Sunnyside is a diverse community thriving on its flourishing businesses, rich history and desirable real estate.
One of the many reasons that people choose Sunnyside as their home is its great location. Sunnyside is just 15 minutes away from midtown Manhattan by the No. 7 train. Surrounding the town are the Sunnyside Rail yards that separate it from Long Island City and Astoria, the Long Island Expressway, Blissville, the New Cavalry Cemetery and Woodside.
Sunnyside supposedly got its name in 1850 when a railroad built a station across from the Sunnyside Roadhouse Hotel. In the early 1900s, the Pennsylvania Railroad bought all of the land and in 1909, the Queensboro Bridge was built. From this came Queens Boulevard - currently one of the major commerce spots in Sunnyside.
The town was originally settled by German, Irish, Czech, Dutch and other European immigrants. Today, Eastern Europeans, South Americans, Koreans, Middle Eastern and younger Irish generations are moving into the neighborhood.
“Sunnyside is the United Nations,” said Spencer Cohen of Procida Realty and Construction Corporation.
Diversity can be seen along the streets of Sunnyside. The restaurants and shops give Queens a taste of the different cultures around the world.
Cohen gets a number of calls for his retail space at 47-01 Queens Blvd, and he said that businesses seem to be thriving throughout the area.
In terms of real estate in Sunnyside, there are many condominiums and co-op buildings that are rent stabilized.
Emiliana Popovici, a real estate broker at New York View Realty Inc, said that although the prices of co-ops have gone up since last year, the price of a one-bedroom co-op would be the same as a studio in Manhattan.
“I think more people are coming in because they are getting more space and value for the money they are spending,” said Popovici.
Currently there are two new condominium complexes being built, one on 44th St. between 43rd Avenue and Skillman Avenue and one on Queens Boulevard on the south side.
There is also the recently landmarked Sunnyside Gardens, which is a historic district that was built in 1924 with mostly one family homes, playgrounds and gardens. It is highly-desired area with not much property for sale. According to Popovici, interested parties would have to look in advance if they want to live in the area.
City Councilmember Eric Gioia's press representative, Meaghan Sherman, said that the councilmember has grown up there his entire life and that the neighborhood is important to him.
“It really is undergoing a renaissance,” said Sherman. “It's such a great place to raise a family.”
