34-38 81st St APT 21, Queens, NY 11372

The Chateau is one of the finest of the landmarked garden apartment complexes in the Jackson Heights Historic District. This magnificent two-bedroom, one-bath apartment has been extensively renovated, yet retains its classic prewar elegance. The apartment’s front door leads you to a foyer and central hall. From the foyer, French doors open to the generously sized living room with a wood burning fireplace. The living room was enlarged by narrowing the adjacent formal dining room, which remains large enough to seat ten comfortably. The dining room, with two exposures, offers direct access to a spacious, thoughtfully renovated kitchen lit by two huge windows. There are custom painted-wood cabinets, soapstone countertops, a big pantry, original wood floors and a sleek refrigerator at countertop depth. All the lower storage consists of drawers and all the upper cabinets have lights underneath. The central hall leads you to the two bedrooms and a beautifully renovated bathroom, with storage under and above the sink as well as above the toilet. The huge cast iron tub was recently refinished and re-caulked. And yes, the bathroom has a window. Both bedrooms face the lush interior garden where it is both quiet and green. Storm windows throughout the apartment complete the sense of absolute sanctuary. New construction does not compare to the standards upheld during the 1920s. The apartment has 9’ ceilings, plaster walls, moldings and oak floors (parquet in the foyer, living room and dining room). The six-foot windows in the main rooms are taller than in most apartment buildings, enhancing the French-inspired character of the complex’s slate mansard roofs. And with just two apartments per floor, this unit is both private and quiet. Located on the second floor, the apartment has three exposures, facing both 81st Street (east) and the lavish interior garden (west), providing light all day long. The Chateau, along with the Towers, is one of the two iconic buildings of the Historic District. It was designed by Andrew J. Thomas in 1923, and its twelve buildings (each a separate cooperative) surround a lush formal garden with two sitting areas. The near block-long garden - shared by the Chateau's 12 buildings - was completely restored in 2023 at a cost of $700,000. This building is pet friendly (cat or dog up to 25 pounds) and allows pieds-a-terre, however, subletting and smoking are not allowed. The basement houses the janitor, along with two new washer-dryer pairs that keep you informed on their status via a smartphone app. You also get your own large private storage bin suitable for bicycles and more, plus a spacious basement shelf in the air conditioner storage room. This well-maintained cooperative requires 30% down. Centrally located in the Jackson Heights Historic District, the Chateau is close to subways, restaurants, shopping, and our weekly year-round Greenmarket . It is just two blocks to the recently expanded and renovated Travers Park, and down the block from the 34th Avenue Open Street. Please call Daniel Karatzas, the listing agent, for an appointment.