I.S. 126Q Albert Shanker School Community School Rated A-
Laundry Service
Fitness Center
Elevator
Indoor Pool
An Astoria condo in a burgeoning area overlooking the East River
Shore Towers Condominiums in Astoria was “ahead of its time,” says John Constantinides, a Compass agent who has done business in the building and specializes in Astoria real estate. The 1989 building was one of the first luxury buildings constructed on the Queens side of the East River near the Hell Gate railroad bridge and the RFK (or Triborough) Bridge, and adjacent to Astoria Park. The 23-story tower is wider than it is tall: Over 400 units are spread out over two wings descending in height from the center. Each unit has outdoor space, and half of the apartments face the water. However, residents on the other side of the building can sit on a bench on the building’s front patio or check out the river view from the gym. The area west of the building remains industrial, but that’s changing — and quickly. Halletts Point, a $1.5 billion mixed-use development by the Durst Organization, is underway nearby and will eventually bring 2,020 residential units over seven buildings to the area, according to a 2019 article in The New York Times. One of the Halletts Point buildings opened in 2023, and two others are set to be open by February 2025. Durst also has plans to create a waterfront promenade in front of the new towers, which could connect to Long Island City, and new retail is also in the works. “That whole area is going to be transformed,” Constantinides notes.
Efficient floorplans with balconies, many with East River views
Shore Towers has 407 studios, one- and two-bedroom units, with a few three-bedrooms in the mix. Units feature balconies that run the width of the apartments, so the living area and bedrooms have access to outdoor space, as well as the light that comes with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. Residences have, of course, been renovated since the building opened, but original features included hardwood floors, open floor plans with kitchens separated by a breakfast bar and the cherry cabinetry that was so popular in the early 1990s. In the fall of 2024, only two two-bedroom units were available for sale at Shore Towers. A renovated 19th-floor unit with city views and a chef’s kitchen with bar seating, wine storage and other stainless-steel appliances, represented by Constantinides, asked $925,000. A riverfront residence on the 17th floor, also renovated, was asking $1.14 million. One-bedrooms range from about $655,000 to $750,000. A rare studio sold over the summer of 2024 for about $500,000, while a three-bedroom sold at the end of 2023 for around $1.3 million. Common charges are relatively low, with fees for a two-bedroom ranging between about $600 and $650.
Parking, tennis and a swimming pool
The building offers several ways to stay in shape on site, starting with the indoor pool with river views and a skylight overhead. There’s also an outdoor tennis court, a gym with weights and cardio equipment, and a sauna. The community room can be reserved for meetings, parties or other events. The laundry room was renovated in 2020, and the elevators, facade and balconies have also been restored. The lobby is staffed around the clock and has a seating area, plus there’s the waterfront patio with benches for taking in the river and city views — or Fourth of July fireworks. The building has a parking garage underneath it, as well as an additional lot across the street. At least one parking place is allocated to each apartment in the building, with larger units eligible for an extra spot.
Between Astoria Park and Whitey Ford Field
Shore Towers is in a very residential area, at least for the moment, located at the end of a cul-de-sac. Neighboring Astoria Park, nearly 60 acres, offers a slew of activities, including the city’s largest and oldest public pool. There are also bocce courts, a skate park, ball fields, Charybdis Playground (opposite Scylla Point on Wards Island, named after the mythical sea creatures because they overlook a treacherous part of the East River known as Hell Gate) and, of course, walking trails along the East River. Waterfront Whitey Ford Field, a baseball diamond named after the legendary Yankee’s pitcher, is about a 15-minute walk. Brooklyn Harvest, a gourmet grocery, is on the ground floor of the first Halletts Point tower, about a 10-minute walk.
A shuttle to the subway and a nearby ferry station
Interstate 278 runs through Astoria, allowing drivers access to the Triborough bridge and the rest of New York City and beyond. The closest subway station is not that close: the Astoria Blvd station, with N and W train service, is about a 20-minute walk. Fortunately, the condo provides a shuttle service to the station every 15 minutes. From the station, it’s about 20 minutes to Grand Central Terminal. Or the Astoria stop of the NYC Ferry is about 12 minutes on foot; passengers can be in the Upper East Side in less than five minutes or Wall Street in about 45 minutes. The M60 bus connects with the subway at Hoyt Street and 31st Street, providing westbound service to Harlem and uptown Manhattan or, to the east, LaGuardia Airport.
A seawall was installed after Superstorm Sandy
During Superstorm Sandy, Shore Towers “was compromised but not destroyed,” Chona Raskin, president of the condo board at the time, told Habitat magazine in 2020. “We needed to do some repairs. As president, I urged the board to build a seawall. We spent about $1 million, and we’re glad to have it. We also waterproofed the stairwells, the driveways and the parking lot.” In addition, Raskin oversaw a $235,000 LED lighting project with Fairbanks Energy Services “that’s saving us about $40,000 a year.”
Association fees include air conditioning, common area maintenance, exterior maintenance, grounds care, heat, pool service, sewer, snow removal, trash, water
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
74/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
86/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
64/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Triborough Bridge Playground B
6 min walk
Playground
Chappetto Park
7 min walk
Basketball
Soccer
Astoria Park
9 min walk
Hallets Cove Playground
10 min walk
Playground
Van Alst Playground
10 min walk
Playground
Whitey Ford Field
12 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Hallett's Cove Playground
13 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Hallett's Point Playground
14 min walk
Wards Island Park
13 min drive
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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