OuterB on Queens Real Estate

As you may know, the original Carvel in Westchester is going to be torn down. Gothamist alerts us that there are still some of the old Carvels left in the Outer Boroughs, including one made of actual painted wood, in Ridgewood (56-12 Metropolitan Avenue). According to the lady behind the counter, they’ve been there for 45 years (she thinks). I wonder how long it will continue being a Carvel. Will they landmark the building? Only time will tell.

Suddenly, I have a hankering for some Fudgy the Whale.

Related:
Flying Saucers (not) Over (in) Queens [Gothamist]
Original Carvel Ice Cream Store to Close [Serious Eats]

Photo credit: Gothamist

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

With Archie Bunker’s old house worth more than a half mil, it’s getting tougher than ever to find a decent property in Queens for in the $400ks. Here’s one in Ridgewood from Craigslist:

• $460,000, one-family, 4-bedrooms, 18-13 Stanhope St, Ridgewood, NY
• Open House - July 15 and 16, 1-3 pm

Funniest thing about it is the catchy: “just minutes from Williamsburg!!!” Yes, a whole bunch of minutes. And years away in terms of nightlife.

Best part might be the large lot. If I’m not mistaken, the address is away from the subways and getting close to the industrial side of Ridgewood, but at that price, why not check it out.

Following up on the NY Times’ Ridgewood spotlight, here are a couple neighborhood open houses this weekend. Unfortunately, no photos available.

• 3-Family House - 64-31 Palmetto St - 4/15/06, 1-3 pm

• 2-Family House - 60-11 69th Ave - 4/15/06, noon to 3 pm

If you haven’t seen this weekend’s NY Times bit on Ridgewood, read it. I love Ridgewood. The architecture there is like nowhere else in the borough. It’s street after street of brick row houses (not brownstones) from the early 20th century. Lots of original details survive. One that’s stuck in my head are the original wooden and glass doors on many homes. My grandmother grew up there, so my connection is personal too.

The other week I was going on about it to out-of-town friends who were why aren’t you moving there? Well, we’re a bit claustrophobic and for now are looking to buy farther east. But if you’re a city person, you’ll find Ridgewood to your liking. Sure, it’s a long subway, and there’s no chance of Starbucks. But you can buy for less than the cost of a co-op or condo in LIC. And if you’re willing to landlord, the deal is there.

• Ridgewood Profile [NY Times]
• Photos and Ridgewood Profile (from my other site) [About.com]

Photo by J. Roleke

Lately I’ve been on a Ridgewood tear.  I just can’t get the neighborhood’s beautiful brick buildings out of my head. 

This Ridgewood open house listing is definitely work checking out this weekend.  It’s in a good section between Forest and Fresh Pond.  The only drawback would be traffic’s congestion and noise on these streets at rush hour.

2-Family in Ridgewood, 60-37 68th Ave, Ridgewood, NY, $689,000, Open House: 11/12 and 11/13/05, 2 - 5 pm. See the Craigslist posting.

Just saw this 6-family building in Ridgewood (all two-bedrooms) is now offered at $659,000.  Guess there’s been no interest because it started at $709,000.  There’s another open house this Saturday, November 6, 2005, noon to 1 pm.  Realtor doesn’t list address beyond "Linden St" so call the agent at 917-325-5677. The closer the property is to Forest Avenue, the better the deal it is.

I’d love to check this one out. It could be quite an investment. See previous post.

6-Family House in Ridgewood,  $697,000, Ridgewood, NY, Open House: 10/15/05 noon - 2 pm. Broker is Amorelli Realty in Astoria. See the listing on Craigslist and the one on Amorelli’s site (note the price drop from $709,000.  Mario of Amorelli is at 718-662-2010.

I  love the buildings in Ridgewood.  And this one looks like a real beauty.  Six-family houses — really it’s a small apartment building –  in Ridgewood don’t come on the market all that often. Based on the prices we see elsewhere  in Queens and especially in Brooklyn, this could become a fine deal.  The big if is rent control and rent stabilization — can you make the mortgage payments if you’ve got tenants who’ve lived there since the dawn of time?  Ridgewood is on the L subway line, and a really beautiful neighborhood of early 20th century brick row houses.  It’s much more like Brooklyn than Queens.  See the neighborhood profile of Ridgewood on About.com and also photos of Ridgewood.

While you’re in Ridgewood, call to see this other open house:

2-Family House in Ridgewood, $679,000, Ridgewood, NY.  Open House: 10/15/05, noon to 2 p.m. The Craigslist post says it needs work, but it could be worth it. It was built in 1910, one of the earliest homes in Ridgewood, now part of the largest historic district in the country. 
Call Home Hunters Real Estate, Annaat  917-224-0659 or 718-326-2400.

Normally, I don’t pick open houses where the listing doesn’t include the address, but such is my enthusiasm for Ridgewood that two exceptions were needed.  Happy house hunting!