You are reading

HSBC Bank Building on Continental Avenue Goes on the Market for $16.5M

107-15 Continental Ave. (via Goldenwood Property Advisors)

Jan. 15, 2019 By Meghan Sackman

The Continental Avenue building currently home to an HSBC Bank has gone up for sale, with an asking price of $16.5 million.

The brick building, located at 107-15 Continental Ave., spans about 9,000 square feet, and features a half-timbered facade emblematic of Forest Hills’ architecture.

The bank’s lease at the site is set to expire in July 2019, according to Goldenwood Property Advisors (GWP), which is arranging the sale.

The 6,500 square foot property, which has housed a bank tenant on site since construction in 1974, is zoned to commercial use and is within the Special Forest Hills District, allowing for a 26,000 square foot development.

The zoning, according to Rubin Isak, founding partner of (GWP), is flexible and allows for a wide mix of commercial uses. A buyer, for example, can build a mixed-use retail and hotel project on site.

Despite the building’s historic look, it is not a landmarked building, and does not lie in a historic district, meaning future developers will be allowed to tear it down and redevelop it completely.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

7 Comments

Click for Comments 
Jonathan Chung

Well HSBC is moving to a smaller location which used to house Payless Shoes in Forest Hills.

Reply
Sam

It would be a shame to lose such a beautiful building, but considering that there is so much unused space in front of it, it will likely be replaced by some kind of high rise. If the new owners do that, traffic will be a nightmare on Austin/71st. Not that the city zoning agencies care – as long as wealth developers keep making more money and donating to the campaigns of deBlasio and Cuomo.

30
Reply
Ted

Business people have a right to make a profit on their business. They have a right to sell their buildings. I don’t believe anyone in this thread would pass up $16 Million. It’s easy to call others greedy when it is not your money. Grow up.

11
Reply
Anne Marie Whittaker

The beauty of the Austin Street shopping village has long since been corrupted. The problem was that it was not zoned or properly protected. Additionally, building tall structures around Forest Hills Gardens will also be an incursionto an architectural historic area. The vandals are taking over

3
1
Reply
Sara Ross

Forest Hills doesn’t need a hotel or any more residences! We need small businesses. I have lived here a long time and miss places like Homestead Deli, the Hallmark store and other stores. We need a good deli and diner, not corporate stores where the staff doesn’t know anything about its merchandise and don’t exert themselves to find out. Can somebody explain to me why the FH Community Board doesn’t stop the spread of the oversized houses being built down Jewel Avenue and surrounding areas? Isn’t there a height limit on private homes or is the CB and the Building Dept. getting paid so much money to let the USSR people do whatever they want to the neighborhood? They’ve destroyed it by tearing down the beautiful homes that were there for years! They think the KGB is watching them because I have never seen homes with so many cameras and cars in the driveways with PA and other out of state plates.

10
1
Reply
Madlen Haz

I totally agree with your view! Those houses are ridiculous and have totally changed the neighborhood for the worse. I can’t believe they will get rid of this building either but I guess we all know what that’s called: greed.

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Unwind after hours at these cozy Queens cafes

Jul. 25, 2025 By Jessica Militello

Forget the bars and crowded clubs — Queens is brimming with charming cafes that keep their doors open well past sunset, offering a perfect alternative for those who want to meet up for a late-night hangout without the alcohol. From authentic Yemeni coffee houses to bakeries with outdoor garden patios, check out these Queens cafes for your next late-night catch-up with friends, or for a cozy date night plan.

Cool off this summer with margaritas in Queens

Jul. 25, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The summer season ushers in outdoor adventures, extended daylight hours and sweltering heat, making it the perfect time to kick back at a local restaurant or bar and order a refreshing margarita. Sipping on this tequila-infused cocktail is one of the best ways to beat the heat and revel with margarita connoisseurs in your neighborhood.

A slice of legacy: Carlo’s Pizzeria keeps Sicilian tradition alive in Middle Village

Jul. 18, 2025 By Christy Hinko

On Metropolitan Avenue, between 74th and 75th streets in Middle Village, Carlo’s Pizzeria isn’t just a place to grab a slice — it’s a place where history is folded into every piece of dough, sauce and cheese. The beloved neighborhood pizzeria has been serving Queens for nearly 60 years, now led by third-generation owner Anthony Caruana, who proudly carries forward the dream his grandfather brought from Sicily.