Boardwalk, ocean and plenty to do in Long Beach
The oceanfront boardwalk is the crown jewel of Long Beach, attracting walkers and cyclists year-round. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
THE SCOOP Every home in Long Beach, known as the City by the Sea, is no more than a few blocks from the ocean beaches, boardwalk and bay, as well as a bustling downtown with shops and restaurants.
“It’s like you’re on vacation all year round,” said Phyllis Katzen, who has lived in the city for 25 years. “Everything you need is here.”
Set on a barrier beach island only a half-mile at its widest point, Long Beach has the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Reynolds Channel to the north, with a 3½-mile stretch of white sand beaches and a 2.2-mile-long boardwalk popular with walkers and runners, with a center section bicycle lane.
Older homes along West Penn Street, which still has red-brick paving. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Katzen, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Beach West, noted that there’s a surfing camp, Little League in the parks, concerts, crafts fairs and a twice-weekly farmers market.
The city-run Long Beach Recreation Center includes a pool, ice arena, turf fields, basketball courts, roller hockey rink, fishing pier, boat launch, skate park and dog run.
The West End has many small shops and restaurants. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
The only downside to life in Long Beach, said Katzen, is that parking can be a challenge in the summer.
The area became a booming resort community with the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road in 1882. The trains still bring beachgoing day-trippers from New York City and commuters who can get to Penn Station in a little under an hour.
Wyoming Avenue, where new, modern houses sit alongside vintage bungalows. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Incorporated as a city in 1922, Long Beach is celebrating its centennial. Locals have written books sharing tales of the city’s storied history, which includes a shipwreck, Gilded Age parties and plenty of political controversy.
There are two major business districts, along Park Avenue and West Beech Street, with lively restaurants, bars and shops.
The city has a variety of home styles. In the West End, many houses that started as summer bungalows were raised after Superstorm Sandy caused heavy damage to the area in 2012. Other styles include Spanish architecture, Tudor, brick and contemporary.
The playground at Magnolia Boulevard and the boardwalk. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
High-rise oceanfront apartment buildings line the boardwalk, and many homes fronting Reynolds Channel, which locals refer to as the bay, have their own docks. There are also homes along canals in the East End.
Recent asking prices for homes range from about $320,000 for an apartment to record-setting $6.5 million and up.
Kennedy Plaza hosts crafts fairs and a twice-weekly farmers market. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
In the decade since Sandy, Long Beach has been undergoing revitalization and redevelopment. Construction recently began on the sewer line for the long-vacant Superblock property, which will add 438 oceanfront apartments along the boardwalk. It has meant the end of the popular “Shoregasboard” food trucks next door along Riverside Boulevard.
The city recently added markers to denote the bicycle lane running down the center of the boardwalk. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are 25 condos and 19 co-ops on the market ranging in price from $319,000 to $1.799 million.
SALE PRICES Between March 31, 2021, and April 30, 2022, there were 293 home sales with a median sale price of $750,000, according to OneKey MLS. The low price for that period was $280,000 and the high was $4.5 million. During that period a year earlier there were 276 home sales with a median sale price of $699,000. The price range was $205,000 to $4.825 million.
OTHER STATS
Area 2.2 square miles
ZIP code 11561
Population 35,029
Median age 45.2
Median household income $106,709
Median home value $780,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Long Beach $277
School district, graduation rate Long Beach (97%)
Parks Georgia Avenue Park, Veterans Memorial Park
Library Long Beach
Hospital South Nassau Communities Hospital Off-Campus Emergency Department
Transit NICE Route 15
SOURCES: 2020 Census; 2019 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
NOW ON THE MARKET
Priced at $1.1 million, this contemporary on East Fulton Street has a great room with cathedral ceilings. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
$1.1 million
This three-bedroom, 2½-bath contemporary built in 2015 on 0.14 acre has a great room with a cathedral ceiling, an open layout living area with a wood-burning fireplace and a bright kitchen with quartz countertops, a farm sink, garbage disposal and stainless-steel appliances. It’s zoned as a two-family but set up as a one-family with a two-car garage and a three-car driveway. Taxes are $23,497. Barbara Meyers and Gabrielle Tomicick, Petrey Real Estate, 516-431-0828.
Priced at $879,000, this split level is on a corner lot on Magnolia Boulevard near the bay. Credit: Andrew Malary Productions
$879,000
A split-level built in 1955 on 0.11 acre, this home has five bedrooms and four baths, an eat-in-kitchen, formal living room and den. It has hardwood floors, three-zone gas heat and central air conditioning and is on a corner lot with plenty of parking. Taxes are $16,399. Lisa Kennedy and Tracy L. Sobel, Eric G. Ramsay Jr. Assoc., 631-665-1500.
Priced at $695,000, this duplex townhouse on East Broadway is across from the beach and boardwalk. Credit: Request Tours /Chuck Danas
$695,000
Set across from the boardwalk, beach and ocean, this two-bedroom, two-bath duplex townhouse built in 1990 has parking and a two-car garage. An end unit, it has boardwalk and ocean views from the front deck and living room. It has a wood-burning fireplace, central air and a primary en-suite bedroom with a balcony. It can be bought furnished. Taxes are $12,963. Common charges are $358. Phyllis Katzen, RE/MAX Beach West, 516-889-7500.
RECENTLY SOLD
$4.625 million
Pennsylvania Ct.
Style Contemporary
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3
Built 2012
Lot size 0.21 acre
Taxes $60,193
+/- List price -$325,000
Days on market 81
$1.2 million
New Hampshire St.
Style Contemporary
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2
Built 1976
Lot size 0.04 acre
Taxes $13,479
+/- List price +$100,000
Days on market 72
$570,000
W. Olive St.
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1
Built 1928
Lot size 0.05 acre
Taxes $9,988
+/- List price -$29,000
Days on market 76
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 103
Price range $9.177 to $44,898
Tax range $319,000 to $6.7 million
