Sunnyside and Jackson Heights - 2 of 8 hidden gems when it comes to looking for new digs

amNewYork published a list of eight neighborhoods that are “up-and-comers, hidden gems and cute neighborhoods” and two Queens neighborhoods made the cut – Jackson Heights and Sunnyside. They asked real estate experts to compile lists of great areas of NYC and they came up with the following – South Harlem, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Kensington, Sunset Park, Pelham Bay, Stapleton, and Inwood.

Image source: clgregor on Flickr

About Jackson Heights, the highlights are the pre-war buildings, cultural diversity, great food, plenty of public transportation. Also:

One-bedrooms in Jackson Heights usually go for around $1,350 to $1,700 a month, [Mike] Schulte said. Two-bedrooms run for about $1,600 to $2,000, but there aren’t many three-bedrooms available since the buildings are so old, he said. Co-ops are common, starting in the $250,000 to $350,000 range, depending on square footage and location.

About Sunnyside, it’s a residential neighborhood with a strong feeling of community, lots of trees, plenty of bars and restaurants, and necessities like grocery stores and pharmacies. It’s also home to Sunnyside Gardens Park, which is privately owned (Gramercy Park is the only other privately owned park in NYC). Also:

Renovations to buildings in the area created one- and two-bedrooms that are on the smaller side, Schulte said, and there aren’t many three-bedrooms available. One-bedrooms run in the $1,550 to $1,850 range, and twos go for between $1,950 and $2,250, he said. One-bedroom co-ops start in the $260,000 to $390,000 range.