Jackson Heights, Queens
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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 MacDougall's Queensboro Corporation in the 1920s, following the arrival of the Flushing elevated train. A former golf course located between 76th and 78th Streets, and 34th and 37th Avenues was built upon during the 1940s.
Jackson Heights is the first garden city built in the United States, as part of the international Garden City movement at the turn of the last century. It has more private parks (traditionally called "gardens" by the locals) than any other community in the United States. They are tucked in the mid-blocks, mostly hidden from view by the buildings surrounding them. The only way to gain entrance is by owning a residence in a building around them. Some approach the size of Gramercy Park, and two are larger in square footage.
The community consists mostly of middle-income to upscale cooperative apartments. Many residents commute to nearby Manhattan. The main retail thoroughfare is bustling 37th Avenue. 35th and 34th Avenues and most side streets are zoned residential. Jackson Heights is an urbane melting pot with heavy Indian, Jewish, Korean, Polish, Irish, Chinese, Russian, South American, and other ethnic populations. It also contains the largest gay and lesbian community in New York outside of Manhattan.
Jackson Heights has more school choices within walking distance than anyplace else in America, except for some sections of Manhattan. Most students attend P.S. 69 or P.S. 212 for primary school. There are other Catholic, Jewish, private, and charter schools. The community is home to many old churches and temples. The highest density of sidewalk trees in New York City can be found along the residential streets of Jackson Heights. Colombian broadcaster RCN has its American headquarters there. http://jhbg.org/
The actress Lucy Liu grew up in Jackson Heights. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt lived in Jackson Heights for many years.