1 Vernon Jackson, 10-17 Jackson Avenue: Review and Ratings

Review of 10-17 Jackson Avenue by Carter Horsley

This very attractive, mid-rise apartment building at 1 Vernon Jackson at 10-17 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City is one of the city’s most high-tech buildings. 

The 6-story building has 33 condominium apartments and is distinguished by its stainless-steel façade and angular plan. 

It was developed by Time Square Development Group and designed by Studio V Architecture P. L. L. C.

Bottom Line

With its high ceilings and gleaming façade, this is one of the most glamorous buildings in Long Island City. It is located across from the Vernon Mall, a small park, in Hunter’s Point and is not far from the 7 Subway and P.S. 1 of the Museum of Modern Art.

Description

The building’s angularity and metallic façade with many balconies gives it the air of a mighty battleship. 

Its “prow” is highlighted by a five-story column of vertically aligned light-colored blocks surmounted by a large angular roof supported by a lone, spindly column. 

A July 7, 2010 article in Real Estate Weekly noted that "with more twists and turns than you’d find in a suspenseful novel, 1 Vernon Jackson’s design embraces its unusual angles to make a modern geometric masterpiece in Long Island City’s diversifying housing market."

The building has 14 different floor plans and the article quoted Todd Havanec, its sales manager, as stating "it's not for everyone," adding that the "building has angles because of where it is on the grid. It's not a square box and that can either be an asset or a negative, depending on your perspective." He added that the developers think "that's what ... makes it interesting. It creates a blank canvas that your can get creative with."

Some of its balconies are triangular and only 50 square feet, while others are large and wraparound.

Amenities

The pet-friendly building has a part-time doorman, a gym, a deck, cold storage and tenant storage.

Apartments

The apartments have glass sliding walls, American walnut floors and kitchens with black granite countertops and shelving and cabinetry with pneumatic drawers.

Penthouse 7I is a two-bedroom unit with an 18-foot-long open kitchen with an island opening onto a 21-foot-wide living/dining room with a 9-foot-terrace.  The corner, angled, master bedroom is 12-feet-square and opens onto a wrap-around, 48-foot-long terrace. 

The E apartment on the third through the sixth floor is a one-bedroom unit with a 21-foot-long living/dining room with an open kitchen and an 11-foot-long balcony. 

The A apartment on the third through the six floor is a one-bedroom apartment with a 17-foot-long living/dining room and an open, pass-through kitchen and a 7-foot-long balcony.

Location

An article by Christian Wright in the October 13, 2011 edition of The New York Times noted that “today, travel the 15-block stretch of Vernon Boulevard from the Long Island Rail Road train yard at Borden Avenue at the southern end to 44^th Avenue to the north, and you can see an urban developer’s dream slowly coming true." 'In the old days, there was no place to buy an aspirin,' said Karen Dorsky, director of the Dorsky Gallery over on 45^th Avenue. Now there’s everything, including a serious bicycle shop, Spokesman cycles (No. 49-04); a pretty little brick-front florist called fLo rE sta (No. 51-02); and, yes, a Dunkin’ Donuts, so new the powdered sugar is barely out of the bag."

The East River is two blocks to the west and the waterfront is also home to the 12-acre Gantry Plaza State Park.