronicle, the Department of Buildings found some problems with the plans for the residence hall:

The original plans were self-certified by Ramy Isaac, who was recently described in New York Magazine as the “go-to guy” for illegal East Village apartment enlargements — including, in some cases, additional penthouses on existing buildings. Following a buildings department probe into his work, Isaac voluntarily surrendered his right to self-certify building plans in April.

Read on:

St. John’s Dorm Project Halted By DOB Order

[Queens Chronicle]

amNY has another profile on Queens, this time focusing on the lovely community of Jamaica Estates. It’s a highly desirable neighborhood because of the good schools and libraries, and the tudor architecture… for some. Jamaica Estates is plagued by the arrival of the McMansion, homes built in a style vastly different from the 1920s architecture prevalent in the area. Some people hate it, some love it, but both can agree that it’s the source of much controversy:

The style of the newer houses (one realtor charitably called it “Mediterranean”) is radically different from the area’s trademark Tudor architecture. In some cases, ancient maple, ash and oak trees are taken down to make room for the houses, upsetting longtime residents. “They really resent it. They feel the area has lost its charm and its uniqueness,” said Julia Shildkret, owner of Julia Shildkret Realty Group. “These structures are taller, imposing, dwarfing the houses around them, taking away the light.”

Along with the McMansions, zoning changes are coming to the south in Jamaica, which could affect Jamaica Estates to the north. There’s a plan that was recently proposed by the city’s Planning department that would rezone 368 blocks of Jamaica, allowing construction of seven- to 12-story towers along Hillside Avenue, which borders the south of Jamaica Estates. This would definitely change the character of the area even more, bringing increased traffic and further crowding.

I think it sucks that so many old trees are coming down. What is up with people in this town chopping down the trees??? Ugh.

And how ironic is it that Real Estate mogul Donald Trump grew up in Jamaica Estates! I wonder what he thinks of the changes in his hometown…

• City Living: Jamaica Estates [amNY]

Related: They Came From Queens - Donald Trump From Jamaica Estates [about.com]

OAKLAND GARDENS

$225,000

67-69 223 Place, Oakland Gardens, NY

Two-bedroom, one-bath co-op, 750 square feet, with living room, dining area, eat-in kitchen, wall-to-wall carpeting, two AC units and storage attic. Maintenance $664, includes taxes, heat, gas, snow removal and gardening. Asking price: $239,000; on the market for 15 weeks.

Broker: Carollo Real Estate

Source: New York Post - 7/12

LONG ISLAND CITY

$575,000

41-26 27th Street, Long Island City, NY

Two-bedroom, two-bath condo, 1,167 square feet, with dining area, high ceilings, GE stainless-steel appliances, washer/dryer hook-up and terrace; new-construction building features part-time doorman, parking, roof deck, laundry, storage and live-in super. Common charges $640, taxes $38 (15-year tax-abatement). Asking price: $575,000; on the market for five weeks.

Broker: The Developers Group

Source: New York Post - 7/12

BAYSIDE

$580,000

47-18 Springfield Boulevard, Bayside, NY

Three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath Colonial on a 25-foot-by-103-foot lot, with dining room, living room, hardwood floors, full finished basement and private driveway. Taxes: $3,800. Asking price: $599,000; on the market for two weeks.

Broker: Carollo Real Estate

Source: New York Post - 7/19

FOREST HILLS GARDENS

$875,000

216 Burns Street, Forest Hills Gardens, NY

72-year-old, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom brick Tudor townhouse. Dining room, family room, finished basement, renovated kitchen, h/w floors, balcony, full attic. 1-car garage. 21-by-104-foot lot. Taxes: $4,017. Asking price: $895,000; on the market for four weeks.

Broker: Terrace Realty

Source: New York Times - 7/13

JAMAICA ESTATES

$2,276,000

84-51 Chevy Chase Street, Jamaica Estates, NY

4-bedroom, 5-bathroom, 3-year-old stucco and brick colonial. Living room fireplace, h/w floors, finished basement, and a 2-car garage. Taxes: $12,000. Asking price: $2,499,000; on the market for 7 weeks.

Broker: Julia Shildkret

Source: New York Times -7/20

“It looks more like an A-bomb shelter from the 1950s.”

That’s the description Thomas Lucas gives John Hsu’s “dream home” in Flushing, according to an article in amNY. Flushing is one of the areas of Queens that has given rise to the McMansion, a kind of house that almost overshadows the lot it’s on. Many consider them ugly and overbearing and certainly not in the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Other parts of Queens, often referred to as “suburban” are also home to these leviathan buildings, including Bayside, Douglaston and Richmond Hill.

In places like Jamaica Estates, home of many old tudor homes and plenty of old trees, both are falling to the desires of “younger tastes”. These tastes lean toward the need for more space, which usually means tearing down an existing structure and rebuilding on almost the entire lot. Long time neighbors find this frustrating and say it’s disrespectful to the character of the neighborhood and the quality of life they are used to. There’s an awful lot of cement in these new buildings, too. They become mini heat islands, especially with the trees gone.  Frankly, I find the exurban aesthetic rather grotesque and find the exurbanization of the suburban areas of Queens - with regard to the concept of space in both home and vehicle - repulsive.

Related:
‘McMansions’ pit neighbors vs. dream homes [amNY]
Tudor Charm Loses Ground to McMansion Space [NY Times]
We’re Losing Our Capes! Part 2 [progressive southside]

Advertised as “Indoor Pool, 6 Bedrooms, Master Suite, 3 Jacuzzi, 2 Dn.rooms, Marble Floors. Maids Quarters, Florida Room. Custom Built. Dreams Dreams Dreams.”  It’s just rubble!

An MLS listing via the Foxtons site.

Time Out New York came up with a list of the 50 best blocks in NYC. LIC’s Hunters Point Historic District got a well-deserved top pick at number 4, and Forest Hills, Astoria, and Sunnyside Gardens made the cut as well. My fave of their choices, though, was the Greystones in Jackson Heights, a block of facing co-ops with limestone facades “set against an overwhelmingly red-brick backdrop.”

But just straight out shocking to me is that Douglas Manor, Ridgewood, Midland Parkway in Jamaica Estates, Rockaway Beach, Kew Gardens, and Addisleigh Park didn’t make the cut. But if it ain’t in Manhattan or Brooklyn, it’s already far off Time Out’s radar. In other words, it’s OuterB.

So what are your favorite blocks in Queens?

• Time Out NY - 50 Best Blocks

JAMAICA ESTATES

$1.374 million

186-30 Troon Rd, Jamaica Estates, NY

Three-bedroom, four-bath, 61-year-old Colonial, family room, fireplace, finished basement, 2 balconies, ciruclar driveway, 2-car garage, 100×100 lot, $6,838 taxes, listed at $1.398 million. Broker: Re/Max Millennium. Source - NY Times 9/8/06

This weekend there’s a walking tour of Jamaica Estates, Holliswood, and Hollis. Here are a couple open houses picks to follow up on in the neighborhood. If you’ve never been, the area is great, suburban with lots of old, old trees.

• May 20 and 21, 2006 - 1-4 pm - 85-39 Avon St, Jamaica Estates - $1,350,000

• May 21- noon-3pm - 181-38 Henley Rd , Jamaica Estates - $849,000

ASTORIA $680,000

21-13 24th Road, Astoria, NY

Two-family attached brick house on a 16-foot-by-85-foot lot, with two two-bedroom, one-bath units with eat-in kitchens and hardwood floors; home features full finished basement with bath and separate entrance. Taxes $2,695. Asking price $689,000, on market 16 weeks. (Broker: Anthony Carollo, Carollo Real Estate) Source - NY Post 3/18/06

JAMAICA ESTATES $946,000

85-11 Avon St., Jamaica Estates, NY

Prewar four-bedroom, 21/2-bath stone Tudor on a 54-foot-by-117-foot lot, with new eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, formal dining room, living room with fireplace, solarium, Jacuzzi, hardwood floors, wall-to-wall carpeting, attic, full finished basement, washer/dryer, dishwasher, central AC, private driveway and attached one-car garage. Taxes $4,235. Asking price $999,000, on market 81 days. (Brokers: Maria Sieh, Sarah Friedman and Dalia Hodes, Century 21 Laffey Associates) Source - NY Post 3/18/06