Queens is burning and more unaffordable

  

QNS

A 72-year-old man was killed after a fire engulfed his illegal basement apartment in South Richmond Hill on Thursday afternoon.

The FDNY received a call just after 5 p.m. of a house fire at 94-14 132nd St. Firefighters confirmed the blaze broke out in the basement. The FDNY dispatched 12 units and 60 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene. Paramedics rescued the 72-year-old victim, and EMS rushed him to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead a short while later.

Two other residents were injured, and one firefighter suffered a minor injury. They were treated at the scene. The fire was brought under control at 5:44 p.m. 

QNS

New York City has launched a housing lottery for 182 units in The Monarch, a 24-story mixed-use development at 92-29 Guy R Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica that opened last July.

The building has 605 total residences, with 30 available in the housing lottery for those earning 80% of the area median income and another 152 for those earning 130% of the area median income.

Of the 30 units set aside for those earning 80% of the area median income, 25 are one-bedroom, with a monthly rent of $1,596. Up to three people can reside in each unit, as long as their combined annual income ranges from $58,046.-$111,840. The other five units are two-bedroom, with a monthly rent of $1,904. These units are meant for up to five people, who earn $69,669-$134,160 annually.

For the 152 units set aside for those earning 130% of the area median income, 125 of them are one-bedroom units, which cost $3,140 a month. They are meant for up to three residents, who combine to bring in $107,658-$181,740. The 27 remaining units are two-bedroom, with a monthly rent of $3,753. Up to five people can live in these units, as long as they combine to earn $128,675-$218,010 annually.

Amenities for residents of The Monarch include washers, dryers and dishwashers in the units, high-end kitchen appliances, countertops and finishes, air-conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, smart controls for heating and cooling, charging outlets with USB ports, hardwood floors, cable or satellite TV and high-speed internet.

QNS

The average rental price for housing units across Queens went up 4.07% year-over-year in August 2024, according to a report by the real estate firm M.N.S. Real Estate.

Queens had its overall rental price jump from $2,812 in August 2023 to $2,926 in August 2024. Studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units each experienced price hikes over this period of time. While the year-over-year changes were not as extreme as last month, the trends were similar.

Studios again had the largest percentage increase, going up 5.92%, from $2,240 in 2023 to $2,372 in 2024. Rego Park retained its title of having the most significant increase in studio rent year-over-year among the 11 Queens neighborhoods included in the study. The cost there rose from $2,138 last year to $2,714 this year.

One-bedroom units had a 3.73% rise in rent, from $2,737 in August 2023 to $2,839 in August 2024. Once again, Rego Park had the biggest boost among the Queens neighborhoods, with the rent of one-bedroom units there going up from $2,646 last year to $2,889 this year

Two-bedroom units again had the largest increase in price, going up 4.41%, from $3,415 in August 2023 to $3,566 in August 2024. Sunnyside had the biggest change, up from $2,920 last year to $3,316 this year.

The most expensive units continue to be found in Long Island City. The average rent in August there was $3,464 for studios, $4,223 for one-bedroom units and $5,975 for two-bedroom units.

The rents are too damn higher by train stations

 

Queens Post 

 The rental market has bounced back—with apartments located within a half mile of a subway station coming back with vigor.

The real estate firm RentHop released a report earlier this week that found that the median rent paid for a 1-bedroom apartment has jumped significantly for those located near subway stations.

The report, which focused solely on 1-bedroom apartments, revealed that the jump was particularly noticeable by major station hubs and near stations where there has been an increase in luxury housing development.

For instance, the median rent paid for a 1-bedroom unit by the Queensboro Plaza station during the first quarter (Jan. 1—March 31) was $3,390, up 28 percent from the first quarter of 2021. The median rent paid for a 1-bedroom unit near the 36^th Street station (E-M-R) during the first quarter was $2,658, up 29 percent from first quarter 2021.

The proximity of the stations to two new developments played a role in driving up prices, according to the report. The stations are near Sven, a 71-story tower located at 29-59 Northern Blvd, and Rise LIC, a 10-story building at 29-17 40th Ave.

The report noted that across the city rents have “skyrocketed at major subway stops,” with pandemic concessions vanishing and gross rents soaring. For instance, at the 72^nd Street in Manhattan the median rent paid for a one-bedroom is up 30 percent year-over-year, to $3,495 during the first quarter.

“When the pandemic first hit New York City, residents fled in droves,” the report says. “Two years into the pandemic, many have returned to the city [and] rental prices have recovered well beyond the pre-pandemic levels.”

RentHop released data showing the median amount paid for a 1 bedroom at each station, as well as the increase.

 

 

The stabilized rent is too damn higher

 

 

NY Post

A vote by the city’s Rent Guidelines Board on Thursday set the stage for what could be the biggest rent hikes in a decade for the Big Apple’s nearly 1 million rent-controlled apartments.

In a preliminary 5-4 vote, the board approved rent increases in the range of 2 to 4 percent for one-year leases and 4 to 6 percent for two-year leases.

If the board’s final vote falls within those ranges, they’d account for the largest hikes since 2013, when the board under then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg approved 4 percent increases for one-year leases and 7.75 percent for two-year leases.

The range set was not as large as some tenant advocates feared or landlord groups were hoping for — after a board report estimated owners would need increases of up to 9 percent on two-year leases to make costs.

But the Legal Aid Society is still pushing for a “wholesale freeze” when the board makes its final vote next month, the group said in a statement.

“We condemn the Board for voting to increase rents on some of our most vulnerable neighbors, people from low-income communities of color, especially when New Yorkers are still reeling financially from the pandemic and the local unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the country,” said Adriene Holder, attorney-in-charge of the civil practice.

 

Long Island City luxury tower from de Blasio's "affordable" housing program is open for lottery applications

 LIC Post

A new affordable housing lottery has opened with 33 units on offer in a large Long Island City development.

The units, located at 42-10 27th St. in a building called One LIC, include studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. Applicants have until June 9 to apply and units will be awarded to qualified tenants via a lottery. Studios will start at $2,241 per month, with three-bedroom units going for as high as $3,283 per month.

The building, which is 21 stories and contains 110 apartments, is located adjacent to the Queensboro Plaza subway station which serves the N, W, and 7 lines.

The new building boasts a rooftop deck and includes other amenities such as a public lounge, party room, laundry room and bike storage.

Parking is also available at an additional cost.




One LIC, like one city right? ROFFLOFL

A "party room"

And parking, I thought the idea behind these towers was to discourage people from driving?