Jamaica

December 18, 2023

Vacant hotel near JFK Airport to become 300+ permanently affordable apartments

An empty hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens will be converted into a permanently affordable housing development with 300 apartments. Slate Property Group, RiseBoro Community Partnership, and the city's Housing Development Corporation on Monday announced the acquisition of the former JFK Hilton Hotel for $64 million, the first step in converting the vacant hotel into homes for low-income households and formerly homeless New Yorkers. Construction is expected to kick off next month.
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December 5, 2023

MTA installs new turnstiles designed to stop fare evasion

The traditional turnstiles at a subway station in Queens have been fully replaced with new wide-aisle fare gates, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Monday. Designed to increase accessibility and prevent fare evasion, the new fare gates were deployed at the Sutphin Boulevard Archer Avenue-JFK Airport subway station in Jamaica. The fare gates replace the emergency exit gate at the end of the station; more than half of all fare evasion occurs through these emergency gates, according to the MTA.
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October 24, 2023

Next to a transit hub and historic park in Jamaica, 67 mixed-income luxury units are available, from $1,585/month

A new rental in Queens is now accepting applications for 67 mixed-income apartments. Located at 153-10 88th Avenue in the heart of Jamaica, The 88 includes luxury units and amenities, including two landscaped rooftop decks. The building sits next to Rufus King Park and is near several public transit lines. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $57,292 for a single person annually and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,585/month studios to $3,075/month two bedrooms.
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July 12, 2023

New migrant shelter in Clinton Hill could serve at least 2,000 people

New York City is opening two more emergency shelters to accommodate the thousands of migrants that continue to arrive in the five boroughs, one of which is set to become the largest dormitory-style shelter in the city's history. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the opening of two more humanitarian relief shelters, one at an existing respite center at 47 Hall Street in Brooklyn, which adds additional space to serve roughly 1,400 more migrant adults, and another at the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York hotel in Queens, which will serve more than 330 families with children seeking asylum.
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March 10, 2022

Project transforming run-down city buildings into ‘green’ affordable housing kicks off in Queens

Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced a milestone has been reached in a major project designed to improve quality of life and tackle the affordable housing crisis in Southeast Queens. Construction has begun on "Habitat Net Zero," a project that will transform 13 run-down buildings owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) into 16 green homes for affordable homeownership.
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February 22, 2022

Apply for 95 middle-income units at Jamaica rental with sweeping skyline views, from $1,550/month

Nearly 100 new middle-income units are up for grabs at a new residential tower in Queens. Located at 160-05 Archer Ave in Jamaica, One Archer provides its residents with easy access to Manhattan and a wide variety of amenities, including a rooftop with impressive views. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $54,858 annually for a single person or $167,570 annually for a family of five, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,550/month studios to $2,345/month two-bedrooms.
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December 8, 2021

353 mixed-income apartments available at 25-story rental in Jamaica, from $683/month

A housing lottery opened this week for over 350 units of mixed-income housing in Jamaica, Queens. The luxury 25-story rental, called Alvista Rise, is located at 147-25 94th Avenue, across the street from a major train station, home to the subway, Long Island Air Road, and AirTrain to JFK Airport. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 120, and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $683/month for studios and up to $2,804/month for two-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify
December 2, 2021

New rental with 400 units of affordable housing and a grocery store opens in Jamaica

A new rental with nearly 400 affordable apartments and a low-cost grocery store officially opened in Jamaica, Queens this week. Located at 92-23 168th Street, Archer Green was developed by Omni New York and designed by ESKW/Architects. The development has 389 total apartments across two towers, one at 23 stories and the other at 20 stories, and will be home to an ALDI grocery store and 15,000 square feet of community space.
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October 14, 2021

Lottery opens for 69 affordable apartments next to Jamaica’s Rufus King Park, from $1,599/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 69 apartments designated for New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income. Located at 153-19 Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, the newly constructed 19-story building sits across from the historic Rufus King Park and is also just one block from the subway. Available apartments include 37 studios priced at $1,599/month and 32 one-bedrooms for $1,708/month.
Find out if you qualify
September 22, 2021

27 affordable senior studios available in Jamaica, Queens, from $683/month

In Jamaica, Queens, an affordable housing lottery has launched for 27 studios set aside for those age 62+. Reserved for seniors earning 40 or 50 percent of the area median income, the units are renting for $522 or $683/month; there are also eight units for which applicants will pay 30 percent of their household income in rent. The building is located at 161-01 89th Avenue, just a few blocks from the E and F trains at Parson Avenue.
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September 2, 2021

Apply for 33 middle-income apartments in downtown Jamaica, Queens, from $1,726/month

A new affordable housing lottery has launched for 33 middle-income units at a new rental building in downtown Jamaica. Located at 148-37 88th Avenue, the building is convenient to public transportation and offers "one of the most panoramic views available in Queens," according to the posting. Those earning 130 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $1,726/month studios to $3,612/month three-bedrooms.
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April 14, 2021

Lottery opens for 124 apartments at former historic hospital site in Jamaica, from $885/month

Applications are currently being accepted for 124 mixed-income units at the "T building," a former hospital in Jamaica Hills, Queens that has been converted into apartments. Located at 82-41 Parsons Boulevard, the 10-story building features amenities like a library and computer room, outdoor sun terraces, a gym, and a shared laundry room. New Yorkers earning 60 and 100 percent of the area median income (AMI) can apply for the income-restricted units, which range from $885/month studios to $2,215/month three-bedrooms.
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March 15, 2021

Apply for 166 affordable apartments at new Passive House in Jamaica, from $667/month

In Jamaica, Queens, 166 affordable apartments are now up for grabs at Tree of Life, a new mixed-use Passive House project at 89-46 164th Street. In addition to its residential component, the building offers community facility and social service spaces, a health center, and it is adjacent to the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica (the oldest continuously serving Presbyterian church in the United States). The available units range from $667/month studios to $2,264/month three-bedrooms and are available to those earning 50, 60, 90, and 120 percent of the area median income.
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February 22, 2021

FEMA community-based vaccination sites open in Brooklyn and Queens this week

Two coronavirus vaccination sites run by the state with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open in Queens and Brooklyn on Wednesday, with appointments set aside for residents of specific ZIP codes. Appointment slots opened over the weekend for vaccinations at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights and York College in Jamaica, starting this Wednesday. According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, there are many appointments still up for grabs.
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February 18, 2021

Lottery opens for 351 mixed-income apartments in Downtown Jamaica, from $524/month

Applications are now being accepted for 351 mixed-income apartments at a new rental building in Jamaica, Queens. Dubbed Archer Green, the development is located at 92-23 168th Street and will feature 15,000 square feet of community space and more than 68,000 square feet of retail. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $524/month studios to $2,638/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
January 19, 2021

Last-ditch effort to sell Trump’s childhood home in Queens before Inauguration Day

The boyhood Queens home of President Donald Trump is making a last-ditch effort to find a buyer before Trump leaves the White House. Paramount Realty USA has once again put the home on the auction block with the auction date set for tomorrow, the date Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Though it's listed as a sealed bid auction, Paramount Realty founder Misha Haghani told NY1, "The seller is prepared to take $3 million today, tomorrow, next week."
Details here
September 22, 2020

Art Deco P.S. 48 becomes the first historic landmark in South Jamaica, Queens

The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission voted today to designate Public School 48 in South Jamaica, Queens as an individual landmark. Built in 1936, PS 48 was an early example of a school building serving as a "monumental civic structure" in the community. "Its Art Deco style details, which are quite striking in person, make it unique, and it is one of the first elementary schools New York City to incorporate this architectural style," said LPC Chair Sarah Carroll, who also noted that it's the neighborhood's first historic landmark.
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April 23, 2020

110 affordable apartments for seniors available at new South Jamaica rental

A lottery launched on Thursday for 110 affordable senior apartments in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica. The 10-story building located at 161-11 132nd Avenue sits next to existing low-income senior apartments and contains 100 one-bedrooms and 58 studios. To apply, New Yorkers must be–or have at least one household member who is– 62 years of age or older, qualify for Section 8 benefits, and earn $51, 200 or less, annually.
Find out if you qualify
March 31, 2020

Lottery opens for 16 affordable apartments near historic King Manor in Jamaica, from $1,500/month

Applications are now being accepted for 16 middle-income new apartments in Jamaica, Queens. The seven-story residential building at 88-56 162nd Street contains 51 units. Located between busy Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue, the rental sits near a number of restaurants and retail spaces, as well as the Rufus King Park, home to the historic King Manor Museum. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,500/month one-bedrooms to $1,980/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
December 5, 2019

Lottery launches for 667 mixed-income units at huge new development near Jamaica Station

The latest housing lottery to open for applications is a pretty significant one: there are now 667 newly constructed units up for grabs at 148-10 Archer Avenue and 147-10 Archer Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Otherwise known as The Crossing at Jamaica Station, the FXCollaborative-designed development is a commuter's dream, located at the corner of Archer Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard, right next to the LIRR's Jamaica Station, the Air Link to JFK, and with proximity to four MTA subway lines and several buses. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between 40 and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from $633/month studios to $4,501/month three-bedrooms.
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November 11, 2019

The city introduces a new branding initiative to unite NYC’s public markets

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) last week unveiled a new brand strategy for the city's network of six public markets, which includes a multilingual ad campaign, a dynamic new website and social media presence, direct mail campaigns and more, all of which are designed to consolidate a network of historic markets under one city-wide brand. It's all part of the organization's comprehensive initiative to promote NYC's public markets--including Essex Market, the Bronx's Arthur Avenue Market, and Williamsburg's historic Moore Street Market--as "world class destinations for both local residents and tourists."
See what's in store
September 17, 2019

Trump’s childhood home heads back to the auction block after failing to find a $2.9M buyer

President Donald Trump’s boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is headed to auction after spending 19 days on the market last February for $2.9 million, the New York Times reports. The home is no longer owned by Trump or his organization; the current owner bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million anonymously via Trump Birth House LLC. The unassuming five-bedroom Tudor has since been used as an Airbnb rental, and it was briefly rented by refugees via anti-poverty organization Oxfam to bring attention to the refugee crisis during the 2017 UN General Assembly.
It's not about real estate
May 15, 2019

PHOTOS: The TWA Hotel at JFK is officially open!

The much-anticipated rebirth of Eero Saarinen's historic TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport is complete. The TWA Hotel officially opened on Wednesday, more than two years after the project broke ground in Queens and over 18 years since the iconic 1962 terminal shuttered. The project was developed by MCR and MORSE Development and designed by architecture firm LUBRANO CIAVARRA. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects handled the restoration of the original Flight Center to prepare for the hotel. The two six-story crescent-shaped buildings contain 512 rooms, a rooftop infinity pool and observation deck, event space, food hall, luxury fitness center, and retro cocktail bar.
Take the tour
February 5, 2019

Trump’s childhood home in Queens hits market for $2.9M

President Donald Trump's boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is set to hit the market this week for a pricey $2.9 million. The home, which is not owned by Trump or his organization, is decorated somewhat as a shrine to the president, with lots of framed photos of him, a copy of "The Art of the Deal," and a life-size cut out of the Queens native in the living room. The owner, who bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million under the guise of Trump Birth House LLC, requests offers be submitted via email, along with proof of funds. The home will then be sold through a closed bidding process, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
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November 6, 2018

Behind the Scenes at Queens’ Loew’s Valencia, once the most successful Wonder Theatre in NYC

Earlier this year, 6sqft got an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at the majestic Loew’s Jersey City Theatre, as well as the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. In 2016, we joined Untapped Cities and NYCEDC on a tour of Brooklyn Kings Theatre, and just last month, as part of Untapped Cities Insider’s Tours, we were lucky enough to tour and photograph the former Loew’s Valencia Theatre on Jamaica Avenue in Queens, which is now home to the Tabernacle of Prayer for All People church. The majestic Loew’s Valencia Theatre opened on Saturday, January 12, 1929, as the first, largest, and most famous of the five flagship Loew’s “Wonder” Theatres established in the New York City area from 1929-30. All of the grand movie palaces were built by Marcus Loew of the Loew’s Theatres chain to establish the firm as a leader in film exhibition and to simultaneously serve as a fantastical yet affordable escape for people of all classes from the tedium and anxieties of their daily lives. The Valencia most definitely did not shy away from this fantastical approach, with its Spanish/Mexican Baroque architecture, gilded ornamentation, rich jewel-tone colors, and elaborate carvings.
Take the grand tour
August 28, 2018

Take a tour of Dead Horse Bay, Brooklyn’s hidden trove of trash and treasures

Dead Horse Bay is a small body of water in Brooklyn that got its name from the horse rendering plants that were on the former Barren Island in Jamaica Bay near the shoreline of Flatlands. In the late 1850s, Barren Island was the site of the largest dump in New York City, fed by barges carrying garbage and animal remains. Factories on the island used the carcasses of horses, which were put in large vats and boiled until the fat could be removed, for use in fertilizer, glue, and oils. The bones of the horses were then chopped up and dumped into the water. Starting in 1930, the island also became the site of the first municipal airport (Floyd Bennett) after the city filled in marshland to connect it to the mainland. The last horse rendering factory on the island closed in 1935 and in 1936, the island’s final 400 residents were evicted to make way for the creation of the Belt Parkway. The City continued using the area as a garbage dump until 1953 when the landfill was capped. Since 1972, the area surrounding Dead Horse Bay has been part of the Jamaica Bay Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. We joined Robin Nagle, NYC Department of Sanitation’s Anthropologist-in-Residence for an exclusive exploration of Dead Horse Bay earlier this year with the City Reliquary Museum and had a chance to speak with her about this mysterious area, which is strewn with glass bottles, fragments of centuries-old horse bones, and mounds of trash.
Have a look around
June 25, 2018

Two chances to live near the JFK AirTrain, from $1,418/month

If you travel often for work, this affordable housing opportunity could make your life a lot easier, provided you earn between $48,618 and $83,440 annually. The city opened the lottery for a $1,418/month one-bedroom and a $1,599/month two-bedroom at 89-15 138th Street, which is just two blocks away from the J, M, Z trains and a slew of buses at Jamaica Station and the AirTrain to JFK. An added bonus? The two units up for grabs have balconies.
Find out if you qualify