A post-war complex within a peaceful enclave, near a transportation hub
The Wilshire House is a two-building complex that sits between tree-lined 74th and 75th streets on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights. Constructed in 1952, the post-war buildings are located in a quiet section of the neighborhood, near Travers Park and their city-famous pedestrian plaza on 34th Avenue. Although the buildings only border the official Jackson Heights Historic District, its central courtyard and garden layout are similar to many of the neighborhood’s historic garden apartment complexes (the first of their kind in the U.S.). Designed by prolific New York City architect Philip Birnbaum, who was known for his design efficiency and maximization of living space, the 161 units in the complex are not as large as pre-war units but still offer comfortable living spaces. Studios to two-bedrooms in each building are designed with mirrored layouts and are priced reasonably for the area. The Wilshire has a lot to offer someone looking for a decent-priced unit in a well-run co-op, but its location in a tranquil area that’s close enough to transportation and social hubs may be one of its biggest draws. “The thing that's nice about the Wilshire is that it's right on 34th Avenue, which is now a pedestrian plaza,” says Eirik Gislason, a Brown Harris Stevens agent who’s lived in the area since 2008. “It's in that very tree-lined, more quiet area of the neighborhood, but it's still only two blocks from the main train hub. That's the benefit of a place like the Wilshire, in my opinion.”
Square footage is modest and apartments aren’t always available
Despite their compact footprint, the studio to two-bedroom apartments available at the Wilshire are comfortably laid out. They all start with a foyered entrance and generally have kitchens that are windowed and separated, galley style, from the rest of the living area. Original wooden plank floors are found throughout. Ranging between 400 and 550 square feet, studio space here tends to float between $210,000 and $260,000. One-bedrooms are also on the smaller end, ranging from 650 to 750 square feet and priced between $280,000and $369,000. Two-bedrooms are sized between 800 and 900 square feet, with a few at 1,050 square feet; prices can range anywhere between $460,000 and $569,000. Residents of The Wilshire House don’t often place their apartments on the market, however, with only two or three units popping up for sale every year. Shameer Fazal, a Keller Williams broker who had a 642-square-foot one-bedroom on the market in the fall of 2024 at $339,900, says that his seller has been there for seven years. “There’s not usually a lot of apartments available but, there’s always at least one or two.”
Essential amenities with a central garden and courtyard
Amenities at The Wilshire House include a live-in super and a well-kept lobby, a basement laundry room in each building with updated machines, a small gym (with a $15 per month cost), storage units, an in-building garage with bike racks — and a wait list. Pets are welcome and units can be rented out after three years of ownership, according to Fazal. The co-op mirrors the neighborhood historic district’s garden apartments with two buildings facing each other and a garden courtyard in between. A building committee maintains the interior garden and there is a paved section designated for children’s play and gathering.
The Wilshire House sits directly on New York City’s longest pedestrian-only corridor
During the pandemic, residents along 34th Avenue lobbied for a safe place to gather, according to Gislason. “In our neighborhood, although it's got beautiful garden co-ops and a lot of tree-lined streets, a lot of the outdoor space is private and interior,” he says. The solution came via the permanent pedestrianization of 34th Avenue from 8am to 8pm, starting at 69th Street and ending at Junction Boulevard. “It's become like this pedestrian park that goes about 30 blocks. It is this very unique thing that I think a lot of neighborhoods now in the city are trying to replicate,” Gislason adds. The 1.3-mile plaza is blocked off to cars with metal barricades during pedestrian hours, so street parking can be a bit of a hassle during the day, but drivers respect the rules. If they find a parking spot, they must physically move a barricade to park. The new public space has been a smashing success otherwise. The plaza passes through several micro-neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and every sub-section has begun forming their own traditions. “Near where I am, in the summer, there are organizations that do outdoor camps on the plaza now,” says Gislason. “There's a beautiful new bookstore that's recently opened up on 73rd and 34th Avenue called The World’s Borough Book Shop and the owner will do author readings and storytelling right on the corner and it kind of bleeds into the pedestrian plaza.” Furnished with seating, the plaza is also used for neighborhood parties and gatherings, and even marches and protests. Travers Park, renovated in 2019 with a lawn, ball courts, and several children’s playgrounds, runs along 34th Avenue and is only two blocks from The Wilshire House. The park hosts one of the city’s largest farmers’ markets every Sunday throughout the year. “It's a huge gathering place on Sundays for the community. There's meats and cheeses and fruit stands and everything in between.” Just two blocks south, 37th and Roosevelt avenues are packed with large grocery stores like Foodtown, in addition to specialty stores and restaurants selling all manner of south Asian and Latin American fare.
Commuting by car, public transportation or Citi Bike is easy
Residents of Wilshire House get to Manhattan via the 7, R, E and M train lines, with commute times of around 20 to 30 minutes. The nearest station is about a five- to nine-minute walk (depending on which entrance is used) to a large triangular hub formed by Broadway, Roosevelt Avenue and 75th Street. Northern Boulevard, which is just a two-minute drive away, leads seamlessly onto the Queensboro Bridge and empties onto 60th Street in about 20 minutes. La Guardia is 23 minutes by bus, with the Q47 making local stops and Q70-SBS providing express service. For cyclists, there is a Citi Bike stand directly in front of the building on 34th Avenue.
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
72/ 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
Travers Park
4 min walk
Basketball
Dog Park
Playground
Edward Hart Playground
10 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Frank D. O' Conner Playground
13 min walk
Basketball
Playground
St. Michael's Playground
2 min drive
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Soccer
LaGuardia Landing Lights Park
3 min drive
Baseball/Softball
Dog Park
Trails
Playground Ninety
3 min drive
Basketball
Trails
Playground
Moore Homestead Playground
4 min drive
Basketball
Playground
Gorman Playground
4 min drive
Basketball
Playground
Events
Doughboy Plaza
4 min drive
Dog Park
Trails
Playground
Schools
Source:
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