A Manhattan-style high-rise with Long Island City Prices
Anyone living in Long Island City before 2001, more than likely lived in a simply designed single- or multi-family rowhouse clad in brick or clapboard or, a lowrise apartment building in proximity to a factory, warehouse or even an oil refinery. Things changed in 2001 when rezoning laws permitted new housing, and developers jumped at the tax incentives given to build. No one was particularly excited about living in a predominantly industrial neighborhood that had seen better days, however. Developers leaned heavily on amenities to lure buyers across the East River, and so packed into their buildings, an exhaustive collection of creature comforts (L Haus has 15,000 square feet of it) that would allow residents to feel comfortable living in an underdeveloped area.
The L Haus, named for its form, is one of the self-contained buildings that cropped up during that era. The 2008-built building offered amenities like a pet station and movie room (and still does, even after almost 20 years) in a Manhattan-like skyrise for a fraction of Manhattan costs. “If buyers were to look at a similar product in the newer buildings or in Manhattan, the prices would be significantly more expensive,” says Nikolay Afanasyev one of the founders of the City Sphere real estate agency who regularly sells in the building. “I think that brings value, along with the easy commute into Manhattan. I think those are the predominant factors that attract people here.”
Now that Long Island City has a fully developed waterfront with parks, restaurants, and more residential-friendly infrastructure, homeowners at the L Haus get to enjoy a robust neighborhood, in addition to their amenity-rich building. The L-shaped condominium occupies an entire small block with 127 spacious units in a mix of simplexes and duplexes. The building’s CetraRuddy-designed facade has an unconventional yellowish-greenish metal paneling on lower floors and grey metal paneling on upper floors. The design most likely won’t be considered classic anytime soon but that does not seem to get in the way of sales. “For the latest apartment we had that went on the market, we signed contracts in 52 days and that’s considered to be pretty rapid for our location,” Afanasyev says.
One- to three-bedroom units for just around $2 million and under
The L Haus features one- to three-bedroom units only. All of the apartments are generally considered spacious, with one-bedrooms falling between 675 and 737 square feet and prices between $770,000 and $849,000. Two-bedrooms are all over 1,000 square feet (except for one converted one-bedroom which falls right under the mark) and can get as large as 1,568 square feet; a buyer can pick one up between $1.169 million and $1.837 million. Three-bedrooms start at 1,430 square feet and can set buyers back around the $2 million mark.
High ceilings, private outdoor space and glossy kitchen surfaces
Common apartment features include open living spaces with white oak floor panels; nine- to twelve-foot ceilings (some duplexes may go even higher); king-sized primary bedrooms with walk-in closets; in-unit laundry; large hallway closets; and multiple, triple-pane windows that let in sunlight and block vehicular noise coming from the Pulaski Bridge across the street. Vistas of the Manhattan skyline and Queens can be seen from most apartments, with select units positioned to showcase double and triple exposures. A significant setback at the seventh floor provides homeowners there with private terraces, sometimes with over 600 square feet of outdoor space. Several other units on the upper floors come with small balconies off the living areas.
Original kitchen cabinetry here is definitely a reflection of early 21st-century contemporary design with beige, high-gloss cupboards sporting chrome handles. While some homeowners have replaced refrigerator doors with stainless steel, most have left theirs hidden behind original panels made of the same high-gloss material as cabinets. Large islands that separate the kitchen from the general living area are constructed from a white, high-gloss material that also covers countertops. Given the building’s almost two-decade existence, some potential buyers may feel the need for an aesthetic change; however, thus far, most owners have more or less kept kitchens as they were originally designed.
A full-service building with a 10,000-square-foot “Yard” and two rooftop terraces
As previously mentioned, developers did not hold back when planning the L Haus. The full-service building’s 15,000 square feet of amenities include a large, 24-hour attended lobby with a sleek, contemporary design, a package room, cold storage, a live-in super and full-time porters. A 1,700-square-foot fitness center comes with a massive, fully-equipped gym and a spacious yoga room. In addition to the pet spa and media room, there is also a huge children’s playroom, a club room, and not one, but two fully furnished rooftop terraces. To the back of the L-shaped building is “The Yard”, 10,000 square feet of outdoor space dreamed up by Edgewater Design. There, a sprawling lawn is bordered by patio space, equipped with barbecue grills, furniture and a zen-like water feature that continuously gurgles throughout the day and night. Unit storage is available as is an indoor parking garage but there is a waitlist.
Residents choose from restaurants at the waterfront and Vernon or Jackson Boulevards
Much has been said about the Long Island City waterfront and with good reason. Residents can choose to relax at Gantry State Park on the northern end, at the southern end’s Hunter’s Point South Park or any of the piers and grassy areas in between. Restaurants like Osteria Brooklyn for Italian and Shi, a modern Pan-Asian restaurant, also lace the water’s edge. But closer to home, L Haus residents can enjoy a culinary feast reflective of the area’s multiple ethnicities on Vernon Boulevard and Jackson Avenue. Queens’ only Michelin-starred restaurant Meju, serves Korean fare just a block-and-a-half down 49th Street and only a couple doors down is the Michelin-rated Casa Enrique, serving homestyle Mexican dishes. While the smaller E & I Market is about a block away, residents usually go to Urban Market or Foodcellar, closer to the water, for large-scale grocery shopping. There is also a Trader Joe’s about a three-minute drive down Jackson Avenue, closer to Court Square.
Residents use the 7 train and vehicles to get to Manhattan in less than 10 minutes
The 7 subway line is less than a full block away at the Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue station with just about a 10-minute commute to Midtown. Drivers take five minutes to get to the Long Island Expressway, Queens Midtown Expressway and the Pulaski Bridge, and also take just about 10 minutes to reach Midtown. Residents can catch buses to other parts of Queens and Brooklyn on Jackson Avenue and Vernon Boulevard “but to be honest,” Afanasyev says. "I've never taken one by that area. I feel like most people commute using the subway.”
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Moderate Crime
Crime Score®
6/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
83/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
97/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Old Hickory Playground
3 min walk
Playground
Andrews Grove
4 min walk
Playground
Gantry Plaza State Park
7 min walk
Fishing
Trails
Playground
Murray Playground
8 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Dog Park
Court Square Park
10 min walk
Hunter's Point South Park
11 min walk
Basketball
Bike Trails
Dog Park
Mary O'Conner Park
12 min walk
Greenpoint Playground
4 min drive
Playground
Greenpoint Landing Esplanade
4 min drive
Picnic Area
Trails
River
Schools
Source:
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