A Technicolor two-bedroom in Rego Park for $1,900 a month: Would you take it?

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | January 28, 2015 - 1:59PM

Reading real estate headlines (and market reports) could leave you with the impression that New York City is a land of sky-high glass towers with rents that no one but millionaires can afford. But then you come across a place like this $1,900 two-bedroom, one-bath in a two-family house in Rego Park, Queens, and remember that the city is filled with quirky and affordable apartments.

Of course, like any New York City apartment--yes, even those impossibly expensive new rentals in luxury high-rises--this place has some downsides, like extra colorful walls and a fully wood-paneled room with sloped ceilings (it's on the top floor) with an attic vibe. The distance to Midtown will also put some renters off.

But there's a large outdoor space, decent-sized rooms, and it's right across from a very good public elementary school. Oh, and it's not too pricey, either.

So, we asked our veteran renters, including RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin, freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, and myself, to weigh in for this week’s Take It or Leave It.

Size: 2-bed, 1-bath
Location: 65-27 Dieterle Crescent (between Alderton and 65th)
Cost: $1,900/mo
Flexible Layout: Yes
Days on the market: 4
Subway: M, R to 67th Ave

Pros and Cons:

"The apartment appears to be a nice size, and it has a large outdoor space. Granted, it definitely needs a bit of updating. You'd have to be okay with brightly colored walls and wood paneling, and you'd have to get along with the other family downstairs, though noise wouldn't likely be as much a problem for you as it is for them. But if that doesn't bother you, the space and price could be right." - Lucy

"This is a colorful and affordable two-bedroom upstairs apartment in a house in Queens. The roof deck seems nice, but you're above another family in a house and pretty far away from Manhattan." - Zeb

"If you love primary colors, you’ll go bananas for the ruby red kitchen in this two-bedroom. That’s the good news. The bad? The stove placement is odd to say the least and the whole place looks disheveled, from the leather barcalounger on the patio to the wood-walled attic space." - Lambeth

Who would this apartment be perfect for?

"A family that's on a budget and wants a semi-suburban experience. I'd venture to say having a car is a must, since the nearest train, the M/R, is a half a mile away, and the house is a bit less than a mile from the LIRR in Forest Hills. On the plus side: There's a lot of street parking, at least according to the listing." - Lucy

"Being across the street from a good public school and a playground, this could be a convenient location for parents of a grammar school kid." - Zeb

"A family with kids that want to attend PS 174, which is directly across the street." - Lambeth

The Verdict(s):

TAKE IT "If being at PS 175 and space are your top priority. If you're on a budget and want a bit of a suburban-style city experience, you're in luck. Just see if there's something you could do about those paint colors." - Lucy

LEAVE IT "You'd be a half mile from a subway and an hour from Union Square, and the place looks quirky. " - Zeb

LEAVE IT "Unless you have a car. The street parking may be abundant but it’s a bit of a hike to the M and R as well as the Forest Hills LIRR station." - Lambeth

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