According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Queens has reached a new record population of 2,405,464 people, or a gain of 7.8 percent. This put their gains above Manhattan, and local brokers and developers attribute still-attainable prices for greater square footage to the growth. Housing is working to keep pace with the new arrivals, and among the new developments is The Sunswick, a new boutique condominium that has launched sales in the Dutch Kills section of Long Island City.
Of the 10 two- to three-bedroom units, three two-bedroom condos are currently on the market. Prices start at $925,100, and a garden unit with a large rear yard is listed for $1,983,235. For comparison, the median price of a Long Island City two-bedroom condo is $1,436,444 (per CityRealty listings).
Of the 10 two- to three-bedroom units, three two-bedroom condos are currently on the market. Prices start at $925,100, and a garden unit with a large rear yard is listed for $1,983,235. For comparison, the median price of a Long Island City two-bedroom condo is $1,436,444 (per CityRealty listings).
While the building’s design pays tribute to the neighborhood’s industrial history with a red brick facade and black steel beams, the apartments’ infrastructure was established with today’s buyer in mind: All units come with central HVAC, Bosch washer and dryer, and smart home automation systems. The kitchens are fully equipped with Viking / Bertazzoni gas ranges, Liebherr refrigerators, Miele dishwashers, and Brizo sinks with stainless steel pull-down faucets. All primary bedrooms feature dressing areas that lead to en suite baths with marble floors, Brizo shower heads, standing shower stalls, Kohler wall-hung toilets, and recessed medicine cabinets.
Many apartments feature private outdoor space, and all residents have access to the building’s private storage units and landscaped roof deck with Manhattan views. The Sunswick also has a bike room, which will be especially useful when the bike lane planned for the Queensboro Bridge opens. That is estimated for the end of 2022; in the meantime, locals have their choice of the N/W trains at 39th Avenue-Dutch Kills or the M/R trains at 36th Street.
They also have easy access to the restaurants, nightlife, and cultural institutions that were instrumental in Astoria’s designation as the home of New York’s coolest street, as chosen in a Time Out New York survey. The area’s growth shows no sign of slowing down - public hearings are underway for Innovations QNS, a $2 billion development planned for a few blocks from the building and set to bring 2,700 units of mixed-income housing, new retail and office space, a new school, and two acres of public open space to Astoria.
Rendering of Sunnyside Yards master plan via NYC EDC
Moreover, Astoria isn’t the only part of Queens experiencing a building boom. Just before New York City shut down for the pandemic in March 2020, the Sunnyside Yard master plan was released for a 180-acre site that currently serves Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road, and New Jersey Transit. Following months of public engagement and analysis, the project is set to bring 12,000 new affordable homes, a new regional rail hub, 60 acres of public open space, new schools and libraries, and improved transportation and infrastructure to Sunnyside. Redevelopment is expected to commence in the next decade, at which time Sunswick residents will have a front-row seat to the future of Queens.
Pros
• Apartments sized to accommodate families
• Private outdoor space in almost every unit
• Roof deck with attractive views
• Easy transportation access two stops from Manhattan
• An investment in a New York neighborhood rapidly on the rise
Cons
• Located in a semi-industrial area at the moment
• A lot of construction in the near future
• No fitness center, and a bit of a trek to area gyms
• A bit far from the livelier sections of Long Island City and Astoria
• Limited green space near the building
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