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• Well, the fact that the Crapper is guesting on the most pro-development real estate blog in NYC, the conflict of interest doesn’t surprise me.

  Posted by megc
  on August 29th, 2007 at 11:03 am

• After a lengthy time of bitching and complaining, the Crapper is on automatic pilot and just bitches and complains at anything they don’t like. They have to think outside the box. A hotel on Austin would be nice, but not a Ramada or Days Inn. Somehow though I don’t see a real 5 star hotel, (read Four Seasons) setting up shop on Austin Street. It would probably be a Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza or Marriott (read 3 star) which will house a lot of pilots on layovers. The FOHI residents can decide if they want something like that…I wouldn’t. I’d prefer a Chelsea Market kind of site which houses gourmet eateries, butchers, flower markets, etc.

  Posted by Duddy
  on August 29th, 2007 at 11:23 am

• The planned hotel by Heskel Group has not seen any action. Development in Forest Hills has been non existant sans Novo 64 which is in a horrendous location as well as the Windsor.

  Forest Hills has a ton of old co-operative housing stock of subpar design and a crappy road called Queens Boulevard going right through it. Also Forest Hills has a ton of elderly people as well.

  Austin Street already has traffic problems and there was a MAJOR ACCIDENT where a child was killed near that area. There is NO WAY Heskel Elias is going to get approvals for a Hotel in that location. Theres no development in sight for the future of Forest Hills other than what was ALREADY put in place as well as the McMansions and some small fresh commercial buildout.

  Forest Hills Gardens is the more upscale part of Forest Hills and it is like a place frozen in time in that old style architecture. There wont be any new development over there or by Forest Hills South over on that side.

  Point being: The section of Forest Hills by Continental and 71st will be a place frozen in time for a long time to come.

  That condo complex is likely going to be around for years. You may want and beg for it to disappear, because it sucks. Oh yeah, and someone DIED in that ELEVATOR there as well cause it is a VERY horrendously designed building. Im surprised that article did NOT mention that. But thats Forest Hills and that is how Forest Hills will always be. It will never be as nice as Manhattan, which is why there is a hefty price premium for it.

  Forest Hills will NEVER have Central Park and I never expect it to. Forest Hills could use a bulldoser to knock down the old co-operative housing and to remove Queens Boulevard and to redesign the whole area. But alas, Forest Hills IS WHAT IT IS and will be SHITTY FOR YEARS TO COME.

  Real Intellectuals time and time again CHOOSE MANHATTAN. These are the people who ACTUALLY DESIGN the cities well.

  Ismael Leyva Architects which brought us the Windsor is based in Manhattan. Sure its a nice beautiful upscale building but its still in QUEENS. Yes there was a market demand for these units because it was LOWER in PRICE and close to 71st and continental for an easy commute. But that was the REAL draw.

  Forest Hills won’t be worthy of a 5 Star Hotel. It is not even worthy of a Motel 6!

  Posted by Anonymous
  on August 29th, 2007 at 1:22 pm

• Uh, I can’t afford Manhattan. Neither can anyone else not involved in investment banking or some such thing. I know lots of “real intellectuals” and not a single one of them has CHOSEN MANHATTAN for years because they have no way of living there. You appear to be stuck in 1986. Guess what? Even if you don’t like Forest Hills — and you appear to know a whole lot about it for someone who hates it so much; why is that, exactly? — you can’t deny that the outer boroughs are where a lot of the action is these days. Have you even been to the ritzy parts of Brooklyn?

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 1:34 pm

• “Uh, I can’t afford Manhattan. Neither can anyone else not involved in investment banking or some such thing.”

  If you ARE intellectual you CAN AFFORD MANHATTAN. Life is NOT about money and never has been. Money is NOT the ultimate goal in life nor should be. Money is just a transfer of wealth from person to person to show gratitude and respect when someone has contributed greatly to society (IF IT ALL GOES RIGHT). There ARE those not worthy who ARE in Manhattan but that is NOT the type of person I am referring to.

  If you went to college and even grad school but use the term “cant afford Manhattan” and are physically healthy and fit what does it tell me? It tells me that your focus was NOT on working hard for your clientel with your inherent skill set which was intellectually driven.

  Some want suburbs rather THAN Manhattan so they most to parts of Westchester AND Long Island and the like however. But for those who enjoy CITY Living, Manhattan for the NY Metro area is still the gold standard.

  Posted by Anonymous
  on August 29th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

• “Uh, I can’t afford Manhattan. Neither can anyone else not involved in investment banking or some such thing.”

  An intellectual will NEVER make this kind of comment to begin with since they would know precisely WHO was living in Manhattan ALREADY, and people who think Manhattan is mostly investment bankers is flat out false although there ARE Investment bankers in Manhattan.

  Yes YOU can’t afford Manhattan. You never even disclosed your skill set or what you do and I won’t ask but I can tell already from this comment you made that you are NOT intellectual.

  Intellectual of course isn’t just about basic knowledge like this, but alas you failed this basic test so the rest does NOT have to be looked upon.

  Posted by Anonymous
  on August 29th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

• Um…don’t mean to brag but I can afford Manhattan but choose to live in Forest Hills because of the Gardens. I’d like to know what part of Manhattan the dipstick (anonymous at 1:22pm) who mouthed off on Forest Hills lives in. Also, Manhattan is filled with a lot of non-intellectuals (has anyone checked out the Upper East Side east of Lexington Avenue lately?). How about the turnips who live in 1 bedroom apartments with 3 kids off of Park Avenue. I know a lot of those. I’m in the real estate business myself and dispute most of what dipstick said. People spoke horribly about LIC for many years and now its the place to be. Forest Hills has major potential which hasn’t been realized and will in the next boom cycle probably see growth like LIC and Astoria.

  Posted by Anonymous
  on August 29th, 2007 at 1:58 pm

• To Anonymous,

  As an intelligent and successful attorney who cannot afford Manhattan no matter how hard I work, I find your argument to be illogical, absurd and elitist. If you don’t even like Forest Hills (or Queens), then why are you posting here?

  Since, according to you, none of us here are “worthy” or “working hard” enough to live in the rarified world of Manhattan, I think that you may be more comfortable posting on some Manhattan-based blog/forum, because you will find more of your fellow supposed rich and elite “intellectuals” there and will no longer have to stoop to associate with us yokels who live in central Queens and are happy living there (thank you very much). Personally, I think that Forest Hills is a wonderful neighborhood to live in and I plan to stay there for a long time.

  Posted by queensgirl
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:09 pm

• So only investment bankers are “intellectual,” then? Not academics, teachers, writers, artists? Museum administrators, social-service administrators? People who haven’t cared so much about making the maximum amount of money because “[m]oney is NOT the ultimate goal in life nor should be”? You have a very, very odd definition of “intellectual.” Let’s take a look at accountants, shall we? That has a reputation of being a boring job full of intelligent people who work hard. It’s a smart career choice that isn’t sexy but will get you far in life. In addition, there’s nothing inherently public-service oriented about accounting — it exists purely for making money, for yourself and for others. The average accountant in New York City earns $66,000 a year. I am here to tell you that in 2007, that is not enough to afford an apartment in Manhattan. I can’t find current data, but more than a year ago, the average price of a studio apartment in Manhattan was almost $500,000 — and as the news has been telling us, Manhattan prices have been up since then while the rest of the country has gone down. That accountant can’t afford to buy a $500k apartment. And rents aren’t any better.

  You want to know about me? I’m a professional web developer working for a large American corporation. My wife and I make a very nice combined annual income that would probably be the envy of most people in other metropolitan areas. I graduated from a US News and World Report Top 10-ranked university with a very respectable GPA. I love Manhattan more than any place in the world and spend as much time there as I can. But what with the rise in real-estate prices over the past five or so years, I wouldn’t venture to think about how I could afford a Manhattan place. And remember, I’m married. My wife and I and any potential future kids are not living in a studio — which we couldn’t afford anyway.

  I will tell you something else, sir. “Intellectuals” tend to be people secure in their intellect. They do not go online and post unsolicited, non-sequitur-laden confrontational comments as you have. If you open up a copy of the Paris Review, I doubt you’ll find much writing like yours.

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:10 pm

• okay, the capitals, and addressing of 2 posters replies in 2 separate posts? oh and the obnoxious tone? Who does this sound like everyone?
  Intellect has nothing to do with the choice of where one lives and everyone knows that, its a matter of personal taste and finances combined. That poster, whom I think we know who he is, is just doing his stupid riling up of people. I wish he had choose manhattan, but sadly, I think I might even know what building he lives in at this point.

  Posted by desi
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:14 pm

• I was a bit divided on who you think this is, Desi. I’m leaning toward yes, but some of the points were a little different — like, I don’t think your prime suspect hates Forest Hills. But, of course, that assumes angry people are consistent.

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

• I think I know who it is, too (considering the timing), and I do remember which building he lives in. It’s very close to my building.

  Posted by queensgirl
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

• Not that anyone else doubted it but me, but I just remembered that I have access to information the rest of you don’t. Same IP address — it is, in fact, the same guy.

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:26 pm

• Maybe its his just-as-evil-Manhattan-dwelling twin.
  I thought the posting structure was too eerily similar.
  In other posts by my suspect, I noticed a flair for exaggeration when it seemed to push peoples buttons,
  so I was wondering if this was more of it.
  I recall a spite post, where the suspect declared that now, just because his posting enemies where so against the
  destruction of a property he would actively devote himself to destroying it faster. Which is pretty silly, so I thought
  this might be him.
  It could be an admirer of his posting style ability to drive readers insane.

  Posted by desi
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

• academics, teachers, writers, artists? Museum administrators

  Since when does Forest Hills have a museum? And everyone here seems to keep implying Manhattan is all Investment Bankers which is not true at all.

  There are academics, teachers, writers, artists and museum adminstrators living in Manhattan as well as museum curators. Since when does Forest Hills have a museum to begin with?

  This notion that Manhattan is full of investment bankers is flat out false. The people I know living in Manhattan are engineers, doctors, architects, scientists, academics, attorneys and many many more. The notion is stereotypical that Manhattan is investment bankers which is false and that the connotation that investment bankers care about money over the needs of people and society is also false since some do and some don’t.

  Investment bankers do seem to hang out in certain prime areas of Manhattan and cluster together, but the percentage of investment bankers in Manhattan is actually a very small percentage and is a false stereotype and the people in Manhattan know this. I believe the percentage of investment bankers in Manhattan is probably

  Posted by Anonymous
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:32 pm

• ah, I just saw the update. HA! too funny.
  You have been unmasked aj!

  Posted by desi
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:33 pm

• Hey, I’ve got a fancy doctorate from a well-respected university in NY, I freelance as a writer and musician, and I’m so happy that I live in Astoria! I don’t regret choosing Queens one whit. It has changed my life in more amazing ways than I could have ever imagined.

  I also think it’s easy to speak so blithely about money when you have some… I also think I might be responding to a troll, but I take it as another opportunity to tell you how much I love living in Queens!

  Posted by megc
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:36 pm

• Let me rephrase:

  Percentage of investment bankers living in Manhattan is probably a very small percentage.

  Yes investment bankers live in Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey too as well as Connecticut and the like.

  But Forest Hills does not have intellectuals on hand in the same caliber unfortunately SANS Forest Hills Gardens.

  My comments were not regarding Forest Hills Gardens as I do know high caliber people living over there.

  Posted by Anonymous
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:38 pm

• I use “investment bankers” as shorthand for “people who have high-paying, miserable jobs that I don’t want to do.”

  When I wrote “museum administrators,” I have to admit, I initially thought the same thing: Forest Hills doesn’t even have a museum, so I should probably delete that. But then I remembered I heard about the amazing new thing the other day called “the subway,” which promises to allow carless New Yorkers to work in neighborhoods entirely different from the ones in which they live! Really amazing, this technology.

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:39 pm

• But then I remembered I heard about the amazing new thing the other day called “the subway,” which promises to allow carless New Yorkers to work in neighborhoods entirely different from the ones in which they live! Really amazing, this technology.

  Yeah but if you work in Manhattan why should you spend 20 minutes commute time.

  The reason people choose Forest Hills is because of cheaper housing prices which reflect supply and demand based on market prevailing rates. If Forest Hills were just as desirable then prices would be reflected as being the same as Manhattan but alas the opposite is true. It is less desirable and the reflective market prices show this.

  Posted by Commute
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:50 pm

• As someone not worthy of living (or even setting foot in) Manhattan (according to “Anonymous”), I had no idea that something called the “subway” even existed. How does that work, anyway? And all this time I’ve been walking to my office in midtown Manhattan every day (sometimes even swimming across the East River). Somehow, I don’t think “Anonymous” wanted you to let that cat out of the bag, Steve. (By the way, I’m just kidding).

  So, apparently, the only people in Forest Hills that “Anonymous” considers to be intellectual live in Forest Hills Gardens. Well, I must not be intellectual, then, despite my many years of education and professional degree.

  Posted by queensgirl
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:55 pm

• I don’t think anybody here has ever disputed that Manhattan is more desirable than Forest Hills as determined by the market. Now, your results may vary. Some people live here because they genuinely like it better than Manhattan. It’s quieter, the mood and feel are different, it can be prettier if tree-lined streets and Tudors are your thing, it’s a better place for kids. And some live here because it’s the best option they can find at their price point — that’s my story, personally. I live in Forest Hills because I think it’s the total package of price, housing stock, retail options, attractiveness, access to transportation. I can’t find another neighborhood that scores so highly on all those points. If I could afford Manhattan, would I live there? Sure. But your binary logic doesn’t allow you to see that being less desirable doesn’t make Forest Hills undesirable.

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 2:59 pm

• Shouldn’t it be obvious that some people choose Forest Hills and other areas of Queens because they get more space for their money than in Manhattan? I am a securities lawyer (intellectual?? hmm maybe) and could easily afford a one-bedroom in a quality condo building in a good area in Manhattan, and I work in Manhattan, but I prefer to spend the same amount of money for a three-bedroom townhouse in Queens. I have easy access to anything that I want in Manhattan, an easy commute, but I also have more living space, a car and easy access to other places (Long Island, Brooklyn, etc.) that I wouldn’t have living in Manhattan, while also enjoying urban conveniences (shopping, food, etc). I agree that Manhattan is great and I do spend lots of time there, but the decision whether to live there or not can be based on your living priorities and not just on whether you can afford it.

  Posted by Peter
  on August 29th, 2007 at 3:18 pm

• Oooh, a comment war! I haven’t participated in one of these since junior high!

  I rather wish all one had to do to be able to afford Manhattan was be a “real intellectual.” I was admitted to an Ivy League grad school, but turned it down in favor of a better scholarship (and a more enticing program) elsewhere. Perhaps if I’d shelled out the $40,000 to go to Harvard, I’d be sitting pretty on the Upper West Side right now! Obviously as a teacher, I just don’t work hard enough. I’ll have to settle for being a (fake) intellectual in Forest Hills — it might be slightly uncool, but at least I won’t have to live in a lofted closet.

  Posted by rachelblue
  on August 29th, 2007 at 3:46 pm

• I, too, had already guessed that was aj posting of Manhattan superiority. He has recently indicated that he is downsizing to move to Manhattan, which is the only way to afford it–downsizing. I live in the same building as aj and would not give up the gym, pool, building library and nice people, as well as a good-sized apartment, for a hole in the wall in Manhattan.

  The “short commute” can be a misnomer–it takes my daughter longer to get from her job on the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Grad School at Hunter College on the East Side, than it takes her to get from here to Hunter, on the F going to 63rd and Lex. Depending on where in Manhattan you’re going, it can take a shorter time from here.

  I also enjoy the Gardens, the neighborhood atmosphere, and almost everything about this neighborhood–yes, it could use better restaurants, but that’s not everything. I still enjoy the variety we have.

  I have lived in Manhattan and found it cold and uninviting compared to Forest Hills. I love living here and laugh at those who pay so, so much for so, so little in Manhattan.

  If you need the sense of superiority that you’ll get living in Manhattan, aj,be my guest. Don’t let the door hit you (where the Lord split you) on your way out of FH. If you were just a tad more gracious in your posts, ya know, I wouldn’t have said that.

  Posted by judy
  on August 29th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

• What I can’t believe is how vitriolic this got so quickly. And what I can’t believe is how anyone could take “anonymous” seriously. Just ignore him and let him move to Inwood, since he loves it so much more. But don’t let him get under your skin. Once he said that the gardens was “like a place frozen in time” because of the old architecture, he was not worth listening to. I mean, of course it’s frozen in time. It’s a protected community and it’s illegal to do anything with the land. Everyone knows that. He such a laughable over-the-top hater that he has to be either fake or an escaped mental patient. Blow him off and enjoy the neighborhood like everyone else does.

  Posted by Jon Parker
  on August 29th, 2007 at 5:38 pm

• To get back on point, I looked at Curbed and Queens Crap really caught a lot of heat from the Curbed commenters on the Crapper’s posts.

  Posted by Peter
  on August 29th, 2007 at 6:03 pm

• He’s not in Kansas anymore.

  Posted by Steve
  on August 29th, 2007 at 6:05 pm

• And — remember, WE have Spiderman! (Could he afford Manhattan?)

  Posted by bobbyrab
  on August 29th, 2007 at 6:49 pm

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