Silver Towers’ price and square footage combination is a boon for first-time homeowners
Silver Towers offers one of the few doorman co-ops in Kew Gardens, along with spacious apartments and proximity to several modes of transportation. Designed by J. Kessler and Sons in 1960, the 27-story building houses 377 units and has been quite popular ever since it opened. “I've been selling there for 23 years,” says Valerie Shalomoff, an associate real estate broker with Keller Williams who also lived in Kew Gardens for 12 years. “You have many people that upgrade in the building, like studio owners who want to go bigger.” Residents are close to both city airports and valet parking is offered to all residents at the privately owned garage in the building. The combination of accessible prices and large floorplans makes these residences great for first-time buyers, although most will have to budget for upgrades or a complete gut renovation.
Central air and casement windows, but units may need work
Silver Towers was at one point, the tallest building on Long Island. From the fourth to the 15th story, 25 units occupy each floor. The white- and gray-brick building is setback on the 15th floor (which allows for a lounge area on the 83rd Avenue facade) and from the 16th floor up, only 11 units take up space on each floor. The architects here certainly did not skimp on space as most one-bedrooms start at 875 square feet and most two-bedrooms are over 1,000 square feet. Each apartment has central air, several casement windows that let in lots of light, and parquet floors. Most kitchens are galley, some with windows. Kitchens in the corner units can sometimes have odd, almost triangular formations to accommodate the building's many angular shapes. Built-in closet space is found throughout apartments and terraces are a standout feature of many units. Prospective buyers can expect to do a bit of renovating or upgrading to most units.
Large footprints with accessible price points
Buyers at Silver Towers can feel like they are getting a deal. “I had buyers that looked at properties in Forest Hills and they couldn't afford it, or there wasn't much closet space. I would take them to Silver Towers and then they'd end up buying here,” says Shalomoff. The building consists of studios to four-plus bedrooms, although studios and anything above three-bedrooms rarely hit the market. The last studio was sold in January of 2024 and it went for $160,000. A renovated one-bedroom, one-bathroom (much more commonly available) with 995 square feet of space, was picked up for $260,000 in November of 2024. Two-bedrooms often cross 1,000 square feet and get as large as 1,400 square feet, ranging in price from $279,000 - $475,000 without renovations or upgrades. A 2,200-square-foot three-bedroom sold in January of 2023 (one of two sold that year) for $614,000. Four-bedrooms are even rarer. The first one sold in 11 years fetched $1.18 million in September of 2024. The building does not have a flip tax.
Double entrances and valet parking included in amenities
Residents enter the building from one of two entrances on either 82nd Avenue or Queens Boulevard and are always greeted by a 24-hour doorman in the newly updated lobby. There is a garage in the building, but it is not owned by the co-op. “Parking wise, during the week is a little bit of a challenge because everybody (from the surrounding courthouses and businesses) comes there,” says Shalomoff. But residents get valet service regardless of the day or time. Bike and unit storage are available and there is a laundry room on every floor. A fully-equipped gym is available to residents only. A seasonal terrace for lounging (no barbecues) sits on the 15th-floor rooftop.
Convenient access to supermarkets, local restaurants and Forest Park
“It's super easy to get to anything. You don't need a car,” Shalomoff says. There are both a C-Town and Key Foods nearby and there is a deli in the building. On Lefferts Boulevard, which can be reached in less than 10 minutes on foot, there is “the famous Dani’s Pizza and a 7-11” according to Shalomoff. Homestead, a German and Polish eatery popular with residents, is in the same vicinity. Just across the street are three parks, in addition to a baseball field. The 500-acre Forest Park with its many trees, freshwater pond, horseback-riding and running trails, numerous sports facilities and picnic areas, is within a five- to 10-minute walk.
Several transportation options are nearby
A variety of transportation options are available to Silver Towers residents. The E and F subway lines are a five-minute walk down Queens Boulevard and it only takes about 20 minutes to hit Manhattan. The LIRR station is a nine-minute walk away. Queens Boulevard is right outside the building’s doorstep. A five-minute ride on Grand Central Parkway gets you to I-495 which becomes the midtown tunnel and empties directly into Manhattan. Residents can drive to La Guardia in 17 minutes or JFK in 22, but airport shuttles that stop in front the building are also an option.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Bikeable
Bike Score®
62/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
92/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 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
Hoover-Manton Playgrounds
6 min walk
Basketball
Trails
Playground
Kew Gardens Cinema Park
6 min walk
Hoover Playground
8 min walk
Picnic Area
Playground
Eight Oaks Triangle
8 min walk
Judge Moses Weinstein Playground
15 min walk
Vleigh Playground
2 min drive
Albert H. Mauro Playground
2 min drive
Briarwood Playground
3 min drive
Hawthorne Park Forest Hills
5 min drive
Multi-Purpose Field
Schools
Source:
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