8 The Courier sun • OCTOBER 2, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Report: Queens home prices increase Graphs courtesy of Keller Williams Realty Photo courtesy of Ed Wendell A large fence has been built around the sinkhole that has plagued Forest Park. Sponsored by Providing comprehensive end-of-life care in the home, nursing home, and in-patient setting throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Nassau County. For referrals or information call 718.472.1999 or visit www.hospiceny.com BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected]/@liamlaguerre Sellers have the edge in the Queens housing market as home prices jumped through the year, according to the August monthly market report by Keller Williams Realty. Prices of co-ops, single- or multi-family homes and condos all saw increases through August, the report found, and the median home price rose 3.5 percent to $401,000. Condo prices increased to $420,000 from 407,500 last year, co-ops rose to $197,000 from $185,000 and residential houses, which saw the biggest gain, surged 11.7 percent to $579,000 from $518,500. The inventory of Queens homes, which dropped 6.6 percent to 5,627 houses, co-ops and condos through the year, is partly to blame for the rise in prices. Decreasing availability of homes resulted in “keeping the market slightly in favor of sellers in most neighborhoods, especially residential and condo home sellers,” the report said. “With fewer homes on the market across Queens County, buyers have fewer options so in many markets timeliness will be a big factor when putting in an offer on a home, co-op or condo.” Along with higher prices, housing sales fell this August compared with last August, the report said. Residential home sales dropped 9.8 percent from 501 to 452, co-op sales decreased 3.2 percent to 272, and condo sales plummeted 32 percent from 100 to 68 compared to August 2013. Sinkhole in Forest Park addressed by city BY SALVATORE LICATA [email protected] @Sal_Licata1 The long-ignored sinkhole in Forest Park, which for two years has taken up the sidewalk where pedestrians enter the park from Woodhaven Boulevard, has at last seen some action by the Parks Department. When The Courier first broke the story last month, the only protection for passersby were metal barricades and caution tape, reducing the size of the walkway and making it a hazard for pedestrians. This week, a large portion of the sidewalk around the gaping hole has been fenced in by the Parks Department, limiting the risk of injury for parkgoers. Now, pedestrians must walk across the street when they enter or leave the park, reducing the risk of injury. The sinkhole was most likely caused by erosion and storm water runoff, according to a Parks Department official, and the agency mobilized a contractor to fix it. “We have designed a solution, which will include clearing and upgrading existing drainage structures, filling the sinkhole, reconstructing the sidewalk and stabilizing the adjacent slope,” the official said. “A contractor has already begun work.” Ed Wendell, president of Project Woodhaven and a frequent visitor to Forest Park, said he was glad initial steps have been taken but wants to see the repairs completed swiftly. “I’m glad the first step has been taken and they have closed the sidewalk to take the immediate danger out of the way,” Wendell said. “Now, let’s get it fixed.”
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