OuterB on Queens Real Estate

This past weekend, I attended the historic walking tour through Flushing.  While waiting, I snapped a picture of the RKO Keith’s theater, once a majestic building and space, now a real eyesore.  It was supposed to be turned into condos, but the developer, Boymelgreen Development, is selling the building.  They are having their own internal problems, and as a result, have left this space as is and in terrible shape.  The lobby is landmarked but was damaged some years ago.

I’ve read a lot of stories about this building and understand that it was a real looker in its heyday.  Before I saw it last Saturday, I thought it would be a much more imposing building.  Stripped and abandoned as it is, it gives the impression of a much smaller structure.  From the comments I heard from others on the tour, it’s heartbreaking to those who grew up with it to see it in such disrepair.

It’s location is somewhat convenient, on Northern Blvd, a few blocks from the subway/LIRR and on a major driving thoroughfare.  Northern Blvd in parts nearby is an imposing and oppressive place to pedestrians (and bikes, I imagine).  I know I wouldn’t want to live on what is basically a highway. 

So, it will be interesting to see what happens to this building, if it gets bought by another developer or if it gets the chance to become a theater again.

This week, the Historic Districts Council posted on their blog about the Trylon Theater in Rego Park.  It was highlighted in a recent edition of Marquee, the publication of the Theater Historical Society of America. This old art deco theater closed its doors on December 31, 1999.  Some want to save it and landmark it.  I’m sure it’s a prime location for condos.  Who knows what will happen to it, though. 

Related:
RKO Keith Project in Flushing Kaput [previously on OuterB]
Trylon Theater feature now available [Historic Districts Council Newsstand]
Trylon Theater [Cinema Treasures]

Photo credit:  Meg Cotner

Bayside
House: 4 bedrooms
$1,249,000
42-25 209th Street
Sunday November 18, 1-4pm
NY Times listing [laffey.com]

Cambria Heights
House: 2 bedroom/2 bath
$380,000
115-65 227th Street
Saturday November 17 1:30-3pm
NY Times listing [NY Times listing]

Long Island City
Condo:

2 bedroom/2 bath
$985,000
FUSION CONDOMINIUM, 4251 Hunter street, #PHC
Saturday November 17, 11am-2pm
Sunday November 18, 11am-2pm
NY Times listing [Halstead Properties]

Rego Park
Condo:

2 bedroom/2 bath
$648,000
Sunrise Manor, 99-31 66th Ave, #6C
Saturday November 17, 1-4pm
NY Times Listing [Century 21]

Some are obsessed with the idea of hookers in LIC. Sadly, though, the comments degrade into yet another Arris-bashing party. [Curbed]

Locals see through the latest puff piece on Astoria condos. [astorians.com]

Amish Market is coming to LIC, to be located in East Coast Phase 2. When it arrives, it will void the snark regarding LIC as devoid of grocery stores and therefore an undesirable place to live. [A Fine Company]

Summary of a Rego-Forest Preservation Council meeting with Community Board 6 Historical Committee. [Historic District Council Newsstand]

Citi Field building progress is coming along nicely. [A Fine Company]

NYSC may be coming to LIC, despite gyms being included in most of the new developments. And apparently the local Y is an amazing deal. [Queens West]

The Buildings Scan and Capture Application Network, or B-SCAN, will help you to find out what a newly dug construction site in your Queens neighborhood is gonna be. [NY Daily News]

Photo credit: Joe Shlabotnik on flickr via a Creative Commons license.

Astoria
House: 4 bedroom/3bath
$1,149,000
33-31 29 St.
Sunday September 9, 12-3pm
NY Times listing [Portrait Realty]

East Elmhurst
House: 2 bedroom/1 bath
$619,000
80-02 30th Avenue
Sunday September 9, 1-4pm
NY Times listing [Re/Max]

Flushing
House
$1,300,000
108 -18 69th Road
Sunday September 9, 1-3pm
NY Times listing [Halstead Property]

Long Island City
Condo: 2 bedroom/2 bath
$560,000
4-74 48th Ave, #38F, #38D
Sunday September 9, 11:30am-1pm
NY Times listing [Prudential Douglas Elliman]

Rego Park
Co-op: 2 bedroom/1 bath
$209,000
97-11 63 Rd
Sunday September 9, 12-3pm
NY Times listing [Prudential Douglas Elliman]

The new mall going up in Rego Park will have a residential component to it. This is news to me. Apparently Vornado is ripping up the old Alexander’s parking lot and putting in a 40 unit (or is it 400? Queens Tribune says 400, hmm…) residential building complete with a 2,500 square foot community room (you can thank Helen Sears for the community room). The Tribune reports that there will be “a 1,400 car parking garage, a covered pedestrian galleria, a community facility and a landscaped public area to serve as an entryway to the existing Lost Battalion Hall park.”

More commentary from the Times Ledger article:

Steven Roth, chief executive officer of Vornado Realty Trust, which is developing the site, predicted the $550 million mixed retail and residential project would be “an architectural landmark” and said he hoped that “people won’t just come here to buy a new suit and a power saw, even though we want them to buy a new suit and a power saw.”

Hard to imagine this becoming an architectural landmark. Unless they have a truly hot architect working on this. I’ll believe it when I see it. I also find that power saw comment to be so odd. Sounds like some kind of weird passive kind of marketing.

Related:
Work starts at Rego Pk. for mall site [Times Ledger]
Retail, Towers Grow In Lieu Of Wal-Mart [Queens Tribune]
New Queens Mall Without the Crap of Walmart [previously on OuterB]

Walmart would have been the anchor store of Rego Park II, a 10 acre complex expected to be completed in 2009. Vornado wanted to keep the identity of the anchor store under wraps until their approvals were completed. However, New Yorkers found out, and the Unions, residents, and the City Council all opposed the Walmart element and successfully got Vornado to eliminate it from their development plans. Walmart, of course, is known for its problematic labor practices, among other things.

It’s taken time for the developers to get going on the groundbreaking. Construction began yesterday on this huge mall. Big box stores like Home Depot and Kohls will take up residence there, along with popular discount department store Century 21.

Related:
Building Begins on Giant Queens Mall [NY Sun]
Vornado Realty Trust tried to keep identity of anchor store in Rego Park II [Retail Traffic]
Vornado Ended Plans for Rego Park Wal-Mart [theboxtank]

FOREST HILLS

$670,000

93-04 70th Ave, Forest Hills, NY

Prewar three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath frame house, 1,648 square feet on a 2,500-square-foot lot, with dining room, living room with French doors to porch, eat-in kitchen, renovated bath, full finished basement with high ceilings, wet bar and built-in entertainment center and unfinished attic. Asking price $725,000, on market two months. Broker: Terrace Realty

REGO PARK

$315,000

65-36 Wetherole St, Rego Park, NY

One-bedroom, one-bath condo, 750 square feet, with living/dining room combination and carpeting throughout; Moderne development is pet-friendly and features storage and laundry. Common charges $280, taxes $166.66. Asking price $329,000, on market four weeks. Broker: Anthony Carollo, Carollo Real Estate

Source - NY Post 10/12/06

REGO PARK

$215,000

98-25 64th Rd, Rego Park, NY

One bedroom co-op, one and a half baths, 750 sq ft, postwar building, sunken living room, hardwood floors, pool in building, $570 maintenance, 50% tax deductible, listed at $228,000, on market 2 weeks. Broker: Century 21 Benjamin, Source - NY Times 9/15/06

With Gothamist going out to Rego Park for eats, it’s a fine time to look at co-ops in the area. A good meal and an open house is a great combo. (More eats in Rego Parkistan.)

Two-bedroom Co-op in Rego Park, $275,000, 64-34 102nd St., #11V, Rego Park, NY 11374, Open House: March 26, 2006, 2-4 pm, Only problem is that the seller can’t decide if it’s a two or three bedroom: “2-3 Bedroom/1 Bath Coop.” Included is a view of the Unisphere, one of the finest sights around. See all the Craigslist details.

For comparison sake, here are a couple Rego Park open houses this weekend.  Rego Park is on the edge of western Queens, 25+ minutes to midtown by subway.  The neighborhood  is diverse, but a large Central Asian population has won it the nickname Rego Parkistan.

One-bedroom co-op in Rego Park, $209,990,
98-22 63rd Drive Apt.8D
Rego Park, NY 11374
, Open House: September 10, 2005, noon to 2 pm.  North of Queens Blvd, this co-op is right at the Queens Center Mall, which is fine for the subway and shopping, but tough on driving.  The Craigslist ad says a garage is available, but doesn’t list the price.  If you have a car, a garage space would be a necessity, but if you don’t, this location could let you get away with it.  Nice feature — sunken living room.  See Craigslist posting.

One-bedroom co-op in Rego Park, $215,000, 97-37  63rd Rd, Rego Park, NY Open House: September 11, 2005, noon to 3 pm.  Compared to the other open house,  it’s a little bit more expensive, but in a doorman building, at a higher floor, and with a lower maintenance.  One disadvantage -  the posting says nothing about a garage space. See Craigslist posting.