Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in north-western Queens, New York City, USA Jackson Heights is an urbane melting pot with many ethnic populations. The Latin American population consists of a various mix of Latinos from many Latin American countries, mainly Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay. The Asian-American community includes immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Korea, and the Philippines. Little India is located around the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street, near Broadway (distinct from Broadway in Manhattan). In addition, there is a small population of multi-generational Europeans of Jewish, Polish, Irish, Italian and Russian decent.
Geography and Transportation
Jackson Heights is also where the IRT Flushing Line 7 train meets the IND Queens Boulevard Line E, F, G, R, V trains and numerous bus routes at the 74th Street-Broadway transportation hub that has recently received an $87 million renovation[citation needed]. The community is bounded by Northern Boulevard to the north, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the west, Roosevelt Avenue to the south, and Junction Boulevard to the east. East Elmhurst, the area immediately to the north, from Northern Boulevard to the Grand Central Parkway, though somewhat different in character, is also sometimes regarded as a northward extension of the neighborhood.
Most of the neighborhood is a National Register Historic District and about half is a designated New York City Historic District. It is comprised of large Garden Apartment buildings (the term was invented for buildings in Jackson Heights) and many groupings of private homes. It was a planned development laid out by Edward A. MacDougall's Queensboro Corporation in the 1920s, following the arrival of the Flushing Line elevated train. The Jackson Heights Historical District ranges from parts of 88th street through the low 70's A former golf course located between 76th and 78th Streets, and 34th and 37th Avenues was built upon during the 1940s.
Jackson Heights was the first garden community built in the United States, as part of the international Garden City movement at the turn of the last century. There are more private parks (historically called gardens by the residents) within walking distance of each other than in any other city in America. They are tucked in the mid-blocks, mostly hidden from view by the buildings surrounding them. Several approach the size of Gramercy Park, in Manhattan, and one is slightly larger. As befits private parks, unless given an invitation, the key to gain entry is to own a co-op around its perimeter. The basis for the private ownership of the parks of Jackson Heights is derived from its founding principal--as a privately owned little garden city, built largely under the oversight of one person. Which makes the historial part of the neighborhood highly desriable
The community mainly consists of middle income residents with a percentage of upper-middle income residents. There is also a population of lower-middle class residents but their statics are unknown to official demographics due to the fact that these residents are undocumented . Many residents commute to nearby Manhattan, just ten to fifteen minutes away by subway. The main retail thoroughfare is bustling 37th Avenue, with more retail on 82nd and 74th Streets on the block between 37th and Roosevelt Avenues. Roosevelt Avenue is also lined with retail stores. 35th and 34th Avenues and most side streets are zoned residential.
Jackson Heights has more school choices within a walking distance than any other city America, except for some sections of Manhattan. Students attend P.S. 69 or P.S. 212 for primary school. Middle schools in the neighborhood include I.S. 145 and I.S. 230. There are also other private schools and parochial private schools. The community is home to many houses of worship from a wide array of religions. Jackson Heights has the highest density of trees and greenery in New York City along it's residential streets.
Jackson Heights has been affected by the recent real estate "bubble" . This has led to the inflation of prices of homes
Houses in the Jackson Heights Historical District range from High $500,000 to over $1,000,000 for a 3 Family historial home .
Jackson Heights is mainly composed of co-op buildings & rentals with a small number of condominums.
Rent in the Jackson Heights Historical District range from $950 to the high $1,000's
Jackson Heights is known for its wide array of multicultural resturants and establishments .
A number of these resturants and establishments are Zagat rated and have been a part of many demographical studies .
Jackson Heights also has its share of crime, although over-all crime statistics remain low. They area has greatly improved throughout the years
Colombian broadcaster RCN has its American headquarters there.
Youth
Due to the great diversity of this neighborhood the youth in Jackson Heights mainly consists of a wide array of cultures from Latin American to Asian American decent.
Trivia
- Reflective of the tremendous diversity of the neighborhood, actors Lucy Liu, John Leguizamo, and Kevin Dobson grew up in Jackson Heights, as did comedian Don Rickles.
- Susan Sarandon was also born in Jackson Heights
- Scrabble was invented by resident Alfred Moshe Butts in 1938, and perfected at Community Methodist Church. (A commemorative street sign at the corner of 35th Ave and 81st St, where the church still stands, was erected by the city in 2004.)
- Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt lived in Jackson Heights for many years.
- Major portions of the Academy Award nominated1 film 'Maria Full of Grace' (2004) were filmed on location in Jackson Heights.
- Minor portions of the movie Random Hearts (1999) was filmed in Jackson Heights on 35th avenue between 76th and 77th street.
- The Legend of Chip - In the late 80's, a young first generation Bolivian American, David Fernandez, was playfully running around the gymnasium at IS 145. The gym instructor, Mr. Quigley saw David's large front teeth and commented "Hey, you, CHIPmunk, come here". Thus, the legend of Chip was born.
- Howard Stern was born in Jackson Heights in 1954. His family moved to Roosevelt, Long Island shortly afterwards.
- Much of the Alfred Hitchcock film, The Wrong Man, takes place within a few blocks of the intersection of Broadway and 74th Street. The former Victor Moore Arcade and the connecting subway station, were prominently featured in the movie. The arcade was demolished and rebuilt from 1998 to 2005 and is now known as the Victor A. Moore Bus Terminal. It was named after Jackson Heights resident, Victor Moore, who was a famous Broadway and film actor from the era of silent film to the 1950's.
- Travers Park has a dedicated corps of neighborhood overseers who plant greenery and flowers, help clean, and also arrange for a summer concert series on Sunday afternoons in July and August.
- Jackson Heights was an important place during the Great American Boycott of 2006 . On that day, 37th avenue between 83rd and 79th street was filled with protesters cheering "si se puede!".
- Colombian broadcaster RCN has its American headquarters there.
- Hidalgo Family - an example of immigrant success, Matriarch Rosa Hidalgo and Patriarch Rafael Hidalgo arrived in Jackson Heights in 1976 with their two young children (Gabriel and John). The family, in typical South American style, stressed the importance of education. Gabriel is now an attorney and John earned his MBA from NYU. Both Hidalgo brothers figure prominently at Top 4 global consulting firm Deloitte & Touche.
References
- Jackson, Kenneth (1995). Encyclopedia of New York City. Yale University Press.
- Roleke, John. "Scrabble Avenue: Scrabble Invented in Jackson Heights". About.com.
