The Windsor at Forest Hills

Large one- to three-bedroom homes wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows and unobstructed vistas

Like any building of a certain age, the level of renovation varies greatly from unit to unit as previous owners have introduced their own design details and updates over time. However, given the quality and durability of the baseline architectural elements, much of the original polished mahogany flooring, kitchen cabinetry and marble-finished bathrooms remain intact. Open concept entertainment spaces and more intimate en-suite bedrooms are strategically separated by grand foyers and buffered by an abundance of closet space. All residences have in-unit washer/dryers. Across The Windsor at Forest Hills, 9-foot ceilings are the norm as are soaking tubs and oversized showers. Because of how the tower is massed — multiple intersecting volumes — most units have at least two exposures and a majority position along corners. While 720-square-foot one-bedrooms have most recently sold for around $725,000, multiple 1,263-square-foot two-bedrooms were on the market in fall 2024 for approximately $1.2 million. Prices vary depending on their condition and position within the building. Top floor residences with the previously mentioned skyline views and the few with private balconies fetch a premium.

An opulent lobby among an ample suite of amenities

Residents and their guests enter The Windsor at Forest Hills through the center of its retail podium, only to discover an emphatically Art Deco-style lobby formed in-the-round with stepped wooden panels anchoring offset lighting, a coffered ceiling and a black-and-white marble tile floor. The full-time door attendants are meticulous about handling deliveries. There’s a daytime concierge and live-in super on hand as well. The building features a fully equipped fitness center, children’s playroom, bike storage and even a screening room. Two fully furnished shared roof decks are ideal for gatherings on warm days. Valet parking attendants make full use of the onsite garage with deeded parking spots sold separately.

Historic Forest Hills and bustling Austin Street

Residents can sign up for memberships at the nearby West Side Tennis Club, a prestigious locale with historic turn-of-the-20th-century charm and four types of courts. The club abuts the equally illustrious Forest Hills Stadium, once home to the US Open and Davis Cup and now a major concert venue. Because its main stage positions toward the northwest and away from The Windsor at Forest Hills and a 10 pm curfew, noise pollution is less of an issue. Modelled after an idyllic English village, Station Square is the neighborhood’s historic center, with a few long-established haunts including the Prince Tea House and a mural dedicated to The Ramones — a few members of the punk band grew up here.

Just around the corner, Austin Street is another commercial core with distinct character and a bustling food scene. “Once nicknamed “The Village,” it featured mom-and-pop shops but that quaint nature in the past two decades has increasingly been compromised by corporate chains,” according to a 2019 article in the Forest Hills Times. “A few years ago, small business owners began worrying about rising rents as well as vehicular and pedestrian congestion.” Community organization The Neighbors for A Safer Austin Street was established in the late 2010s to help mitigate both issues. Every September, the outdoor Forest Hills Festival of the Arts takes place along this stretch and helps enshrine Austin Street’s authenticity. In keeping with Central Queens’ status as one of the most culturally diverse microcosms in the world, this pocket offers a wide range of cuisines. Popular restaurants here include Irish-themed Tap House, ramen go-to Tamashii and brunch spot Rove. There are also premium chain eateries like Bareburger and Tacombi. There’s a Key Foods grocery store and CVS pharmacy right across Queens Boulevard and a large Regal UA cinema in front of the building’s entrance. A Trader Joe’s can be found a few blocks north. Flushing Medows Park is a massive green space with miles of pond-lined walkways, baseball diamonds and even a model airplane flying field. The closest access point to the highway-wrapped green lung is the Pat Dolan Trail pedestrian bridge at the of 72nd Road. To the south, Forest Park has dense hilltop tree cover and a well-maintained playground.

Quick rail and road links to Manhattan and elsewhere

Thought it feels as though one is in a completely different part of the country — or the world — Midtown Manhattan’s Penn Station is only 20 minutes away from the adjacent Forest Hills Long Island Rail Road station, but service isn’t as frequent as the subway. Just a block away, the Forest Hills-71st Avenue station is serviced by E, F, M and R lines, providing residents with reliable links to different parts of “the city.” Midtown is at least 30 minutes away. For those homeowners that keep cars onsite or street park nearby, there are onramps to the Jackie Robinson and Grand Central parkways as well as the Van Wyck expressway just a bit further south on Queens Boulevard.