Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty has expanded further into Queens with a new office in Astoria. The office, which is marketed as the company’s Astoria-Long Island City office, officially opened on Nov. 15 in the WeWork Building at 35-37 36th St.
The move to the Long Island City/Astoria area has been a long time coming, according to Donna Rubertone, manager of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s Bayside/Flushing office. Since the company opened their Bayside/Flushing office five years ago, one of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s long-term goals was to expand further into the borough.
“The move to Long Island City and Astoria was strategic. We’ve been looking at the area for awhile,” said Rubertone, who started selling real estate with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty 17 years ago. “The growth in the neighborhood is exponential. Between the two offices, the company could market to the east, west and everything in between.”
While Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty has done business in Long Island City and Astoria in the past, Rubertone, who will also be managing the Astoria-Long Island City office, acknowledges that opening an office will help further expand their presence in the area.
Rubertone noted that Astoria and Long Island City has grown immensely in recent years, with 41 apartment buildings being built and attracting younger buyers and renters.
“Millennials are attracted to the area,” Rubertone said. “They’re being priced out of Manhattan, and they’re seeing areas like Long Island City, Astoria, Woodside and Jackson Heights as good alternatives.”
Right after Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty opened their new office, Amazon announced the two new locations of their HQ2, one of which is coming to Long Island City. To Rubertone, the arrival of Amazon will bring a lot of positive things to the neighborhood.
“I think it’s a win-win: New York will profit from Amazon and Amazon will profit from New York,” said Rubertone. “The Amazon effect has always been positive. It’ll bring 25,000 new jobs, which will ultimately bring more money to the economy, and local businesses will start to thrive.”
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty is teaming up with its affiliates at TRR Sotheby’s International Realty, which is located in Arlington, Virginia, to help with finding homes for potential Amazon employees in Crystal City.
“Residential sales and rentals will increase substantially in both areas,” said Rubertone. “Our Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates are a global network, and we’ll work with Amazon to help place these new employees into homes.”
For more information about Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, visit danielgale.com.
