QUEENS — A co-op, a condo and a freestanding house all have open houses this week in Queens, a borough where you'll get a little more bang for your buck.
34-41 85th St., #2R, Jackson Heights
One Bedroom/One bath
Approximately 850 square feet
Co-op
$375,000
Maintenance: $864 a month
Open House: Saturday, March 5, noon to 1:00 p.m.
Lowdown: Five years ago, the owners of this one-bedroom co-op carried out a renovation to upgrade the apartment but also “leave in some of the original charm,” said Citi Habitats broker Darren Levene.
The kitchen and bathroom were gut renovated but the original hardwood floors remain. They also added old-world inspired details like a stained glass window above a doorway and built-in bookshelves in the living room.
“Potential buyers who have seen sponsor units in the building that were gut renovated thought that this had a lot more charm,” said Levene.
The doorway with the stained glass detailing leads out onto a balcony that was upgraded with slate floors. There's just enough room for a few chairs, said Levene.
The view from the second-floor balcony looks down onto 85th Street, “a nice and quiet block,” according to Levene.
Jackson Heights is well-known for its co-op buildings, built in the early 1900s, which have interior courtyards. Although this 144-unit building is newer, built in 1946, it also has a private, landscaped garden that's shared by residents.
Location: The building is in the neighborhood's historic district. The main drag on 37th Avenue is about a block away, while the 82nd St./Jackson Heights subway station is a 10-minute walk.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “You walk in and it feels really good... it feels like home,” said Levene.
30-11 21st St., #PHE, Astoria
Two bedrooms/Two baths
Approximately 1,525 square feet
Condo
$1.525 million
Common charges: $848 a month
Taxes: $63 a month
Open House: Sunday, March 6, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Aleksey Gavrilov, a Corcoran broker who has helped sell six different condo developments in Astoria, said that “this building definitely stands out.”
That's because it holds large, lofty and modern apartments in a neighborhood with lots of older property.
“There aren't many condos this large in Astoria,” he said. “Most two-bedrooms have between 1,100 and 1,200 square feet. This one has 1,500 and change.”
Building management has rented this particular unit out since the development opened in 2010. After a new paint job and a thorough cleaning, it's been put on the market for the first time.
Besides the two bedrooms, the apartment is mostly open.
“The kitchen opens to the dining room which opens to the living room,” said Gavrilov. “It flows quite nicely because there aren't any walls.”
There's a terrace off the living room, just under 200 square feet, that holds a gas grill. There's also a 65-square-foot balcony off the dining area.
Both terraces and every room of the apartment have “unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline,” Gavrilov said.
Location: It's about a 7-minute walk to the N and Q trains at 30th Avenue to the east and a 15-minute walk to the waterfront and Socrates Sculpture Park to the west. Vesta Trattoria, a popular neighborhood haunt, is located right around the corner.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “If you're looking for a true value and something very different than the area has to offer,” said Gavrilov, who added that the penthouse is well-priced compared to similar properties in Long Island City, Brooklyn and Manhattan.
71-06 Ingram St., Forest Hills
Five bedrooms/Four-and-a-half baths
Approximately 4,406 square feet
House
$2.8 million
Taxes: $1,166 a month
Open House: Sunday, March 6, noon – 2:00 p.m.
Lowdown: This freestanding home is located within the Van-Court neighborhood of Forest Hills, an enclave distinguished by historic Tudor homes that are covenant protected.
The Ingram Street home was built in 1925. It sits on a 100-by-60-foot lot, said Astor Realty Enterprise broker Alfina Chanti.
“There's not as much backyard as other homes in the area,” she said, but it boasts an impressive front yard with manicured plantings and a stone entryway.
The owners, who are looking to downsize since their children left for college, undertook a major interior renovation in 1998.
“There's no need for a buyer to do any renovations,” she said.
The spacious basement was transformed into an entertainment space, outfitted with a wet bar, wine cellar and pool table.
Despite the renovation, the house still retains some of its original details, like moldings, parquet floors and a wood-burning fireplace.
Because the sellers are downsizing, they'd be willing to sell some of their furnishing with the home.
“They've really customized all the design and furniture for this house,” said Chanti.
Location: This property is within walking distance of the West Side Tennis Club and Forest Hills Stadium. The closet subway, the E and F trains at 75th Avenue, is about a 17-minute walk away. Owning a car isn't uncommon in this suburban-like neighborhood; the home has a driveway and two-car garage.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “People who are looking for houses see that this one is different,” said Chanti. “You have to come and see the beauty in person.”
