Jamaica

July 6, 2016

The History of Bowery Bay Beach, the ‘Coney Island of Queens’

This past holiday weekend, New Yorkers flocked to Coney Island for the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, the fireworks display, and to enjoy the beach and boardwalk. For some, though, traveling all the way out to the end of Brooklyn with beach chairs and coolers is daunting, which is why it's sad to learn that back in the 19th century, there was another amusement destination in the city, at the site of present-day LaGuardia Airport. Bowery Bay Beach (later named North Beach) opened in 1886 on the shores of Bowery and Flushing Bays. Built by noted piano manufacturer William Steinway in partnership with brewer George Ehret, it included beaches, swimming pavilions, a huge beer hall, zoo, and the Gala Amusement Park. At one time it was more popular than the parks in Brooklyn, earning it the moniker "the Coney Island of Queens."
So what happened?
February 23, 2016

First Look at MY Architect’s 19-Story Hotel Set for Jamaica’s Transit Hub

With all corners of the city bursting at their seams, once overlooked business nodes are experiencing a resurgence of construction activity. Perhaps most foreign and far-flung to Manhattanites is Jamaica, Queens, where a cluster of high-rises is rising around its transit hub, which serves LIRR commuters and is a terminus to JFK's AirTrain network. The neighborhood's latest large project to come forward is from Flushing-based Ampiera Group, who have proposed a 100,000-square-foot hotel and office tower at 90-75 Sutphin Boulevard, just one block from the transit center. The building's exterior, comprised of a mix of glass and stone, is designed by MY Architect, who are working with the development team on at least two Long Island City projects. Approved permits and documents filed last summer co-align with images published on the architect's website that call for a double-winged building with a low-rise leg fronting Sutphin Boulevard. The low-slung retail buildings along Archer Avenue will be demolished to create a plaza at the foot of the tower.
More views and details ahead
August 31, 2015

A Price Cut for a Gated Mansion in Jamaica Estates, Queens

Yes, you can live in a 6,500-square-foot, five bedroom mansion right in New York City. It's here, at 184-15 Hovendon Road in Jamaica Estates, Queens. The neighborhood is known for its large plots and spacious freestanding homes, but this property takes it to the next level. Not only is it gated in, but the interior is awash in marble, coffered ceilings and Venetian plaster walls. It's got a new asking price since it first hit the market last year, with a price chop down from $3.488 million to $3.388 million.
Check out this interior
August 28, 2015

Enchanting 1930s Tudor Home Is Just $429K, but Also Way Out in Queens

Have you ever heard of Laurelton? If not, start Googling. It's a neighborhood in Queens where you can buy a single-family home for $429,000—a very impressive price in today's real estate market. It's a Tudor built in around 1930 with a charming exterior, unique details on the interior, a small front and back yard and a garage. Of course, at that price, you'll make some kind of sacrifice—it's not located anywhere near a subway station. But if you're in the market for an affordable single-family, don't write this one off.
Check it out
March 30, 2015

Fairytale-Like Tudor in Bellerose Manor Offers Suburbia in the City for $639K

We so often write about homes in Brooklyn and Manhattan that we sometimes neglect the gorgeous real estate that can be found in The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Recently, Forest Hills has gotten its fair share of our attention, but when we came across this Tudor-meets-Cape beauty in Bellerose Manor, we were reminded us of how much the outer boroughs have to offer.
More photos of suburbia in the city
January 14, 2015

Is Jamaica, Queens NYC’s Hot New Tourist Spot?

Not yet, but that's just what the new head of the neighborhood's Business Improvement District (BID) is planning. To realize her goal of turning Jamaica into one of NYC's hot tourist spots, Rhonda Binda is organizing neighborhood tours and launching a series of pop-up installations that would focus on the community's history and culture, as well as local artists. In partnership with the Queens Tourism Council, she hopes these offerings will attract both locals and visitors alike, especially those who have layovers at JFK airport.
More details ahead