60 West 17th Road

A 20th-Century Beach House in New York City.

This two-bedroom beach house, known locally as the German Club, sits on the western shore of Broad Channel, the only inhabited island in Jamaica Bay, NYC. Built circa 1919 with exposed chestnut post and beam construction, a cross gable roof line and open floor design, the 3850 square foot house once served as a yacht club/marina for the German immigrant community of Ridgewood, Queens. The seaside home features a massive living room (that was once the club’s ballroom), soaring ceilings, and attached shotgun garage that can accommodate up to three vehicles and has a four post BendPac car lift. The unusual and stately carriage doors in the garage were acquired from Saint Cecilia Church in Back Bay area of Boston when they were removed during a modern renovation. The doors built in 1894 were designed by Boston Architect firm Donham & Sweeney in the style of XII century Norman church entry.

The secluded 1/3-acre property with more than 200-feet of bulk headed waterfront is the final home on a cul-de-sac facing Jamaica Bay with unobstructed views of the bay, The Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline. The unique location is a paradise for avid boaters, anglers as well as a renown birder’s destination since it is in the heart of the Eastern Flyway migration path. The property also includes a modular dock system, a davit-style boat lift (for a 22-26 ft. watercraft). Beyond the basement doors is a yellow brick patio that leads into a mature seaside garden featuring a seating area beneath a 22’ x 12’ honeysuckle and trumpet vine covered pergola. The property is recognized and listed by National Wildlife Foundation as a backyard habitat.

The house’s entrance porch, built as a mudroom, opens to the living room, professional kitchen and dining area and sunroom. The house retains period features such as exposed timberwork trussing. All floors are 3/4” thick hard wood (American cherry and walnut), and all walls are pre-finished 3/4” red pine tongue and groove planks so interior painting will never be required maintenance. The home also has extensive built-in storage. Furniture and watercraft are not included in the asking price but may be available for purchase.

The first-floor stair hall has street-side windows and a shaker-style winder-staircase constructed of clear poplar. Those stairs ascend to a second-floor landing accessing master suite, full bath, walk in closets and a guest bedroom and attic bonus room.

The German Club on 17 Road is located at the heart of Broad Channel — near the 17 Road Queensboro Library Branch as well as the New York Parks Department 17 Road Veterans’ Recreation Area which includes: handball, tennis and basketball courts was well as a roller hockey rink. The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge — part of the National Park System is one of Broad Channel Island’s gems with an international reputation for birding in NYC. Rockaway Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean is a short 5-minute bicycle ride across the Cross Bay Bridge on a bike/walking path that is walled off from automobile traffic. Manhattan and Brooklyn locations are easily reach from Broad Channel via the island’s subway stop on the A-Train. Other mass transportation options are an hourly express bus and the NYC Rockaway Ferry. The average travel time from Broad Channel to Lower Manhattan is 50 minutes.