City Living: Queens Village
Photo credit: Lane Johnson, Newsday | Queens Village Bingo Hall on Jamaica Ave at 221st
Blink and you might miss it, but just a 30-minute commuter train ride from Manhattan is Queens Village, a thriving, community-focused, family-oriented residential haven.
Settled by cattle farmers in the 1640s, the area was first known as Little Plains. In 1824, that was changed to Brushville, after an enterprising blacksmith named Tom Brush. Finally, with the arrival of Queens' first railroad station in 1834, the Long Island Rail Road made the last official name switch to Queens Village.
"The thing that brought [the city's first residents] out was the space," followed closely by the transportation, said Jim Driscoll, president of the Queens Historical Society. "It's really fairly easy to get into the city from here."
In the 1920s, Queens Village experienced a population boom during which the majority of the city's Victorian- and Colonial-style homes were built. The original farmers were pushed farther east, and a working middle class started to develop.
Post-World War II saw the arrival of veterans and their families, and some of the city's first minority groups of African and Latin Americans. Nowadays, Queens Village boasts one of the more diverse and accepting populations in the area.
"We're like a League of Nations," 76-year resident Eileen Vogt joked. "My neighbors are Haitian, South American and Guyanese," she said, insisting the diversity didn't change the city and was "an adjustment [that] was easy for me."
For Joe King, owner of Antun's catering, the influx of minority populations has enhanced his business tremendously.
"[It] used to be all you cooked was Italian and Jewish. Now we cook Caribbean, Haitian, Indian, Pakistani, even oxtail," he said with pride.
Find itLocated in the east-central part of Queens, Queens Village is bounded by Union Turnpike to the north, Cross Island Parkway to the east, Murdock Avenue to the south and Francis Lewis Boulevard to the west.
The basics Transportation: Long Island Rail Road: Hempstead Branch to Queens Village. New York City buses: Q1, Q2, Q27, Q36, Q88, Q43, Q76, Q77, Q83 and Q110. MTA Long Island buses: N1, N2, N3, N6, N22, N24 and N26 Police stations: 105th Precinct. 92-08 222nd St., 718-776-9090 Crime: So far this year, the 105th Precinct, which includes Queens Village, has reported seven murders, 23 rapes, 298 robberies and 438 burglaries. During the same period last year, police reported six murders, 33 rapes, 327 robberies and 371 burglaries. Post office: 209-20 Jamaica Ave., 800-275-8777 Public library: 94-11 217th St., 718-776-6800 Schools: Creedmoor Psych Center School, 80-45 Winchester Blvd.; Jean Nuzzi Intermediate School, 213-10 92nd Ave.; Martin Van Buren High School, 230-17 Hillside Ave.; Merrick Academy-Queens Public School, 207-01 Jamaica Ave.; PS 18 Winchester School, 86-35 235th Ct.; PS 33 Edward M. Funk School, 91-37 222nd St.; PS 34 John Harvard School, 104-12 Springfield Blvd.; Queens College School for Math, 148-20 Reeves Ave.; The Bellaire School, 207-11 89th Ave.
Real estate The Queens Village community and real estate market consists almost entirely of single family, Archie Bunker-style Colonial homes built in the 1920s. In order to make room for eager, first-time home buyers who make up most of the buyer's market, however, developers have taken to converting and renovating the original single-family structures, much to the annoyance of long-time residents.
According to Nick Gomez of ERA Real Estate, the influx of first-time home buyers is due in large part to the county's low property taxes. Gomez says the area also boasts great schools, easy access to Manhattan and an abundance of available parking.
To rent Renovated basement studio between Hillside and Jamaica avenues: $800 One-bedroom apartment on Senior Boulevard: $1,150 Large one-bedroom apartment on 209th Street and 89th Avenue: $1,200 Two-bedroom garden apartment at Hillside Avenue and Hollis Court Boulevard: $1,200 Three-bedroom apartment at 100th Avenue and Springfield Boulevard: $1,500 Four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at 86-40 Range Street, near 235th Street and Hillside Avenue: $3,500
To buy One-bedroom co-op on seventh floor of an elevator building in Hilltop Village: $117,000 Two-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op garden apartment in Bell Park Manor Terrace: $192,000 Three-bedroom, two-bathroom single-family home at 99th Avenue: $469,000 Three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom Dutch Colonial house at 91-15 215th Place at 91st Avenue: $479,000 Four-bedroom, one-bathroom with backyard and finished basement on 200th Street near Hollis Avenue: $389,000 Five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom Colonial-style home off Hillside Avenue and Springfield Boulevard: $789,999
To eat Like the majority of the country, the restaurant scene in Queens Village is dominated by fast food and take-out. However, if you're in the mood for authentic Portuguese seafood paella, Italian comfort food or "the best salad in Queens," you're in luck.
Mateus Restaurant and Bar A 17-year staple on Queens Village's busy Jamaica Avenue, Mateus is a family-owned restaurant known for its authentic Portuguese cuisine, specifically its seafood paella. The restaurant has a distinct small town/neighborhood feel, almost like Cheers, but with a Portuguese twist. The friendly establishment is also popular with locals for happy hour and after-dinner drinks.222-07 Jamaica Ave.718-464-4522
Italian Affair This deli-style hot spot of 18 years boasts a stellar menu item not often found on "best of" lists: salad. The chicken cutlet, grilled shrimp, Caesar and grilled calamari salads are best-sellers. An anonymous tipster says the secret to "the best salad in Queens" is in the house dressing.225-02 Jamaica Ave.718-352-4428
Cara Mia Cara Mia is owned and operated by the Deciantis family and has been a Queens Village favorite for more than 30 years. Consistently ranked one of Queens' best restaurants, it is the place to go for authentic Italian comfort food and a "Welcome Home"-type ambience. House specials include all pasta dishes (they're made from scratch daily), the veal parmigiana and broiled Chilean sea bass.220-20 Hillside Ave.718-740-9118
To shop Queens Village isn't full of name-brand shopping per se, but a slew of retail outlets can be found on the busy Jamaica and Hillside avenues. Worth noting are three of the neighborhood's oldest stores:
Kassel Drugstore This one-stop shop offers a friendly staff and a tradition not normally found at CVS or Duane Reade.21811 Jamaica Ave.718-464-0200
Best Paint Step inside to find masters of the mix-and-match with the charm of small-town service.22023 Jamaica Ave.718-464-1200
Howard Jewelers Very reasonably priced and accommodating, this jewelry store makes shopping a stress-free experience.21702 Jamaica Ave.718-465-3335
To do While the nightlife scene lacks in the form of booming clubs and noisy bars, there are a variety of family-friendly, throwback-style activities like horse racing, corn mazes and bingo.
Belmont Park Race Track When it opened in 1905, the horse-racing track also hosted aerial tournaments and shows. Nowadays, it is home to the annual Belmont Stakes, where last year's surprise winner, top-rated filly Rags to Riches, took home the $1 million prize. Though the famously strict dress codes have softened over the years, "elegant attire is recommended" for attendees (business casual is okay; no tank tops for men). Clubhouse tickets cost $5 and grandstand admission is just $2.2150 Hempstead Tpke., Elmontwww.nyra.com
Queens County Farm Museum This semi-hidden gem is the only functioning historic farm in New York City. The site encompasses 47 acres of land and is the longest continuously farmed site in New York state. The museum is open year-round for tours, hayrides and the chance to feed a few hungry (and friendly) sheep and goats, not to mention the Amazing Maize Maze, open through the end of the month. General admission is free (except on special event days and for the Corn Maze by Moonlight).73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park718-347-3276www.queensfarm.org
Queens Village Bingo Hall This is an ideal place to spend a rainy day with the locals. There's nothing too fancy here, just the standard, sometimes frenzied bingo drill. The hall is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.221 Jamaica Ave.
The buzz Residents' chief concerns lie with the commercialization and conversion of historic areas. Experts cite a lack of regulation -- specifically, building inspectors --- as the main problem. Despite the locals' continued grievances, low taxes and affordable housing only make Queens Village more attractive to potential residents, which serves as further motivation for contractors and developers to capitalize on the city's steady influx in population with their housing renovations and conversions.
Q&A
After working 25 tireless years for Queens Village's Community Board 13, lifetime resident Eileen Vogt has not only expert insight into the city's climate and hot-button issues, but the experience and opinions to match.
How long have you been living in Queens Village?
All my life. I grew-up here, met my husband here, who was also a Queens Village native. We were married 55 years and raised our two children here.
What do you do in your free time?
I'm retired, but very active at my church, Our Lady of Lourdes, where I volunteer two mornings and one afternoon a week for their Outreach Program. It's the church I was married in, where I went to primary school.
How diverse is Queens Village?
Very much so. The diversity has not changed the city at all. It was an adjustment, but easy for me. I am blessed with wonderful neighbors from South America, Haiti and Guyana. They maintain their homes better than I do.
What are your favorite shops?
We don't have much shopping. Jamaica Avenue used to be all little local shops, but it's now our commercial strip. I don't do a lot of shopping here, but I still visit Kassel drugstore, Best Paint and Howard Jewelers. Those stores have been around since I was a little girl.
What are some changes you've seen in the community?
Many of the original houses have been sold and converted against the law, which is partly to blame on the real estate developers and partly due to the city's lack of building inspectors. Contractors are tearing up houses, adding two, three, four attached houses. I don't like the changes to the look of the neighborhood.
What makes Queens Village a great place to live?
I'll tell you what's been an asset is the LIRR station. Our taxes are lower here than in Nassau County and, [with] the public buses, access to the city is easy. Everything here is convenient.
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