'They Blew It Up and Out': Super-Sized Bayside

The Sunday NY Times real estate section highlighted the super-sized homes going up in Bayside and other Queens neighborhoods. It contrasts the demand (and rising prices) for these large homes versus the complaints of the neighbors who say the huge homes are out of character and obnoxious.

The story went out of its way to avoid using the term "McMansion" more than once, saying the over-sized homes are like:

• "double cheeseburgers"
• "muscled-up houses"
• "a big Monopoly hotel"
• "a five-pound baloney in a three-pound bag" (the winner!)

As real estate prices in Suffolk and Nassau have climbed and climbed, the housing market in eastern Queens has gained real value. The article doesn't mention the other benefits of the area: 1) much lower real estate taxes than Nassau, 2) the best local public high school in NYC, 3) 20 minutes to Manhattan by the LIRR, and 4) non-chain shopping and restaurants within walking distance (like Hazel's).

• Bayside Real Estate

• Bayside Neighborhood Profile