Roosevelt Island Historical Society

Sep

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – A COLORFUL HOUSE WITH A VERY COLORFUL HISTORY

By admin

Some Interesting Discoveries
on 36th Avenue

Including

The ‘Most Colorful Home in Queens’ Has a Dark Secret

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Issue # 1534

I took our Q102 bus today to order flowers and discovered some interesting businesses and homes along 36th Avenue between 21 Street and 31 Street.
This house stands out as I passed it. I have seen it the last few years, but this was the first time I could view it from the sidewalk. It is quite a site and you will surely enjoy the photos of the interior.

To read the story:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/realestate/queens-real-estate-fraud.html

The three-story house AT 28-07 36th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, is hard to miss. The exterior walls are a pale yellow and the windows are trimmed in fire-engine red. Scrolls of metallic ocher leaves and vermilion flowers adorn the front gate. It looks like a rococo McDonald’s.

Inside, the design goes full Candy Land, from the fake pink tree and Skittles-colored chandeliers to the multicolored leather sofas off the kitchen.

The building would stick out anywhere, but especially in a neighborhood known for its red brick Tudors and walk-up apartments. And local curiosity has only grown since it landed on the market in July with an enormous $3 million price tag.

My first stop was Flowers by Lunelly. I have seen their arrangements at many island events and it is great to support this neighborhood business. The shop is on the same block as the new Q102 bus stop.