From Crain's:Condominium sales in the boroughs outside of Manhattan plummeted in the first quarter, but several neighborhoods are still faring better than others, according to a report released Tuesday.
While Manhattan saw a 63% decline in condo sales in the first three months of 2009 from the year-earlier period, Brooklyn wasn’t far behind, with a 61% drop in sales volume. Meantime, sales in Queens and the Bronx were down 58% and 50%, respectively.
The data come from a quarterly study conducted by ResidentialNYC.com, a web site operated by the Real Estate Board of New York.
Is that an ugly skyline or what?
Photo from BrokerTales.com
71 comments:
The condos bordering QBP and the 59th street bridge are just an eyesore. Cardboard cutouts on top of more cardboard cutouts.
You are the real eyesore. Since you selectively chose which part of the article to highlight here is the rest of the story.
The average condo price in Queens rose 21%, from the year-earlier period. A number of first-quarter closings in new developments in LIC boosted average prices in the boroughs.
What good is average condo price increasing if less of them are being sold?
Title of original article: "City condo sales head south"
Not Crapper's title.
Must suck to be a LIC realtor or owner of a crappy LIC condo.
First of all "View 59: looks great.
How can all of you say that all of this is crap??? This is Queens Plaza, home of hookers and drug dealers for decades and now the neighborhood becomes gentrified from a slum and your still not happy.
It only leads me to beleive that your jealous.
I won't bother explaining it to you Crap. Its a simple concept, but would be lost on you and you would not understand.
Yeah, up 21% from last year. It really sucks...
If you have to resort to insults it must not be a good explanation.
"While Manhattan saw a 63% decline in condo sales in the first three months of 2009 from the year-earlier period, Brooklyn wasn’t far behind, with a 61% drop in sales volume. Meantime, sales in Queens and the Bronx were down 58% and 50%, respectively."
Sounds pretty shitty to me. I guess I must be jealous, as is Crain's.
The hookers and drug dealers aren't gone and the bus to Rikers still stops in front...
I'm so damn jealous of Queens Plaza dwellers.
maybe if they lowered the prices of these ugly condo's in long island city, maybe people would buy them. i went down and checked one out and i would not give them over a million for an apartment that was so small. your kitchen, dinning area, and living area is just one big room. the bedroom layout you couldn't fit a king size bed. maybe if the price was in the 400's someone would buy it. WAY TOO MUCH FOR LESS. I'll stay in my home have more for my money.
The price of a 2 bedroom here in one middle village condo is in the 470k range.You can buy an attached 1 family for 500k............. I see lots of "for rent" signs in the windows.
QBP has been a wasteland forever. Finally, people decide to invest and improve it (yes, evil developers) and its such a horrible thing? Not sure why people that want to pay so much to live in queens should be admonished.
From where exactly are they an eyesore Sam? Manhattan?
You simply don't have to live there. Period.
Linda,
If they are so ugly, why are you wasting time going to visit them? Is your life so devoid of substance that you spend your free time touring condos that are obviously out of your financial reach?
I'm so glad you've come to the conclusion that you wouldn't give them over a million... because that was surely an option.
You act like the people that live in these buildings are a problem. Like they don't deserve to spend their money how they want or live where they want. Like they didn't bust their asses getting degrees and fighting for good jobs.
You, Sam and the other flanel bathrobe underacheivers are a shitstain on the underwear of Queens. I'm just glad I'm young enough to wait you bitter farts out.
"You, Sam and the other flanel bathrobe underacheivers are a shitstain on the underwear of Queens."
So bitter and hating at such a young age. Pity you feel the need to defend your lifestyle choices against those you disdain so much. And pity that you are the one who is placing the emphasis on having and not having money. You have no idea how much anyone commenting here makes. And I bet you would be surprised.
The comments by Mr. Anonymous against Linda are the very reason people hate the condo dwellers. They think because they throw money around it means they are better than you. Old money doesn't flaunt it because they have nothing to prove. This new money is just trashy.
You see....these condo sales reps have so much time on their hands now that the market has, indeed, gone south they have much more spare time to post on "Queens Crap".
Hey....if the market's so great why bother commenting at all?
Because, it's obviously, not
and you damn well know it!
"flanel bathrobe underacheivers are a shitstain"
They're spelled "flannel" and "underachiever" and "shit stain" is two words. I guess despite you having loads more money than me, I am better educated. I'd take that over a crap condo at Queens Plaza any day.
So I'll ask again...
WHY DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME VISITING THESE HORRIBLE DEVELOPMENTS PRETENDING TO BE INTERESTED BUYERS?
Is that what "old money" does these days?
An as far as my bitterness goes... bitter is what you feel when you work like a dog to get where you are and then have to be harrassed and admonished by people like yourselves.
My disdain is not for a monetary class, but rather ignorant homebodies that have nothing better to do than window watch, shop, and blog.
Its not me that thinks I'm better than you... its the realtors, the elected officials, the small business owners, restaurants, and everyone else that depends on MONEY.
You are all glorified Yentas. Nothing more, nothing less. You comment on EVERYTHING and produce NOTHING. Absolutely useless YENTAS.
I can't wait for one of these evil young condo-goers to file suit against one of your harrassing little organizations.
I guess the "old money" can for your lawyer.
Don't you have anything better to do than lash out at anonymous commenters on a blog who disagree with your taste?
Looks like the biggest yenta on here is the crap condo dweller.
Why do you crave acceptance from us so much?
Why don't you just not come here and you won't have to deal with the "harassment and admonishment"?
I do. And I'm getting really backed up actually, LOL.
I don't even feel that strongly to be honest... I just like screwing with you idiots.
I have to get back to counting my new money.
See you soon crappers! xoxo
And here I thought no one took this blog seriously! ROFLMFAO
Take a chill pill, Mr. Abercrombie!
Actually, if you read Curbed, it seems most real estate fans think LIC is not "the shit" but rather just "shit".
Linda,
If they are so ugly, why are you wasting time going to visit them? Is your life so devoid of substance that you spend your free time touring condos that are obviously out of your financial reach?
I'm so glad you've come to the conclusion that you wouldn't give them over a million... because that was surely an option.
You act like the people that live in these buildings are a problem. Like they don't deserve to spend their money how they want or live where they want. Like they didn't bust their asses getting degrees and fighting for good jobs.
You, Sam and the other flanel bathrobe underacheivers are a shitstain on the underwear of Queens. I'm just glad I'm young enough to wait you bitter farts out.
---
Best Post on QC - Ever!
Wow now he's commending himself for his poorly written misspelled diatribe.
Around 2 years ago I visited an open house of the Queens Plaza Condo. The agents were promoting the western apartments having a great Manhattan view. Unfortunately they didn't tell the propective owners that the venerable Greek Newspaper Ethnikos Kyrox's (The National Herald) building on the adjacent western lot was going to be demolished and -guess what?- the Crescent Club would be built completely obliterating the Manhattan views from the QP Condo.
I wonder if any of those suckers sued.
I profess to be mystified by the whole Queens Plaza Condo thing. They truly are the ugliest buildings, the streets are filled with prostitutes and the Crips who run them.
Just a short distance away is a livable community, Sunnyside, which is much cheaper. Jackson Heights still has some nice buildings, Astoria north of the Triborough bridge is quite handsome.
I can only assume that the virulent madman condemning all his neighbors as "shit stains" must be trying to sell property there, because if he is a buyer, he must surely feel taken.
I am only an impoverished secretary, but you could not pay me enough to live in such a dangerous location.
When I must take a bus home from there at night, I literally wait around the block from my stop in front of a lighted store and then run when I see the bus so that I have somewhere to dive into in case of crime.
Furthermore, the deadly Queensbridge projects are within a stone's throw of these buildings. But what do I know, I've only lived in Astoria nearly 50 years and my mother and grandmother lived here since the 20's, so I cannot be as smart as Mr. Clever.
to anonymous
one, jackass what makes you think i couldn't afford it? and second i'm not an old person. your just a person who can't afford to live in the city, or hoboken and this is most likely the only option for yourself. better yet your most likely the idiots trying to sell it. cut the prices on the condos and they may even sell. but why would anyone want to buy when your building more that will be renting out. with the prices on your rentals those people will be leaving when their leases are up, due to the fact you really have shit down there to do, unless you head over to the better parts of queens.
First of all "View 59: looks great.
How can all of you say that all of this is crap??? This is Queens Plaza, home of hookers and drug dealers for decades and now the neighborhood becomes gentrified from a slum and your still not happy.
It only leads me to beleive that your jealous.
If Queens plaza sucks so bad and its so horrible and there are still hookers and drug dealers everywhere and it will never be anything but a slum, as most of the previous comments state ---
then why wouldnt you welcome the new condo's and economic development?
If the condo's are overpriced and cost too much for the are, doesnt that mean they are trying to push the hookers and drug dealers out? isnt that better?
What is wrong with having wealthy people spend too much for a cheap condo in a bad neighborhood?
Why does that upset you?
Are you jealous?
Sam said...
The condos bordering QBP and the 59th street bridge are just an eyesore. Cardboard cutouts on top of more cardboard cutouts.
Whould you prefer the hookers with aids? Are they less of an eyesore?
Queens Crapper said...
What good is average condo price increasing if less of them are being sold.
Are not brand new empty buildings with the hope of a flourishing neighborhood better then abandoned factories with homeless drug adicts sleeping in the doorways?
Anonymous said...
The hookers and drug dealers aren't gone and the bus to Rikers still stops in front...
I'm so damn jealous of Queens Plaza dwellers.
So if Queens Plaza is so bad how can ANY development there NOT be good?
".....They think because they throw money around it means they are better than you....."
NO! YOU think that because they throw money around they are better then you!!
lmao, get real and i get to enjoy my backyard......... you get to look at hookers.
Aesthetics aside, this kind of development is exactly what this part of Queens needs; it's called HIGH density! In fact, more areas of queens adjacent to public transportation should be like this, in order that 80% of the borough can be down-zoned to a human level.
That's actually an interesting point Damned Architect, but I wonder how a Damned Civil Engineer would respond looking at the lack of sidewalk space, hospitals, electrical grids and sewerage for this area.
You can't just cram people into an area, they need the services too.
Also, if the total amount of space available mushrooms faster than demand, you get classic ghetto conditions as happened in Harlem after the panic of 1907 turned fashion into failure.
I am not an Architect, but I have read New York history and have seen this script before.
"....Also, if the total amount of space available mushrooms faster than demand, you get classic ghetto conditions as happened in Harlem after the panic of 1907 turned fashion into failure....."
It was a ghetto before!! At least now its a ghetto with hope!
"....get real and i get to enjoy my backyard......... you get to look at hookers...."
Fine. So if Queens Plaza is sooo bad, why do you care that people are developing the neighborhood and moving there?
No, the question is why you care so much what other people say about it if you think it's so great.
Anonymous said...
No, the question is why you care so much what other people say about it if you think it's so great
The problem is my closed minded neighbors in Queens. I dont understand why so many readers of this blog get so upset about change? ANY change? You hate it. There is some sore of overwheming sense of fear in you and I dont understand it and I feel bad for you.
I started reading this blog and continue to do so because unfortunatly there is NO better source of Queens news then this blog (kudos to you Crapper, and shame on the media) but the fear and hatred on this blog never ceases to amaze me.
The problem is my closed minded neighbors in Queens. I dont understand why so many readers of this blog get so upset about change? ANY change?
-------
Ok, perhaps you can answer this:
1. You pay taxes. Are you happy with your services? Would you like more services? How do you feel that your taxes are not going to benefit you, but people that don't even live here yet? Or worse, developers take a profit because your taxes are used to link them into the grid - walk their paperwork through the city offices, etc etc
2. How does 10,000 of new people benefit you (that is if you are not a developer)? How do you feel that more people are now competeing for hospital beds, school seats, subway space?
Unfortunately, change never seems to benefit the people who are already living here. You may think building up the borough is great, but as has been pointed out time and again on this and other sites, it's the little guy taxpayer/homeowner who is going to end up suffering. We are told all this new tax revenue will help us, but we see our own taxes skyrocketing instead. Think about the flooding problem cause by overdevelopment, the overcrowded trains brought on by overdevelopment, the overcrowded schools brought on by more development, the power outages brought on by more development, the closed hospitals brought on by shoehorning in illegal people who don't belong here in the first place and most of us are wondering just how the hell any of this benefits us. So maybe now you can better understand why we don't want towers all over our borough.
Do you really want to know what should have been done with this "slum"?
Office buildings and re-use of industrial space for light assembly. This area is wholly unsuited for residential use because of the total lack of infrastructure to support same.
Remember how paralyzed the city was after 911? We need to further decentralize the business districts of New York to diminish the possibility of a killing blow by terrorists.
Fine. So if Queens Plaza is sooo bad, why do you care that people are developing the neighborhood and moving there?
-----
Look had a few friends stay in those hotels. They are shoddily built and will become human warehouses in no time filled with Section 8 and government programs.
Just because you have development doesnt make a place good.
In a few years those buildings will be so bad no one will want to live there. They will become the public housing of the new century.
But the fun will start when the elevated starts taking incoming when if comes out of the tunnel.
Aesthetics aside, this kind of development is exactly what this part of Queens needs; it's called HIGH density! In fact, more areas of queens adjacent to public transportation should be like this, in order that 80% of the borough can be down-zoned to a human level.
--------
I live in Ravenswood. I guess you live in eastern Queens, home of the braindead biddies of Bayside. You know, those that brag they have not been to Manhattan in 30 years.
My community is slated for lots of development. This will destroy my community so the biddies can continue to doddle around.
The fact that I like by community they way it is is not important to you.
You are an asshole.
All the communities should share equally in development.
no asswipe.
western queens should be overdevelped because its closest to the city and it has more public transportation. eastern queens doesnt
Don't worry Eastern Queens, they've got something waiting for you too. It's like the days of the American Frontier when Indians signed treaty after treaty hoping the white people would honor at least one of them.
Outside of a few comments, the last few posts seem to be some of the most intelligent and thoughtfull debate I have ever read on this blog and I commend all of you for it.
Ok, perhaps you can answer this:
1. You pay taxes. Are you happy with your services? Would you like more services? How do you feel that your taxes are not going to benefit you, but people that don't even live here yet? Or worse, developers take a profit because your taxes are used to link them into the grid - walk their paperwork through the city offices, etc etc
2. How does 10,000 of new people benefit you (that is if you are not a developer)? How do you feel that more people are now competeing for hospital beds, school seats, subway space
In response:
1.The truth is I do feel my tax dollars are being spent productivly and I feel that the services that are provided for me are by no means inadequate.
I truly am a citizen of this city in the sense that I frequently travel and spend time in all areas of the big three boroughs (M, BK, Q) and beleive it or not the my two biggest problems with this city are "The all night garbage rummaging bottle collectors" and the fact that the ticket enforcement agency levies a virtual "car tax". At this point I it is truly ridiculous.
Other thaen that I am a happy citizen and I truly feel that the city and its tax dollars are managed well.
2. As far as additional people sucking up city resources and basicly overcrowding us out of the home that we have known and grown up in, well immigrants are a problem especially the very poor one's whom look at this city and country as something to take advantage of but I come from an immigrant family and I beleive that most of these immigrants will over generations become contributing Americans as well. They should have a right the same as my family did.
Overcrowding. I dont feel overcrowded at all. If I felt overcrowded, I would move to the country. I like the culture and diversity that such a concentration of differant people provides. Its invigorating to me. I would be bored silly in a suburb, hell I am almost bored silly living in Glendale and all I do here is sleep, shower and grocery shop.
I think one of the problems is that people think they will get better retail shopping options if they allow hordes of people to move into their neighborhood. I frequently see comments like this on Curbed, LIQCity, etc. Unfortunately, Astoria, Elmhurst and Flushing prove the opposite. A person from Woodside or Maspeth maybe never had the best shopping in their neighborhoods (a history of great mom and pop shops but that only goes so far) but they were a quick bus ride from major shopping strips in downtown Flushing, Elmhurst or Astoria. I used to see older people and stay-at-home moms with kids in tow between the rush hours with loads of bags from stores along these corridors. But then the tidal wave of development came, the buses got packed, it drove the customers away and the "good" stores folded and have instead been replaced with 99 cent crap stores that you certainly aren't traveling to get to. So be careful what you wish for. A Whole Foods today may become El Mundo Discount tomorrow.
....In addition, developers especially the group that has sprouted in Queens are bad. There need to be much more strict regulation of the shit they throw up and call "luxury" but due to the present economic climate I dont think we will be seeing much more of them.
Lets not forget though, we do need housing.
...Look had a few friends stay in those hotels. They are shoddily built and will become human warehouses in no time filled with Section 8 and government programs.
Just because you have development doesnt make a place good.
In a few years those buildings will be so bad no one will want to live there. They will become the public housing of the new century.....
What if your wrong and it becomes a vibrant community that it is intended to become? Is that not worth taking a chance?
Why do you think we need more housing now? The vacancy rate in this city is high currently and expected to increase over the next few months. Also, one would think that building more "luxury" housing is not what's in demand. If the people at the bottom have no place to stay and there aren't enough people at the top to populate their living spaces, then what does that tell you? And why are we handing out tax breaks to build all this luxury housing?
The tax breaks are not for "Luxury housing" per se. The tax breaks are to jumpstart a new community that may be more productive.
Think of how ridiculous the rental prices are in this city. How could you say we do not need more housing?
How has the building boom helped rental prices? It hasn't. The new units are marketed toward rich foreigners and the people who need the housing are left out in the cold. They are even deregulating rent controlled apartments. So just because you build a lot of units doesn't necessarily mean the housing becomes more affordable.
The luxury housing situation as it presently exists reminds me of one of the paradoxes of the Great Depression:
While people were starving in the street, farmers were unable to pay their bills and the government was forced to slaughter piglets and pour milk down drains to restore equilibrium in the agricultural markets.
Just because there is a supply of something does not provide the means for people to buy.
As a practical matter most of the "luxury" buildings will be subdivided and altered to become housing for the poorest of the poor. This is what happened to Harlem and Upper Manhattan after the 1907 crash.
to anonymous asking why do i care, actually i don't. was in my yard the other day and relized what could be better than this, and it came to me nothing, not even those ugly condos which sooner or later will be housing. so enjoy yourself and watch ya back.
MYTH
The truth is I do feel my tax dollars are being spent productivly and I feel that the services that are provided for me are by no means inadequate.
REALITY
hospital beds in Queens 1.8 per thousand
hospital beds in Manhattan: 8.3 per thousand
etc etc
MYTH
my two biggest problems with this city are "The all night garbage rummaging bottle collectors" and the fact that the ticket enforcement agency levies a virtual "car tax".
REALITY
glad you don’t have kids in schools, but as your are rich developer, you probibally send em to private school
MYTH
Other than that I am a happy citizen and I truly feel that the city and its tax dollars are managed well.
REALITY
I have lived in this city my entire life. There is always a first time for anything. You want to take a poll on this?
MYTH
I come from an immigrant family and I beleive that most of these immigrants will over generations become contributing Americans as well.
REALTY
great, let them move next to you and write white people off the block, have parties at 4 AM in your airshaft, hang out on your stoop, and leave your sidewalk looking like a third world slum
my family remembers those days well and no way in hell do we want to go back there, nor should we
MYTH
Overcrowding. I dont feel overcrowded at all.
REALITY
What can I say?
MYTH
I like the culture and diversity that such a concentration of differant people provides.
REALITY
yes, so how is life under the el on Roosevelt or on Main in Flushing?
I DO HOPE THE CLUBHOUSE WILL GIVE YOU YOUR CHANCE AT OFFICE, OR A NICE VARIANCE.
to anonymous asking why do i care, actually i don't. was in my yard the other day and relized what could be better than this, and it came to me nothing, not even those ugly condos which sooner or later will be housing. so enjoy yourself and watch ya back.
"watch ya back"? I will stomp you.
MYTH:It is really important how many hospital beds there are in Queens.
REALITY: We definitly need the jobs that hospitals provide and we need the emergency rooms for well. ..emergency's. Funny that there are so many hospital beds in Manhattan. All my doctors are there and so are the doctors of all my friends and neighbors and I live in Glendale.
MYTH: I am a rich developer that sends my kids to private school.
REALITY: I am a middle class accountant with a live in girlfriend and we are not getting married and definatly not having kids anytime soon but I went to the local public schools - PS 88, IS227 and FK Lane. and the elementry and middle school were great but the high school was atrocious but they have significantly improved from when I went to high school and they are getting better. I would send my kids to public school until high school age and then make a decision at that time. Who knows.
MYTH:
This guy thinks its special that he has lived here his whole life.
REALITY: So have I - and I bet so have most of the people that read this blog and they will agree that although not without flaws this is the best the city has been run in a long time, without a doubt, my lifetime. (remember Dinkins?)
MYTH: This guy thinks he is fighting for shared values and against the destruction of this city.
REALITY: He seems to be a bigot and is afraid of immigrants. I wonder what nationality he is because if he is not American Indian he should shut his mouth.
Things are going to change with or without you and you need to try and adapt. No one is out to get you.
MYTH:It is really important how many hospital beds there are in Queens.
REALITY: We definitly need the jobs that hospitals provide and we need the emergency rooms for well. ..emergency's.
This right here is the dumbest thing ever written in the history of Queens Crap. Do you think we don't have enough emergencies here to fill 5 more hospitals? Have you been to Elmhurst, Astoria General, Wyckoff or Queens Hospital Center lately for an emergency?
"they will agree that although not without flaws this is the best the city has been run in a long time, without a doubt, my lifetime. (remember Dinkins?)"
Yes, I also remember Giuliani who took over for Dinkins. He ran the city much better than Bloomberg, who is running it into the ground.
Things are going to change with or without you and you need to try and adapt.
Spoken like a board member of MAS or HDC.
Most people in Queens go to a doctor in Queens. That's why we have so many doctors offices around. Maybe the Glendale Archie Bunkers like yourself don't, but most of the "diverse mosaic" does. Funny the racism that comes out when someone decides to answer like a know-it-all smartass.
Remember the concept of "community hospitals"? You doctor was in the community and so was your hospital.
Now we're supposed to hope the ambulance doesn't get stuck in traffic on the Queensboro Bridge?
Most people in Queens go to a doctor in Queens. That's why we have so many doctors offices around. Maybe the Glendale Archie Bunkers like yourself don't, but most of the "diverse mosaic" does. Funny the racism that comes out when someone decides to answer like a know-it-all smartass.
I go to doctors and hospitals in Manhattan because that is where I work. Easy commute to the doctor on weekdays. Thats why most of my friends and neighbors do the same as well.
Which is fine for checkups but what happens when you are sick or get hurt? You're going to schlep into Manhattan on the subway or drive while sick?
Let me tell you, I was very happy to live 5 minutes from Astoria General--substandard or not, when I had to have life-saving surgery for an ovarian torsion.
It would have been even better if I did not have to wait 12 hours for a bed, but at least I was in the hospital. I would hate to be stuck in traffic with that problem, or a heart attack, pregnancy, appendicitis or stroke.
I would love to see the magic helicopter that would come to whisk me from my hovel in Astoria to the elegant East side Manhattan hospitals in that event.
Rather than getting the last rites of the Catholic Church, bad enough, I would have been waked.
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