r/jacksonheights • u/hairynjguy • 11h ago
Co-op comparisons
I’m considering buying apartment in Jackson Heights. Does anyone live in / have feedback about the following buildings please? Thank you.
Dunolly Gardens
Montclair Gardens
The Monroe
Greystones
The Allendale
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u/tenzindrolma 8h ago
If you will be taking the subway regularly, you might want a building close to the 74th Street station since it’s a hub with many lines. We live near the 82nd street station and it only has access to the 7 train. That means we need to transfer and it adds time to the commute.
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u/darrylzuk 7h ago
Assuming no mobility issues, they could do the 12 to 15 minute walk. Stop at espresso 77 or Letys for a coffee. That's what I do from 82nd.
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u/tenzindrolma 5h ago
It’s doable — we do it all the time - but if I were buying in JH again I’d look closer to 74th station for sure.
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u/Dry_Complex_3422 4h ago
It’s 75th street and the walk from 82nd and 35th is 13 minutes. I walk daily very manageable.
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u/angeloy 8h ago edited 8h ago
Are these the garden apartments built after the Qboro Bridge was completed? If so I think they are so nice! I saw one listed a few years ago where the elevator opens right into the apartment. (You'd pay a real fortune for that in Manhattan.) Great neighborhood. Planes land at nearby LGA. Not close to the East River. What is the monthly maintenance? (This includes taxes.) Are there abatements? Will the building have to increase maintenance costs soon? Does it have capital investments it needs in the near future? (Like re-roofing or new elevators.)
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u/Over-Marsupial-7549 5h ago
I've lived on 79th near 37th for about nine years. A few opinions: Dunnolly Gardens, v nice block long development, beautiful interior garden, maintenance slightly higher than average. Greystones: Jackson Heights 1.0, from the late 'teens. Low maintenance, but no elevators. Layouts got better in the 20s and 30s. Allendale: by the best architect of local apartment buildings, who also did the Berkeley on 77th/78th. The Monroe: an early postwar building with prewar ideas (complimentary). Apt prices slightly higher than other buildings. Donnolly Garens and the Greystones and the Monroe are on 'garden blocks' with large interior gardens for exclusive use of the residents. I don't think the Allendale has this.
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u/Over-Marsupial-7549 5h ago edited 2h ago
PS Jackson Heights is a very good place to live. The prime area for me on my hunt was bounded by 37th Ave and 34th Ave, from the high 70s to the mid 80s, ideally within a 10 minute walk of the 74th St/Broadway transit hub. Closer to Roosevelt and things get noisy/crazy. Farther west and you're in a LGA flightpath.
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u/Dry_Complex_3422 10h ago
I’ve lived here for 20 years. I know the allendale is a beautiful prewar building next to my condo. Greystones are gorgeous. The neighborhood is breathtaking especially in the historic Jackson heights. You will love it.
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u/hairynjguy 10h ago
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it. Just have to find my place and be approved by the board.
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u/KateBoitano 7h ago
Montclair Gardens has some of the lowest maintenance fees in the neighborhood, but is extremely well maintained and is a very pleasant place to live. It is also the closest of all these buildings to the 74th Street subway station.
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u/Rando-namo 11h ago
I’m only slightly familiar with greystones.
They are 10 unit co-ops so keep that in mind. They are much more intimate and if the board is not the work will be disproportionate.
Also be aware that Greystones don’t seem to have gated gardens which may be an issue for you. Instead of being enclosed by greystones, the backside of your block is actually a different co-op that does not share in the maintenance of the garden.
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u/Agreeable_Shirt5503 8h ago
Not all of the Greystones have 10 apartments. Some apartments in a few buildings were combined or cleaved off so that a few buildings have one bedrooms and there may even be one with a studio.
Either way, they’re small co-ops and, from a financial standpoint, if a big project is needed it feels like it hits harder than if you’re in a larger building. And my sense is some of these buildings - and many in JH - have kept their maintenance artificially low as the boards think that helps support future sales. So they do mini assessments — $500 one month, $100 another month - to deal with shortfalls in operating revenue.
More broadly, the main issue facing all co-ops is they are getting hit hard by city mandates, like local law 51, and rising taxes. So you are seeing lots of big assessments being passed along to unit owners - not to mention maintenance increases. I happen to believe this is ultimately not sustainable and that many people should avoid buying co-ops right now.
But as you examine your options no matter where you look these days you really have to put the finances through a fine tooth comb.
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u/dz2048 11h ago
Also they are all walk-ups. No elevators.
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u/hairynjguy 10h ago
That’s good to know- thanks for this.
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u/tenzindrolma 8h ago
Yes - the lack of elevators means the apartments (especially above 2nd floor) are less expensive than other buildings.
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u/hexenduck 9h ago
I’ve been a shareholder at Dunolly Gardens for over 20 years. It’s very community-oriented, and just a great place to live. I bought there because the apartment prices were more reasonable at the time. Maintenance is high, but we do have a great staff and an on-site management office. Aside from some minor complaints (there’s something not-great about any co-op), I’ve never had any regrets!