■REAL ESTATE BY LIAM LA GUERRE lguerre@queenscourier.com I @LiamLaGuerre { { Tallest building in Queens for sale One Court Square, the tallest building in the city outside of Manhattan, has hit the market once again, and its sale price could break borough records, according to reports. Real estate firm Savanna, which bought a controlling interest last year in the 51-story building also known as the Citi Tower, listed it with brokerage Cushman & Wakefield, which was first reported by the New York Daily News. Representatives for Cushman & Wakefield didn’t comment on the listing, and an asking price was not disclosed. The tower sold in 2011 for $500 million, but is expected to sell for much more this time around since values in Long Island City have increased over time. One Court Square was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, and built by Turner Construction in 1989 for Citigroup. The office tower has 1.5 million square feet of space and is 673 feet tall. Citigroup, which sold the building in 2005, still has a lease through 2020 for the tower and the company has about 4,800 workers in it, according to reports. Deals in Astoria for homebuyers Demand for homes in Astoria is high as more buyers are pushed away from skyrocketing prices in nearby Long Island City, and attracted by easy access to transportation, established commercial strips, and diverse restaurants and entertainment venues. Residents can enjoy Astoria Park’s waterfront view, visit the Museum of the Moving Image or grab a drink at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, to name a few popular activities. But the surging demand to live in Astoria has caused land values to spike there as well, resulting in rising rents and home prices. However, prospective Astoria renters and homebuyers need not fear; the neighborhood still has some deals to be found. Recently, Astoria was named one of the top areas for recent college graduates looking to rent in the city, according to a report by real estate website StreetEasy. StreetEasy has also put together a list of deals to beat the heated Astoria market, and indicated that there are more below market price homes waiting to be purchased. 22-60 79th St. #3B Price: $295,000 Size: One bedroom, one bathroom Type: Condo Broker: Laura Copersino, Douglas Elliman What StreetEasy said: “Astoria is known for its bucolic complexes of small apartment buildings and gardens. This one-bedroom is in one of these complexes and offers lots of closet space, a renovated kitchen and a washer-dryer.” 21-37 33rd St. #05H Price: $475,000 Size: Three bedrooms, one bathroom Type: Co-op Broker: Frank Bouklis, Bouklis Group What StreetEasy said: “Proximity to transportation is everything in Astoria. This three-bedroom is three blocks from the Ditmars N/Q stop in one of Astoria’s most residential and family-oriented pockets. Plus it’s got a new kitchen and bath.” 30-10 48th St. Price: $849,000 Size: Five bedrooms, two bathrooms Type: Townhouse Broker: Nancy Suric, Laffey Fine Homes What StreetEasy said: “The townhouse market in other parts of the city is very tiny and very pricey, but single-family homes dominate the housing stock in Astoria. This one just got a gut renovation and has its own garage.”
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