Jackson Heights, Queens

Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in the northwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City, USA. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 3. The main zip code of Jackson Heights is 11372.

Geography and transportation

Jackson Heights is also where the IRT Flushing Line ( trains) meets the IND Queens Boulevard Line ( trains), and numerous bus routes at the Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street transportation hub, which received a $100+ million renovation by the MTA, completed in 2005. It includes one of the first green buildings by the MTA, the Victor A. Moore Bus Terminal, which is partially powered by solar panels built into the roof. These are located along the length of the sheds above the Flushing line platforms .It is the largest subway stop in Queens with six subway services and six bus lines (Q32, Q33, Q45, Q47, Q49 and Q53). The Q33 bus goes to LaGuardia Airport's main terminals and operates 24 hours a day. The Q47 bus goes to the Marine Air Terminal. The Q53 bus goes to Rockaway Beach, Queens.

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 not part of the original development, is sometimes regarded as a northward extension of the neighborhood. The Jackson Heights name comes from Jackson Avenue, the former name for Northern Boulevard. The Jackson Avenue name is retained by this major road in a short stretch between Queensboro Plaza and the Queens Midtown Tunnel approaches, in the Long Island City neighborhood.

Economy

In 1987, British Airways moved its United States corporate offices to the Bulova Corporate Center, a converted watch factory in the Jackson Heights/East Elmhurst area. In 1999 British Airways said it would close its headquarters in the watch factory and move to a new headquarters building in a location in the New York City area by 2002, when the airline's lease would run out. By 2001 the airline said it would keep of office space in the watch building, but that its telephone operations would move to Jacksonville, Florida. As of 2008 British Airways maintains offices in the Bulova building.

History

Most of the original neighborhood is a National Register Historic District and a New York State Historic Register District. About half has been designated as a New York City Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. It comprises 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 beginning about 1916, and following the arrival of the No. 7 elevated line between Manhattan and Flushing. The community was initially planned as a place for middle- to upper-middle income workers from Manhattan to raise their families. The Jackson Heights New York State and National Register Districts range from 93rd Street through 69th Street between Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue. Some property fronting on Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue, as well as some "cut-outs", are not inside the Register Districts. A former golf course located between 76th and 78th Streets and 34th and 37th Avenues was built upon during the 1940s. The New York City Historic District of Jackson Heights was designated October 19, 1993. It encompasses an area between 76th and 88th Streets and Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard (PDF map of the District). Unlike the State and National Districts, the local designation comes with aesthetic protections.

Jackson Heights is believed to be the first garden city community built in the United States, as part of the international garden city movement at the turn of the last century. There are many private parks (historically called "gardens" by the residents) within walking distance of each other. They are tucked in the mid-blocks, mostly hidden from view by the buildings surrounding them. Unless given an invitation, entry is restricted to those who own a co-op around its perimeter. The basis for the private ownership of the parks of Jackson Heights is derived from its founding principle as a privately owned neighborhood built largely under the oversight of one person. The historic section of Jackson Heights is the more affluent part of the neighborhood.

The Jackson Heights Historic District is a national historic district that includes 2,203 contributing buildings, 19 contributing sites, and three contributing objects. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Stores and restaurants on and near 74th street tend to cater towards the large South Asian population in the neighborhood, with sari and jewelry stores, Pakistani and Bengali music and movie retailers and many restaurants. . 37th Avenue contains a wide mix of retailers, including many grocery stores, and 82nd street contains many national chain stores located in Tudor-style buildings in the Jackson Heights Historic District. South American retailers and eateries, predominantly from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru dominate Northern Boulevard from 80th Street east to the border of neighboring Corona, Queens at Junction Boulevard.Roosevelt Avenue is also lined with various mainly Hispanic retail stores. The majority of 35th and 34th Avenues and most side streets between 37th Avenue and Northern Boulevard are residential.

The community is home to various houses of worship from a wide array of religions. Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church is located between 82nd and 83rd Street on 35th Avenue. The Jackson Heights Jewish Center is located on the corner of 77th Street and 37th Avenue. The Community United Methodist Church is on 82nd Street. St Mark's Episcopal Church is on 34th Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets.

during Colombian Independence celebration]]Jackson Heights is among the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City, and the nation. Jackson Heights is home to large numbers of South Americans, particularly Argentinians, Ecuadorians and Colombians, South Asians,and East Asians. Due to the large number of people from South Asia sub-continent (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India) and their businesses and eating places located here, it is fondly referred to as "Jaikishan Heights" and "Little Pakistan" among this populace.several.

The racial/ethnic composition of Jackson Heights is 56.6% Hispanic/Latino, 21.1% White, 16.6% Asian, 1.9% Black, and 3.8% Other.

There is a year-round greenmarket every Sunday morning at Travers Park, as well as various family-oriented spring and summer concerts.

Colombian broadcaster RCN TV has its US-American headquarters in the neighborhood, reflecting the sizable Colombian population in the area.

The Jackson Heights Garden City Society is a historical society, whose founders include local historians, the Queens Borough Historian and local activists. They created and oversee the Jackson Heights Garden City Trail and publish a walking guidebook to Jackson Heights. They also collect artifacts of the community. Periodically the Society testifies before the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission on issues of concern to the community.

Jackson Heights has followed the general patterns of New York City when it comes to crime. After spikes in the 1980s into the 1990s, crime has declined significantly. According to New York City CompStat statistics, measured crime has declined more than 79% in the last 15 years (1993 to 2008). As of January 2008, the murder rate is down over 82% and grand larceny auto is down 90% from 1990.

Recreation

Travers Park is the most main local playground. It has a variety of sports, including basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer, and handball. Prior to expansion, the P.S. 69 school yard offered baseball fields, a stickball field, a handball court and three tennis courts. Con Edison sponsored several summer tennis camps at P.S. 69's school yard from 1982-1992. In 1998, P.S. 69 built an annex to compensate for the booming population of children in Jackson Heights and the public access to the school yard was removed.

Notable residents

Notable residents of Jackson Heights (including fictional characters said to live in the neighborhood) include:

Nadia Ali (born 1980), Pakistani-American singer-songwriter

Alfred Mosher Butts (1899–1993), invented Scrabble in 1938, and perfected it at Community Methodist Church. Chester Carlson (1906–1968), invented Xerox copy machine in his Jackson Heights kitchen. Robert P. Casey (1932–2000), Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995.

Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977), an English comic actor and director who used mime, slapstick and other visual, non-verbal comedic routines.

Thom Christopher (born 1940), longtime actor on One Life to Live. Eleanor Clift (born 1940), Newsweek contributing editor and regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group. Montgomery Clift (1920–1966), actor, moved to Jackson Heights with his family in 1933 and lived in The Chateau apartment building. Alan M. Davis (born 1949), professor and author, grew up in Jackson Heights, and attended PS 69 and JHS 145.

Edward Djerejian (born 1939), diplomat, former United States Ambassador to Syria and Israel and Assistant Secretary of State.

Kevin Dobson (born 1943), actor known for his roles on Kojak and Knots Landing. Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898–1995), photographer, lived in Jackson Heights for many years. Dave Fleming (born 1969), MLB pitcher who spent most of his career with the Seattle Mariners.

Paul D. Ginsberg (born 1962), prominent mergers and acquisitions attorney.

Bobby Hackett (1915–1976), a famous trumpet player who played with Henry Mancini, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong (NOTE:It is only provided when he left Jackson Heights).

Ed Hayes (born 1947) influential lawyer, journalist, and memoirist. Helen Kane (1904–1966), singer known for her baby talk version of I Wanna Be Loved by You and model for Betty Boop. Richard Kline (born 1944), went to IS 145 and played Jack's friend Larry on Three's Company. John Leguizamo (born 1964), comedian / actor. Willy Ley (1906–1969), space writer and theorist. Lucy Liu (born 1968), actress. Clive Lythgoe (1927–2006), classical pianist. Billy Murcia (1954–1972), original drummer for the New York Dolls.

Colby O'Donis (born March 14, 1989), an American pop and R&B; singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and actor.

Les Paul (1915–2009), jazz guitarist and guitar innovator. Duncan Penwarden (1880–1930), actor. Joe Quesada (born 1962), Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics. Tommy Rettig (1941–1996), actor who appeared on the 1950s Lassie television series. Don Rickles (born 1926), comedian. Robert Tripp Ross (1903–1981), Congressman and former Assistant Secretary of Defense from 1954-1957. Mercedes Ruehl (born 1948), actress. Eddie August Schneider (1911–1940), record-setting early aviator. Walter Sear (April 27, 1930 – April 29, 2010) Audio Pioneer, Composer and owner of Sear Sound Gene Simmons (born 1949), of the rock group Kiss. Howard Stern (born 1954), host of The Howard Stern Show. Betty Suarez (born 1984), fictional title character of the television series Ugly Betty. Rob Swift, DJ and turntablist. Johnny Thunders (1952–1991), of the New York Dolls grew up in Jackson Heights. Helene White (born 1954), federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Film location

The film "Coming To America" is based in Jackson Heights.

Major portions of the Academy Award nominated¹ Maria Full of Grace (2004) were filmed on location in Jackson Heights. Portions of Random Hearts (1999) were filmed in Jackson Heights on 35th Avenue between 76th and 77th street. Part of The Usual Suspects was filmed in Jackson Heights around 34th Avenue and 82nd street.

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 became known as the Victor A. Moore Bus Terminal. It was named after Jackson Heights resident Victor Moore, a Broadway and film actor from the era of silent film to the 1950s.

Also, parts of director James Gray's We Own the Night (2007) were filmed between 32nd Avenue and 31st Avenue on 84th street. It is also the setting for the TV show Ugly Betty, where Betty and her family live. Ingrid Bergman's character Stephanie Dickinson in the movie Cactus Flower lives in Jackson Heights.

Education

New York City Department of Education operates public schools. Schools in Jackson Heights include P.S. 69 Jackson Heights School, P.S. 149 Christa McAuliffe School, P.S. 212, P.S 222 FF Christopher A. Santora School, I.S.145 Joseph Pulitzer School, I.S. 230 and the K-12 school Renaissance Charter School.

Queens Library operates the Jackson Heights Library, located on 81st Street and 37th Avenue.

Footnotes

References

External links

Community Board 3Q

Jackson Heights Beautification Group

About.com: Photos of Jackson Heights Historic District

Community Greens: Jackson Heights

The Jackson Heights Food Group

Category:National Register of Historic Places in New York City Category:Historic districts in New York City Category:Buildings and structures in Queens Category:Neighborhoods in Queens *