2105 33rd St Unidad 2C

Acropolis Gardens

Located on the border of Astoria and Ditmars-Steinway, Acropolis Gardens doesn’t quite conjure up the same magnificence as the famous Greek architectural site after which it’s named. Nonetheless, the sheer scale of the northern Queens development — which encompasses 16 interconnected white-brick buildings and holds a whopping 617 co-op units — is impressive. Constructed over a century ago by J.H. Taylor Construction Co., the full-block development is organized around a central garden courtyard and features near-identical five-story buildings with unusual, open-air entrances secured by iron gates. For years, the property was plagued by accusations of financial mismanagement and deferred maintenance. But that all changed in 2018, when the development made headlines for defaulting on its mortgage, and its controversial owner was pushed out. Since coming under new management in 2022, Acropolis Gardens has seemingly turned a corner. “That nonsense is over,” says Jennylee Marcelin, an agent with Beekman Street Realty who has done over 100 transactions in the property, including sales and rentals. “It was rocky, but the whole building came together in that time, and now we’ve had stable management past several years.” The walk-up buildings are now secured with new locks, virtual doorbells and cameras, while the garden has been cleaned up and provides a tranquil respite from the city. In June 2018, shareholders of Acropolis Gardens filed a lawsuit against the management company and co-op board with accusations of corruption and financial irresponsibility, as the complex was facing foreclosure and $45 million in debt. There was also a weeks-long incident in 2015 during which gas and hot water were cut off from half the units, resulting in protests from shareholders. In 2022, new permanent management was put in place along with a new co-op board. Since then, numerous improvements have taken place, among them enhanced security features, pest control, updated roofing and a new boiler system. The property contains mostly one- to three-bedroom residences, with no studios. “Every unit is unique,” says Marcelin. “Everyone has done something different inside. I haven’t seen much commonality.” There are roughly eight units per floor of each building, and four sets of stairs. This gives the development an intimate feel, as there are only two units that share a landing. Prices are discounted at the Acropolis, well below the neighborhood average of around $888,000. One-bedrooms range from $215,000 to $265,000, while two-bedrooms can be found for between $229,000 and $380,000. The largest three-bedrooms homes go up to $429,000. All major banks work with the building, which was not always a given due to prior financial issues, and subletting is permitted after two years of ownership. Monthly maintenance for a one-bedroom is around $1,019, while three-bedrooms come with a fee of around $1,670 per month. “The nicest amenity is the central garden that connects all 16 buildings,” says Marcelin. “It’s planted with old pine and cherry trees – and the lampposts are the same style as the ones in Central Park. You feel like you’re not in a metropolitan area because it’s nice and quiet.” One resident has spearheaded a cleanup of the garden’s fishpond, which is home to several large goldish and has a waterfall. Additional perks include a pair of laundry rooms – one of which is new. “A lot of units have washers and dryers grandfathered in, but new ones cannot be added,” she explains. The building is also pet friendly, but it does not have a gym or other common indoor areas. The nearest place to work out is Rock Fitness, just three blocks away. Astoria, and to a lesser extent Ditmars-Steinway, have vaulted to among the most desirable areas in Queens thanks to transit options and a diverse culinary scene, which includes Greek, Middle Eastern, Thai, and Colombian cuisines. The Acropolis is in the thick of it, within three blocks of an array of restaurants and bars, including The Last Word, a cozy cocktail bar that has live jazz music on Sundays. An organic grocery store, Natural Frontier Market, is across the street, and the larger Trade Fair Supermarket, is just three blocks away. A pair of playgrounds, Ditmars Playground and Steinway Playground, can be reached in as little as five minutes on foot, but larger green spaces are more of a trek. Astoria Park, home to the city’s oldest and largest pool as well as tennis courts, trails, lawns and a bandstand, sits on the East River a little more than half a mile away. The Acropolis has a prime location just a block from the subway station at Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard, which is serviced by the N and W trains. The stop is the end of the line and can reach Midtown Manhattan in about 15 minutes. The Q69 bus stops in front of the building on Ditmars Boulevard on its way between Jackson Heights and Long Island. Citi bikes can be found at a pair of docks on either side of the Acropolis. In addition, it takes roughly 10 minutes to drive to LaGuardia Airport, making the process of flying a breeze.