Here's the "Amazon Effect" for you: Before the online retail giant announced its Long Island City HQ2 location, the luxury Skyline Tower condominium in Queens had just one sales inquiry. Since November, New York brokerage firm Modern Spaces has seen sales inquiries jump from none to almost 900—more units than the building even houses.
The 67-story Skyline Tower is directly across the street from One Court Square, also known as the Citigroup Building, where Amazon will occupy offices for at least the next 10, and likely 30, years. In total, 6,000 Amazon jobs are likely to be based in the office building, according to CEO and founder of Modern Spaces Eric Benaim. The sales team at Modern Spaces expects to absorb a large share of that influx of new residents.
"The location is incredibly appealing for Amazon employees," says Benaim. "It's not just 60 feet from their soon-to-be headquarters, but it's right near midtown Manhattan—you could be on 53rd and Lexington in four minutes. When Amazon expands to its waterfront campus, residents will be about a six-minute walk away."
With 802 units, Skyline will be the second-largest building in all of New York City by unit count, and the tallest condo building outside of Manhattan. From that height, the building will boast sweeping views of New York from its floor-to-ceiling windows in each unit. Of the 802 homes for sale, 155 will feature private, outdoor terraces.
A home at Skyline Tower doesn't come cheap, but the prices aren't out of range for Amazon employees, who are expected to earn six-figure salaries. Buyers will have the option to choose from studios starting in the $600,000s, one-bedrooms in the $900,000s, and two-bed units starting at $1.2 million. The building will also include a number of three- and four-bed floor plans, still to be priced. Benaim says that while the units were always priced on the higher end, the firm increased the prices after Amazon's announcement of its move to Long Island City.
The luxury community has over 20,000 square feet of amenity space, including a third-floor resident lounge with business center, a billiards table and TV area; a fifth-floor lounge with a terrace and demonstration kitchen; a 75-foot heated indoor lap pool; and a spa, sauna, steam room, and treatment room. Also available are 24-hour door staff and concierge services; additional outdoor terraces; a fitness center with yoga room; children’s playroom with a hot-air balloon motif, reading nook, chalkboard walls, and hanging nest swings; a pet spa; bike storage; package room; laundry room; and private parking and storage units available for purchase.
The project's New York–based developer, United Construction and Development, has also committed $16 million to upgrade the subway entrance at the base of the building.
Skyline Tower is currently under development. It'll top out by the end of this year, with first move-ins expected in 2021. Benaim says presales will begin sometime in the first quarter of 2019. For now, prospective residents can tour a full-scale one- or two-bedroom model unit in Modern Spaces' sales center and see drone photography of city views from each future unit.
This article originally appeared on Multifamily Executive.
