An amenity-rich luxury condo building in the heart of Forest Hills
A jam-packed amenity suite spanning an entire floor is one of the biggest draws at The Pinnacle, a 27-story tower on Queens Boulevard that overlooks Flushing Meadows Corona Park. “Let's put it bluntly: this is the only luxury condo in Forest Hills,” says longtime resident Alexander Paykin, Esq., a lawyer and real estate agent with City Flats NYC. “You feel like you're coming home as soon as you walk through the door,” adds Anjali Melwani, who has lived in the building for 14 years. “You haven't even stepped into your apartment, and the staff are personable and also personal, because they’ve been around for so many years.” Constructed in 1991 and developed by Kraus Enterprises, the 219-unit property is sheathed in silvery gray bricks and features a tiered silhouette that tapers near the top. Its glamorous, skylit lobby is clad in a medley of polished stone that recalls a luxury hotel, and every unit is equipped with at least one balcony or terrace, many of which feature views of the Manhattan skyline. The design was initially handled by architects Samuel and David J. Paul and was later amended by Costas Kondylis Architects, who stepped in prior to construction. The 1-acre site is graced with manicured gardens on the street level along with a courtyard and valet parking garage. There are more than 12,500 square feet of amenities, highlights of which are a renovated health club equipped with a 60-foot lap pool and hot tub, game room and a banquet hall. "This is truly a destination building," explains Compass broker Karen DeMeco, who has called the Pinnacle home for over 30 years. “We have everything we need here at the Pinnacle in terms of unparalleled amenities and services. It's a community that offers convenience and luxury at every turn.”
Units range from $460,000 to $2 million
In terms of layouts, The Pinnacle offers everything from studios to a three-bedroom duplex penthouse encompassing more than 2,650 square feet. “There are very few apartments that share a floor plan, even within the same line,” explains Paykin. Nonetheless, there are several commonalities across the development. “Every unit has a balcony, and the whole building has 360-degree views, from Flushing to Manhattan,” says Melwani. There are also pass-through kitchens and in-unit washers and dryers tucked in dedicated closets. Finishes are also not uniform, as many owners have opted for renovations over the years. “The apartments are easy to redesign because all of the load-bearing walls, pillars and columns generally tend to be on the outside parts,” says Paykin, who spearheaded a total overhaul of his own unit. Prices vary depending on view, floor and condition, but in general studios start at around $460,000 and one-bedrooms can be found for $690,000. Two-bedrooms range between $995,000 and $1.3 million. The most recent three-bedroom with a public sale price was a penthouse acquired for $2 million in March 2019. Exterior improvements due to Local Law 11, a city ordinance requiring regular repairs, are ongoing and an assessment is in place. (A one-bedroom on the market for $724,000 comes with a monthly assessment of $363, in addition to the standard monthly maintenance fee of around $1,100.) The common charges include access to the Pinnacle Club, the sprawling amenity suite on the third floor that contains the bulk of the development’s perks. Subletting is permitted, subject to board approval.
The Pinnacle Club occupies full floor of luxe perks
“The nice thing is that we have doormen and concierge — and there is a distinction between the two,” explains Paykin. “The concierge can provide everything from cold storage and package management to key control, and they will even organize luggage carts for you.” Management software BuildingLink is a key tool used by staff and residents at the Pinnacle. “If you've got a leak and you'd like the handymen to help you with it, even though in theory it's your problem, the building will happily help,” says Paykin. “You can use the BuildingLink app and put in the request yourself or you can call the concierge, and they will add it for you and someone will come up.”
The property spearheads regular renovation work, including The Pinnacle Club, which is emerging from a multi-year renovation. “We don't generally turn to outside designers and architects, because the building is mindful about keeping common charges under control,” explains Paykin, noting some of the updates were overseen by residents with expertise. Encompassing the entire third floor and ringed by an outdoor terrace, the club contains an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, massage rooms, a fitness center, a screening room, a children’s playroom and an event space. Tea is served throughout the day in a lounge area where residents can work from home. A separate concierge and staff help residents with various requests, from personal training and massages to nutrition coaches and swim lessons. On the ground floor is a banquet hall and courtyard, which are used to hold building-wide events throughout the year like brunches and a summer barbecue that includes live music. One resident even rented the spaces for a wedding.
Just minutes from shops and restaurants on Austin Street
Set on bustling Queens Boulevard, The Pinnacle is located near a host of neighborhood amenities. Within the first two floors of the building itself are a variety of medical suites officially designated The Pinnacle Medical and Dental Pavilion. This means residents don’t even need to leave the building to access high-quality physicians that specialize in everything from plastic surgery and endocrinology to pulmonary disorders and radiology, along with dentists and oral surgeons. Just a block away is Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the largest public park in Queens, spanning nearly 900 acres. It offers a bounty of perks including recreational areas, sports fields, hiking trails, lakes, dog runs, playgrounds, golf course and ice skating in the winter. Major destinations can also be found within the park like Citi Field, where the Mets play, and Arthur Ashe Stadium, part of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, host of the U.S. Open.
Nearby Austin Street is where residents go for dining and shopping. “That’s our main drag,” says Melwani. “It has four or five little grocery stores, Shake Shack, Gap, and Ann Taylor.” White Radish is one of the street’s best-reviewed restaurants, serving up farm-to-table American cuisine in a fashionable setting with leather banquettes and wooden tables. Also along the strip are Italian, Thai and Mexican restaurants as well as the original location of Martha’s Country Bakery, a local chain famous for its pastries. The Natural Market on Austin Street is a convenient choice for groceries, but some residents choose Trader Joe’s, about 10 minutes away, or Foodtown, three blocks away. “There’s also the Costco in Rego Park, but you do have to drive there or take the bus or the subway,” says Paykin.
Located directly above the E and F trains
“You roll out of bed and you're practically in the city,” says Melwani of the building’s location atop the E and F train station at 75th Avenue. Both trains run express and can reach Manhattan in as little as 20 minutes. A few blocks away is the Forest Hills stop on the Long Island Rail Road, which takes riders to Penn Station in 15 minutes and travels to numerous locations across Long Island. A plethora of bus routes stop near the building along Queens Boulevard, among them the QM1, QM5, QM6, QM35, QM68 and Q60 — all of which go to Manhattan. The neighborhood does not have Citi Bike docks. For those getting around by car, the building is close to major roads including Grand Central Parkway, the Long Island Expressway and Queens Boulevard itself.
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
2/ 10
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
98/ 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
Willow Lake Playground
6 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Hawthorne Park Forest Hills
9 min walk
Multi-Purpose Field
MacDonald Park
12 min walk
Multi-Purpose Field
Yellowstone Municipal Park
3 min drive
Kew Gardens Cinema Park
4 min drive
Hoover-Manton Playgrounds
4 min drive
Basketball
Trails
Playground
Albert H. Mauro Playground
4 min drive
Vleigh Playground
4 min drive
Judge Moses Weinstein Playground
4 min drive
Schools
Source:
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