Jamaica Estates, Queens (History)

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(Neighborhoods In Queens)

neighborhoods_queens_jamaicaestates_300x300Jamaica Estates is an upper middle class and wealthy neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Queens. Within Queens Community District 8, Jamaica Estates is served by Queens Community Board 8 It is bounded by Union Turnpike to the north, Hillside Avenue to the south, Utopia Parkway and Homelawn Street to the west, and 188th Street to the east. The portion of Jamaica Estates located south of the Grand Central Parkway is more properly termed Holliswood.

 

HISTORY

Jamaica Estates was created at the turn of the century by the Jamaica Estates Company, which developed the hilly terminal moraine’s 503 acres (2.04 km2), while preserving many of the trees that had occupied the site.Jamaica Estates now has significant Modern Orthodox Jewish Americanand South Asian American populations.The latter has been particularly affected by the wave of mortgage foreclosures that began in 2008.The only apartments and multi-family housing lie near the southern border within a few blocks from and along Hillside Avenue. The shopping corridors are along Hillside Avenue and Union Turnpike.

In 2007, following the damage of the roof of the Historic Gatehouse in Hurricane Isabel, the restoration and beautification of the Gatehouse and Malls was completed.

The Jamaica Estates Association, founded in 1929, continues as an active, vital civic organization representing the community. An Historical Plaque was unveiled April 23, 2010, on the Midland Mall by The Aquinas Honor Society of the Immaculate Conception School and by the sponsor of the plaque, Senator Frank Padavan.


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