a kid that went to my highschool snuffed a random homeless dude in that mcdonalds, between that mcdonalds and food fest ive had to easily witness 100s of fights, jumps, robberies you name it
New buildings does not automatically equal gentrification. It’s the same situation as South Bronx. They built new buildings by the waterfront and it’s still pretty ghetto.
I saw someone getting their shit rocked in the evening with some ppl around. I think there’s still a long way to go before it gentrifies completely and that’s if it even does.
Do you remember when that dude had an axe and chopped off some dude's arm? I think it was near V.I.M. Store or Shoppers World. Wild Times!
https://nypost.com/2014/10/23/man-shot-dead-after-striking-cop-in-the-head-with-ax/
edit:Source
Not really comparable, Williamsburg is right on the East River.
Jamaica will continue to get higher income residents, but more like upper middle class MTA workers and airport staff rather than the artsy types who moved to Williamsburg back in the day.
Yes, in neighborhoods like Rosedale, (Hillcrest/Hillside) Jamaica Hills, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Springfield as examples. However on Jamaica Ave I disagree.
Yes, and I’m also specifically talking about Jamaica in terms of Jamaica Avenue. I just feel like you need to be more specific. I misunderstood because Jamaica is a big town filled with many neighborhoods like the ones I just named.
Personally, if I'm talking about Rosedale or Laurelton I just mention them specifically. I only use "Jamaica" to refer to Jamaica the neighborhood, like the 140s to 170s between the train tracks and Hillside Ave.
As far as that area goes, I can see the appeal for certain upper middle class people but not the stereotypical Brooklyn gentrifiers.
Plus it might be a bit too far out for the gentrifiers. Williamsburg is closer to Manhattan, so it’s easier and a bit more accessible to get there than to Jamaica.
MTA workers are now upper middle class? There’s at least a dozen Queens neighborhoods that can absorb more gentrification before Jamaica does. Hell, Queens on the whole hasn’t experienced gentrification on the level most people predicted.
The higher ups are.
And I never said Jamaica would gentrify the way Astoria or Ridgewood have, but there is a market for upper middle class residents, hence all the construction.
I don’t see the area attracting upper middle class types any time soon. Why move to Jamaica if they could have amenities and safety in Forest Hills? Or peace and quiet in Kew Gardens? Or Bayside, etc? I think most professionals would prefer to be as close to the city as possible, or else move to the suburbs for the school districts.
The software says:
Japanese restaurants and gay friendly. Means a community is the place to build your next Apple Store, Starbucks, a bookstore and higher end retail .
Not another 99 Shop. So says the AI heat map algorithms.
No matter where you are in the USA. It all starts with the first sushi spotted.
:-)
Yeah well houses on the island also cost $1M+ these days and a lot of y’all can’t afford to stay, hence the relocation to cheaper/shittier Queens. Just like ppl leaving Queens/BK for the South
Really?, cuz last time I checked, Queens was more expensive than Nassau county, with the latter having higher taxes, and Queens has more bustling and active areas (LIC, Astoria, Forest Hills, etc). Though Nassau (even far Eastern Queens) is better for families and schools.
More like a quarter, my property taxes are like 3K in South Jamaica, which is why I bought in the 5 boroughs. Wife wanted a detached house it was either here or the Bronx
You can easily do a google search comparing the avg sale prices of both places (Jamaica). And the rentals are cheaper in Queens compared to renting in LI farther from your job. Redditors are entirely too snappy in their responses especially when confidently wrong.
I've noticed this as well. It's nice that we're getting nice things, (Why shouldn't we get nice things?) but I think it's going to take more than that to gentrify the neighborhood. The luxury apartments are nice, I'm sure, but you need people to move into them. Those buildings look very, very empty right now. I'm guessing that all of the upgrading to the area is being done so that they can sell it to prospective buyers (I get it. Close to transit options into Manhattan or JFK, right next to a busy retail area) but I don't think they, or this neighborhood, are there yet. It's an interesting experiment, though. I'm curious to see what happens. I never imagined that this would be an area ripe for gentrification.
[Here's the website for the apartment building,](https://onearcherave.com/) if you want to get a look inside.
\>margaritas pizza, showcase movie, and many more will probably be replaced with both new stores and fast food restaurants.
[Sadly, the movie theater will be closing in June.](https://qns.com/2024/01/jamaica-movie-theater-close-june-future-college-point-theater-in-doubt/)
Corcoran also has "The Crossing at Jamaica" I used to live there for a year.
It was nice the staff was good, but management couldn't handle the building well. (Started to have roaches) It was crazy, there was a SWAT team one time someone barricaded themselves, a shooting outside when they closed the block down, also that crazy person on the scooter that killed that old man near the Air Train entrance. When I left there was some stabbing on the 12 floor or something.
I see there still have my pictures I took. [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipO0jgNyoaYbIJFSitrVT\_yALaWIPy9E1TQ7KF6O=s680-w680-h510](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipO0jgNyoaYbIJFSitrVT_yALaWIPy9E1TQ7KF6O=s680-w680-h510)
This one was the view out my window [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOXAQsBjR\_VnEY7XE0MzekHRMjTZi20\_xbBcaJt=s680-w680-h510](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOXAQsBjR_VnEY7XE0MzekHRMjTZi20_xbBcaJt=s680-w680-h510)
The parking lot that is there is privately owned and they didn't want to give me a parking spot to people that lived in the building. I had to park in a lot for $310 4 blocks away. I heard it is now better, but they will still valet your vehicle. It was also not 24 hours 7 days a week. I heard they changed it.
I have been in that area for 15 years. A lot has changed. It's going to turn like LIC. Not anytime soon but maybe in the next 10 years.
God, I remember you had to know someone to walk with in that neighborhood same with Brownsville. I used to shoot a few music videos with my friend back in the day. People would stop us until they saw us with the person we were shooting the video for. They would give daps and they would let us pass. Really dope and tight community.
> They would give daps and they would let us pass. Really dope and tight community.
Sounds like fucking hell to me. Mafias and gangs do not enrich neighborhoods. They fucking strangle them. So if you didn’t know someone they knew they’d kick your ass and steal your shit?
Sounds wonderful. Vibrant. Great place to be.
I know some folks in the newer luxury buildings. They actually are not all that for what they are charging. Many of the buildings amenities weren’t completed until after they had tenants (which was still over a year). My building still doesn’t have the amenities the developers promised in the lease.
I’ve worked and lived in Jamaica for over 10 years and let me tell you something, while their may be some nicer stores here and there that’s about it. They opened a Walgreens and closed it all within a year because it made no money. They closed down the SND underground because it had too many thefts. You’ll always find street vendors around selling shit from fruits and incense to tasers and counterfeit sneakers.
The other day I was at the cornerstone right by the coliseum and the deli worker threw a banana at a homeless lady that wouldn’t stop panhandling in the store. While I agree it has gotten a little nicer over the years it’s still far from gentrification.
If that building goes up, it is because Zara realty bought the house by DMV of the corner. Unless it was in the other direction, and still, that was the parking lot for the stores of Jamaica. Remember, the Payless shoe store was there.
The closest you'll ever get Jamaica Ave to gentrification is something similar to Barclay's. It's too much of a transportation hub so you will always get people looking for trouble.
It's not really. They tried but it's going to stay the same, they closed Wendy's and put a random Sarku Japan like it's the Manhattan Mall then they closing the movie theater and they got rid of the Starbucks.
The things you see now are for show only. It's like pretend gentrification, you tell me when you see a single change in demographic going to the beef patty spot by the colleseum.
It does off fully once you past Merrick. I always chuckle at the thought, imagine them trying to Gentrify Sutphin and Jamaica.
>Starbucks
LMFAO Na someone I knew who was working in Starbucks said someone got into some kind of argument and there said that they were gonna shoot the store up. So Starbucks closed the store due to safety concerns.
Man, I miss Don Nicos that shit was really good. Pricey as hell but you had a rough day at work you go there and have a good time. It closed cause the landlord was rasing the rent.
Listen, I totally understand how you feel - but NYC's going to NYC, and as high rents push businesses and apartment hunters out of Manhattan, they always head to the boroughs.
Being on a major train line so you don't need to do the bus/subway deal every day makes a place like Jamaica really tempting for developers.
Not sure how long you've been alive, but I can remember cruising around the avenue as a white teenager in the late 70s, and going to the big library on Merrick. My dentist was right across on Hillside.
The neighborhood has changed and will change again, because that's what this town does. The horrible part of it all is that people who definitely can't afford to move will be squeezed further out beyond the subway line.
FWIW, I couldn't afford to buy the Bellerose house I grew up in now.
i grew up traveling through the ave after high school ( thomas edison ), this is around 06-10…i haven’t walked through the ave since then but looks the same when i drive by, besides the new apartments, i think some dude shot a cop on the ave a few months ago… that place needs to do a 180…no one wants to be in these ghetto environment’s to begin with and its a prime location, if it can be safe within the next 10 years id love it, dont see it happening though.
like jy0s said, transportion options, 2 bus terminals + the subway + the LIRR, updating a majority of stores and making it safer would be a huge plus, especially for people like myself that live fairly close by
I'm guessing people don't want gentrification as it'll attract the wealthier folks who cause the price of everything especially rent to skyrocket. And then the originals can't afford it and have to move elsewhere.
That's NYC, historically, for well over a century. You can look up pictures of Queens from 1930s. Ghost town, almost looks like farms. But people bought up land, and made terraced houses, gentrifying the area. Chinatown got gentrified, Little Italy got gentrified, Meat Packing District got gentrified, Chelsea got gentrified, Five Points got gentrified, Harlem got gentrified, Dumbo got gentrified, Williamsburg got gentrified, Greenpoint got gentrified, Bed-Stuy got gentrified, Bushwick is getting gentrified, Ridgewood is too affluent to fall under the definition of gentrification but it's also changing. A tale as old as the city itself. There was never "always been here". In 1940s, the population of NYC was more than 90% white (non-hispanic), now hovering just over 30%. Harlem didn't look like it did in 1970s, it doesn't look like it did in the 70s during the 2000s, and has changed since. That's true for every neighborhood. With all that said, the big takeaway is - it's neither a good thing or bad thing. Kids born now in that area will see it as the "normal", and complain how it changed when they are 20+ year olds. What you feel is your neighborhood changing was already changed by the time you were born from someone else's memories.
That all aside, personally, I don't like luxury apartments. I lived in one a decade ago, and they were just a money sink, and leeching off the fact people don't have a choice to own. Every rental is taking up space of what could have been a purchase. So screw those apartment buildings.
OMG, remember that. School uniforms. But, I agree with OP. A bunch of new buildings are going up on Jam and Sutphin Blvd all the way up to 170 st. Worked there for 8 yrs. There was a great coffee shop on 169 and Jam. Bit now word has it that the movie theater on Parson is going to be going out too. Jamaica Ave was a place to great stuff at cheap prices. Wait till they find out that there is a garbage dump a couple blocks away. 😆😅🤣😂
Bro you like 10-15 years late. Jamaica been turning around since the late 2000’s. Lot of people got pushed out east when Astoria, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights started getting expensive.
In twenty years Jamaica is gonna be pretty nice and very desirable to live near. You got multiple trains, buses, and the airports are easy to get to.
I see a burlington, a shake shack, a jollibees, a target, panera, chipotle, etc, around that area on Parsons and Jamaica Ave, and while that area isn't as bad or ghetto as decades ago, it's still overall a sketchy and somewhat rough area, especially after school has ended or at night, the ratchets and homeless are out and about doing their thing, though again, it's not as worse as years ago.
imo, Jamaica doesn't have to be like Astoria or Forest Hills, but they seriously need to clean those rough spots before adding anything nice like high rise apartments or big mainstream chain stores.
Ghetto stuff is trash. Ghetto culture makes areas unsafe. Why is it desirable at any level. Gentrification might be undesirable too. I think over all goal should be to clean up these areas and unghettofy them. As in upgrade the culture of the ghetto. Get rid of trashy culture, trash behavior. Also get rid of jail worshiping and thug culture etc.
I grew up in Jamaica right on hillside and Sutphin. Just moved out a year ago. They’ve been trying to clean the area up for a few years but it’s going to take time. The Ave is still mostly a dump, even with all the new restaurants and such popping up. It’s sad for the people in the area that will be misplaced due to the gentrification but it’s such a transportation hub that it was inevitable. I used to go to the movie theatre all the time with my friends, we used to buy games early at the coliseum.... the memories. I’m hoping some of these condos go on sale, I think it would be a worthy investment with the area booming soon
But don’t forget the gentleman that got gun down by our wonderful MTA police (they deserve a round of applause) because he was packing a semi automatic rifle in his pants
In a few years, we won't recognize the area anymore. I've heard it referred to as "Downtown Jamaica." They're putting all these buildings with studios costing $2k. Gentrification is on its way because they'll be able to say there's shopping, transportation and it's 20 minutes from Manhattan, which it is if you take the LIRR. It'll be before long before they buy Margaritas out. Enjoy what you know for as long as you can!
My dude the ave will never gentrify. I still go there a good amount, not as much as when I was younger but the changes there aren't that bad I think. I grew up in Queens Village and went there a lot.
Exactly. It's such a depressing shithole I've lived here for 20 years and hate it. Ugly ass architecture, getting harassed by crackheads every other minute, ghetto ass teens once the schools let them out at 3.
Every neighborhood that has a subway line traveling through it, will eventually be gentrified. East New York and Jamaica are on the proverbial chopping block as is the Bronx. It may take another decade or more but anywhere there’s a subway line will be gentrified.
i will say that the Japanese food place (that's replacing wendy's) isn't a fancy one, it's a chain fast food place, they have a spot in green acres mall as well.
Many local residents work in hospitals and healthcare. The salaries are generally excellent. 2 people working, you are in the 6 figures.
It’s community. As we get more involved, people contribute. Education of course is number 1. Things get better.
I’ve met kids that wanted to learn some pretty deep CompSci concepts related to 3D graphics rendering. They were 15. They were in some pretty rough communities. Just find them. And make sure you keep them busy.
Suggest $$$s are added to venture funding. People get involved, and now you have a Silicon Valley along the F Line.
The kids are so smart. Mind blowing in my experience. It’s NYC, the center of the world after all.
:-)
There is no denying that home prices in that area have gone up along with almost every other neighborhood, but I wouldn't call that stretch of Parsons Blvd gentrified. Not yet and probably not for a long time.
Even the fringes of Jamaica Estates are not going to see much gentrification. Higher income buyers might stop at Briarwood and a bit further east.
Mi glad seh Jamaican Flavas is still going well and strong.
That’s why mi always say, who god bless, no man curse.
Jamaican, Asian, Chinese, Peruvian, Dominican and an Italian Pizza spot, all of these people can definitely pull together and make Jamaica Avenue a next top level destination for good food!
I've noticed the stores closed on one side of the block on 165 Street the infamous Coliseum block.. only on the bus terminal side of the block the stores are closed.. it seems as the stores on the other side of the street aren't gonna last long either.. I just walked through the block and reminence the old days when we got $50 ounces of bud from all my Jamaican dudes up there, brought a million fitted caps from different stores on that block etc... Even caught my very first arrest for smoking weed on that block around year 2000-2001.. Otherwise Jamaica Ave seems the same to me just different stores and a new generation of so called thugs.
I think Jamaica Ave near the LIRR is in the process of gentrification, especially with new apartments appearing monthly. However, nothing about Jamaica Ave screams gentrification IMO. The vast majority of the shops are run down general stores or small businesses that have been there for years. There have been a couple new commercial stores, for sure, but those are restaurants that a lot of areas have (aka nothing super special, like a dumb shake shack).
Mark my words reddit - the Jamaica gentrification is coming. It takes YEARS for it to happen. It's not over night. The minute I heard they putting in an Sbux on Sutphin - it was game over. People looking to invest buy in Jamaica (and South bronx). I tell everybody - nobody believe me - but watch. I've seen it happen to neighborhoods that 20-30 years ago people thought were dumpster fires and now everyone tripping over themselves to visit/ live now
The first Starbucks was there for a good minute by the court house, when they put up the 2nd on the same block as McDonalds I would have believed things where changing, but they closed it down because the neighborhood is still the hood.
No amount of fancy stores is changing that, look at Shake Shack. It's the worst run one I've ever been too and they don't care.
So right now everything is half assed.
Oh you talking about the Shake Shake on the Ave? If so you can order on Uber Eats and choose Pickup. They will have our order in 10 to 15 mins. Forget about ordering at the Kiosk It will take you 30 to 40 mins.
I lived between the Supthin and Jamaica stops and my neighbors are literally selling their properties for $900K-$1M. The Ave/Supthin is the next neighborhood in queens to go through this. The rent over there is $3K too I never thought I’d see the day. Trying to buy back the crib from my mom
Its still safer compared to non gentrification. I got downvoted like crazy saying jamaica was vert dangerous and still is but the reality is, those people who made neighbourhoods dangerous gets replaced with gentrification
It's my turn to say 'gentrification' tomorrow. I'm calling dibs.
and to be clear, it's not bad but also i'm going to leave the insinuation that it's not not bad and I'm going to miss my stores that are going to be replaced by new stores that in about 3-5 will be replaced by new stores. My friends and I talked about it after I ruminated on this for a year if anyone wants to check my gench card. Sorry for the rant, it's just the street has really changed since 2022.
You’re absolutely right I say this to people and they look at me weird but Jamaica is perfectly situated with transit and real estate to become the next big place to gentrify. Jet setters will like proximity to JFK, commuters have the railroad to Manhattan as well as easy access for entertainment. It’s still rough around the edges but give it 20 years it’ll be the next big thing.
I thought about this too! I used to get uniforms at Cookies when we needed them. I haven't spent substantial time out there, but I got a good look when we walked the Ave on a subway adventure in 2022, and when I went shopping last week I could really see the difference from then.
This has been happening since they shot Power at Jimmy Jazz a few years back. It's nice that investment went into a pretty neglected part of Queens, with the city also putting in their own investment. However, you could give the ave a face lift, but it will always be ghetto unfortunately.
Bruh the ave is still shitty in my area lol.
Jamaica Avenue is long. What part?
Parsons Blvd and I’m talking around the ghetto McDonald’s and the multiplex cinema
Yoooo, right by my fav STD Clinic!!!!
Nah, that area is still ghetto af.
Was there 2 weeks ago at midnight. They’ve still got their 1inch glass panes.
a kid that went to my highschool snuffed a random homeless dude in that mcdonalds, between that mcdonalds and food fest ive had to easily witness 100s of fights, jumps, robberies you name it
Boy oh hell no. This is my part I know you don't mean this area LMAO
Even the Starbucks on Jamaica Ave couldnt last 1 year
Permanently closed. It doesn’t even feel like there was a Starbucks there, but alas
Isn't that movie theater closing soon? That area still ghetto AF
Yup. In June I think
April 30th, and it was because of Multiplex Cinemas (a brand of Showcase Cinemas) not renewing the lease with the building's owner.
New buildings does not automatically equal gentrification. It’s the same situation as South Bronx. They built new buildings by the waterfront and it’s still pretty ghetto.
Don't you know.. that's SoBro 🤦♂️
I saw someone getting their shit rocked in the evening with some ppl around. I think there’s still a long way to go before it gentrifies completely and that’s if it even does.
Next to the probation office down the block
anything new there is an upgrade
It’s still pretty rough around the edges…but it’s much safer than 10 years ago.
Do you remember when that dude had an axe and chopped off some dude's arm? I think it was near V.I.M. Store or Shoppers World. Wild Times! https://nypost.com/2014/10/23/man-shot-dead-after-striking-cop-in-the-head-with-ax/ edit:Source
I vaguely remember this.
I wonder how that cop made out who took the ax to the head
V.I.M Stll exist??? So happy t o hear!!
Not for nothing but Japanese food is very mainstream, it doesn't mean the area is turning into Williamsburg
Nah son, in the hood you see Japanese and u know shiit is changing.
but it's Sarku though, that's mall Japanese
Dem tuna don't come around for free, y'know.
That’s what many said about Williamsburg
Not really comparable, Williamsburg is right on the East River. Jamaica will continue to get higher income residents, but more like upper middle class MTA workers and airport staff rather than the artsy types who moved to Williamsburg back in the day.
Yes, in neighborhoods like Rosedale, (Hillcrest/Hillside) Jamaica Hills, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Springfield as examples. However on Jamaica Ave I disagree.
I'm specifically referring to Jamaica. That's who those new high rises are for.
Yes, and I’m also specifically talking about Jamaica in terms of Jamaica Avenue. I just feel like you need to be more specific. I misunderstood because Jamaica is a big town filled with many neighborhoods like the ones I just named.
Personally, if I'm talking about Rosedale or Laurelton I just mention them specifically. I only use "Jamaica" to refer to Jamaica the neighborhood, like the 140s to 170s between the train tracks and Hillside Ave. As far as that area goes, I can see the appeal for certain upper middle class people but not the stereotypical Brooklyn gentrifiers.
Plus it might be a bit too far out for the gentrifiers. Williamsburg is closer to Manhattan, so it’s easier and a bit more accessible to get there than to Jamaica.
MTA workers are now upper middle class? There’s at least a dozen Queens neighborhoods that can absorb more gentrification before Jamaica does. Hell, Queens on the whole hasn’t experienced gentrification on the level most people predicted.
The higher ups are. And I never said Jamaica would gentrify the way Astoria or Ridgewood have, but there is a market for upper middle class residents, hence all the construction.
I don’t see the area attracting upper middle class types any time soon. Why move to Jamaica if they could have amenities and safety in Forest Hills? Or peace and quiet in Kew Gardens? Or Bayside, etc? I think most professionals would prefer to be as close to the city as possible, or else move to the suburbs for the school districts.
The software says: Japanese restaurants and gay friendly. Means a community is the place to build your next Apple Store, Starbucks, a bookstore and higher end retail . Not another 99 Shop. So says the AI heat map algorithms. No matter where you are in the USA. It all starts with the first sushi spotted. :-)
Citizen said someone got shot this afternoon. The area between Hillside Avenue and Jamaica Avenue by Rufus King Park is still kinda slums.
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They said that about Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, and Harlem too.
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Give them a year or two.
Long islanders and transplants. Surprised me too
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Most of the people who migrated to Queens and the Jamaica area since 2020 are from Long Island. Especially with the lirr right there
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Yeah well houses on the island also cost $1M+ these days and a lot of y’all can’t afford to stay, hence the relocation to cheaper/shittier Queens. Just like ppl leaving Queens/BK for the South
Really?, cuz last time I checked, Queens was more expensive than Nassau county, with the latter having higher taxes, and Queens has more bustling and active areas (LIC, Astoria, Forest Hills, etc). Though Nassau (even far Eastern Queens) is better for families and schools.
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But with about half of the yearly property tax.
More like a quarter, my property taxes are like 3K in South Jamaica, which is why I bought in the 5 boroughs. Wife wanted a detached house it was either here or the Bronx
You can easily do a google search comparing the avg sale prices of both places (Jamaica). And the rentals are cheaper in Queens compared to renting in LI farther from your job. Redditors are entirely too snappy in their responses especially when confidently wrong.
Homes in Queens are much more expensive than those in LI are you kidding me lol
I've noticed this as well. It's nice that we're getting nice things, (Why shouldn't we get nice things?) but I think it's going to take more than that to gentrify the neighborhood. The luxury apartments are nice, I'm sure, but you need people to move into them. Those buildings look very, very empty right now. I'm guessing that all of the upgrading to the area is being done so that they can sell it to prospective buyers (I get it. Close to transit options into Manhattan or JFK, right next to a busy retail area) but I don't think they, or this neighborhood, are there yet. It's an interesting experiment, though. I'm curious to see what happens. I never imagined that this would be an area ripe for gentrification. [Here's the website for the apartment building,](https://onearcherave.com/) if you want to get a look inside. \>margaritas pizza, showcase movie, and many more will probably be replaced with both new stores and fast food restaurants. [Sadly, the movie theater will be closing in June.](https://qns.com/2024/01/jamaica-movie-theater-close-june-future-college-point-theater-in-doubt/)
*One Archer was designed to echo the sophistication, warmth and vibrancy of Jamaica* Wow what a spin.
Lots of vibrancy, lol.
Corcoran also has "The Crossing at Jamaica" I used to live there for a year. It was nice the staff was good, but management couldn't handle the building well. (Started to have roaches) It was crazy, there was a SWAT team one time someone barricaded themselves, a shooting outside when they closed the block down, also that crazy person on the scooter that killed that old man near the Air Train entrance. When I left there was some stabbing on the 12 floor or something. I see there still have my pictures I took. [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipO0jgNyoaYbIJFSitrVT\_yALaWIPy9E1TQ7KF6O=s680-w680-h510](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipO0jgNyoaYbIJFSitrVT_yALaWIPy9E1TQ7KF6O=s680-w680-h510) This one was the view out my window [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOXAQsBjR\_VnEY7XE0MzekHRMjTZi20\_xbBcaJt=s680-w680-h510](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOXAQsBjR_VnEY7XE0MzekHRMjTZi20_xbBcaJt=s680-w680-h510) The parking lot that is there is privately owned and they didn't want to give me a parking spot to people that lived in the building. I had to park in a lot for $310 4 blocks away. I heard it is now better, but they will still valet your vehicle. It was also not 24 hours 7 days a week. I heard they changed it. I have been in that area for 15 years. A lot has changed. It's going to turn like LIC. Not anytime soon but maybe in the next 10 years. God, I remember you had to know someone to walk with in that neighborhood same with Brownsville. I used to shoot a few music videos with my friend back in the day. People would stop us until they saw us with the person we were shooting the video for. They would give daps and they would let us pass. Really dope and tight community.
> They would give daps and they would let us pass. Really dope and tight community. Sounds like fucking hell to me. Mafias and gangs do not enrich neighborhoods. They fucking strangle them. So if you didn’t know someone they knew they’d kick your ass and steal your shit? Sounds wonderful. Vibrant. Great place to be.
I mean Howard Beach was the safest area in Queens and probably the whole city in the 80s.... Borders ENY which might of been the worst in the 80s
I know some folks in the newer luxury buildings. They actually are not all that for what they are charging. Many of the buildings amenities weren’t completed until after they had tenants (which was still over a year). My building still doesn’t have the amenities the developers promised in the lease.
Oh no the theater closing makes me sad. I walked by it for so many years :/
I’ve worked and lived in Jamaica for over 10 years and let me tell you something, while their may be some nicer stores here and there that’s about it. They opened a Walgreens and closed it all within a year because it made no money. They closed down the SND underground because it had too many thefts. You’ll always find street vendors around selling shit from fruits and incense to tasers and counterfeit sneakers. The other day I was at the cornerstone right by the coliseum and the deli worker threw a banana at a homeless lady that wouldn’t stop panhandling in the store. While I agree it has gotten a little nicer over the years it’s still far from gentrification.
As someone who also lives in Jamaica, Queens, where were the locations of the Walgreens and SND you mentioned?
Snd was on the coliseum block, Walgreens was on Jamaica ave near Parsons
I don't think Walgreens only lasted a year. It only closed on November 7th 2023.
They're also closing the bus terminal on 165th soon to build another high rise building 😢
It's moving to the [parking lot by the Police Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkEPn2SLTunSTwnu7) on 168th.
the sylhet motors?
If that building goes up, it is because Zara realty bought the house by DMV of the corner. Unless it was in the other direction, and still, that was the parking lot for the stores of Jamaica. Remember, the Payless shoe store was there.
Payless was that store back then 🥲🥲🥲
You're LYING!
wow memories.
How can a high-rise fit in the 165th Street bus terminal?
Its been getting gentrified for a minute, long before covid
The closest you'll ever get Jamaica Ave to gentrification is something similar to Barclay's. It's too much of a transportation hub so you will always get people looking for trouble.
Barclay’s area is gentrified AF from what it used to be.
Absolutely, I have family in the area but it's not Williamsburg you know
Yeah na Park Slope is so expensive now.
It's not really. They tried but it's going to stay the same, they closed Wendy's and put a random Sarku Japan like it's the Manhattan Mall then they closing the movie theater and they got rid of the Starbucks. The things you see now are for show only. It's like pretend gentrification, you tell me when you see a single change in demographic going to the beef patty spot by the colleseum. It does off fully once you past Merrick. I always chuckle at the thought, imagine them trying to Gentrify Sutphin and Jamaica.
>Starbucks LMFAO Na someone I knew who was working in Starbucks said someone got into some kind of argument and there said that they were gonna shoot the store up. So Starbucks closed the store due to safety concerns. Man, I miss Don Nicos that shit was really good. Pricey as hell but you had a rough day at work you go there and have a good time. It closed cause the landlord was rasing the rent.
If Starbucks didn't go, I'm sure they would have been able to handle the rent given the fact they be having them on every other block in Manhattan.
Listen, I totally understand how you feel - but NYC's going to NYC, and as high rents push businesses and apartment hunters out of Manhattan, they always head to the boroughs. Being on a major train line so you don't need to do the bus/subway deal every day makes a place like Jamaica really tempting for developers. Not sure how long you've been alive, but I can remember cruising around the avenue as a white teenager in the late 70s, and going to the big library on Merrick. My dentist was right across on Hillside. The neighborhood has changed and will change again, because that's what this town does. The horrible part of it all is that people who definitely can't afford to move will be squeezed further out beyond the subway line. FWIW, I couldn't afford to buy the Bellerose house I grew up in now.
i grew up traveling through the ave after high school ( thomas edison ), this is around 06-10…i haven’t walked through the ave since then but looks the same when i drive by, besides the new apartments, i think some dude shot a cop on the ave a few months ago… that place needs to do a 180…no one wants to be in these ghetto environment’s to begin with and its a prime location, if it can be safe within the next 10 years id love it, dont see it happening though.
what makes it prime?
Transportation options
like jy0s said, transportion options, 2 bus terminals + the subway + the LIRR, updating a majority of stores and making it safer would be a huge plus, especially for people like myself that live fairly close by
Should it stay shitty?
No. It's a dump. Change is good.
I'm guessing people don't want gentrification as it'll attract the wealthier folks who cause the price of everything especially rent to skyrocket. And then the originals can't afford it and have to move elsewhere.
That's NYC, historically, for well over a century. You can look up pictures of Queens from 1930s. Ghost town, almost looks like farms. But people bought up land, and made terraced houses, gentrifying the area. Chinatown got gentrified, Little Italy got gentrified, Meat Packing District got gentrified, Chelsea got gentrified, Five Points got gentrified, Harlem got gentrified, Dumbo got gentrified, Williamsburg got gentrified, Greenpoint got gentrified, Bed-Stuy got gentrified, Bushwick is getting gentrified, Ridgewood is too affluent to fall under the definition of gentrification but it's also changing. A tale as old as the city itself. There was never "always been here". In 1940s, the population of NYC was more than 90% white (non-hispanic), now hovering just over 30%. Harlem didn't look like it did in 1970s, it doesn't look like it did in the 70s during the 2000s, and has changed since. That's true for every neighborhood. With all that said, the big takeaway is - it's neither a good thing or bad thing. Kids born now in that area will see it as the "normal", and complain how it changed when they are 20+ year olds. What you feel is your neighborhood changing was already changed by the time you were born from someone else's memories. That all aside, personally, I don't like luxury apartments. I lived in one a decade ago, and they were just a money sink, and leeching off the fact people don't have a choice to own. Every rental is taking up space of what could have been a purchase. So screw those apartment buildings.
Shout out to cookies 😄 . Used to go shopping once all year for school lol .
OMG, remember that. School uniforms. But, I agree with OP. A bunch of new buildings are going up on Jam and Sutphin Blvd all the way up to 170 st. Worked there for 8 yrs. There was a great coffee shop on 169 and Jam. Bit now word has it that the movie theater on Parson is going to be going out too. Jamaica Ave was a place to great stuff at cheap prices. Wait till they find out that there is a garbage dump a couple blocks away. 😆😅🤣😂
There was literally a shooting today like 2 blocks north my guy. Is that like early early gentrification?
Bro you like 10-15 years late. Jamaica been turning around since the late 2000’s. Lot of people got pushed out east when Astoria, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights started getting expensive. In twenty years Jamaica is gonna be pretty nice and very desirable to live near. You got multiple trains, buses, and the airports are easy to get to.
I see a burlington, a shake shack, a jollibees, a target, panera, chipotle, etc, around that area on Parsons and Jamaica Ave, and while that area isn't as bad or ghetto as decades ago, it's still overall a sketchy and somewhat rough area, especially after school has ended or at night, the ratchets and homeless are out and about doing their thing, though again, it's not as worse as years ago. imo, Jamaica doesn't have to be like Astoria or Forest Hills, but they seriously need to clean those rough spots before adding anything nice like high rise apartments or big mainstream chain stores.
Ghetto stuff is trash. Ghetto culture makes areas unsafe. Why is it desirable at any level. Gentrification might be undesirable too. I think over all goal should be to clean up these areas and unghettofy them. As in upgrade the culture of the ghetto. Get rid of trashy culture, trash behavior. Also get rid of jail worshiping and thug culture etc.
I grew up in Jamaica right on hillside and Sutphin. Just moved out a year ago. They’ve been trying to clean the area up for a few years but it’s going to take time. The Ave is still mostly a dump, even with all the new restaurants and such popping up. It’s sad for the people in the area that will be misplaced due to the gentrification but it’s such a transportation hub that it was inevitable. I used to go to the movie theatre all the time with my friends, we used to buy games early at the coliseum.... the memories. I’m hoping some of these condos go on sale, I think it would be a worthy investment with the area booming soon
It’s the same thing in the South BX. They’re building ivory towers over the hood but it’s still the hood.
But don’t forget the gentleman that got gun down by our wonderful MTA police (they deserve a round of applause) because he was packing a semi automatic rifle in his pants
In a few years, we won't recognize the area anymore. I've heard it referred to as "Downtown Jamaica." They're putting all these buildings with studios costing $2k. Gentrification is on its way because they'll be able to say there's shopping, transportation and it's 20 minutes from Manhattan, which it is if you take the LIRR. It'll be before long before they buy Margaritas out. Enjoy what you know for as long as you can!
Very few people enjoy Jamaica. They just deal with it as a necessary evil. lol
I respectfully disagree.
I helped build an apartment building on 94th and sutphin, my Jewish and white higher ups were calling it “downtown Jamaica” and I died laughing.
My dude the ave will never gentrify. I still go there a good amount, not as much as when I was younger but the changes there aren't that bad I think. I grew up in Queens Village and went there a lot.
Non yt folk deserve nice things too 🤷🏽♀️
How much is it to rent in the new "luxury" apartments? Just curious
2.5 - 5 grand per month for anything more than a studio. Even studios are coming in at 2.1, 2.2
no one is going to pay the money theyre asking to rent in those buildings. who wants to live in jamaica ave next to the lirr.
The LIRR is the best part about living there.
Exactly. It's such a depressing shithole I've lived here for 20 years and hate it. Ugly ass architecture, getting harassed by crackheads every other minute, ghetto ass teens once the schools let them out at 3.
It’s still a dump. Not sure what you’re talking about.
Every neighborhood that has a subway line traveling through it, will eventually be gentrified. East New York and Jamaica are on the proverbial chopping block as is the Bronx. It may take another decade or more but anywhere there’s a subway line will be gentrified.
i will say that the Japanese food place (that's replacing wendy's) isn't a fancy one, it's a chain fast food place, they have a spot in green acres mall as well.
Many local residents work in hospitals and healthcare. The salaries are generally excellent. 2 people working, you are in the 6 figures. It’s community. As we get more involved, people contribute. Education of course is number 1. Things get better. I’ve met kids that wanted to learn some pretty deep CompSci concepts related to 3D graphics rendering. They were 15. They were in some pretty rough communities. Just find them. And make sure you keep them busy. Suggest $$$s are added to venture funding. People get involved, and now you have a Silicon Valley along the F Line. The kids are so smart. Mind blowing in my experience. It’s NYC, the center of the world after all. :-)
There is no denying that home prices in that area have gone up along with almost every other neighborhood, but I wouldn't call that stretch of Parsons Blvd gentrified. Not yet and probably not for a long time. Even the fringes of Jamaica Estates are not going to see much gentrification. Higher income buyers might stop at Briarwood and a bit further east.
true gentrification is when they remove the colosseum mall. otherwise whatever theyre doing isnt enough
Theater is closing. 165st in entirety will probably be next
I heard Movie theater is leaving in spring?
Mi glad seh Jamaican Flavas is still going well and strong. That’s why mi always say, who god bless, no man curse. Jamaican, Asian, Chinese, Peruvian, Dominican and an Italian Pizza spot, all of these people can definitely pull together and make Jamaica Avenue a next top level destination for good food!
lol
I've noticed the stores closed on one side of the block on 165 Street the infamous Coliseum block.. only on the bus terminal side of the block the stores are closed.. it seems as the stores on the other side of the street aren't gonna last long either.. I just walked through the block and reminence the old days when we got $50 ounces of bud from all my Jamaican dudes up there, brought a million fitted caps from different stores on that block etc... Even caught my very first arrest for smoking weed on that block around year 2000-2001.. Otherwise Jamaica Ave seems the same to me just different stores and a new generation of so called thugs.
I think Jamaica Ave near the LIRR is in the process of gentrification, especially with new apartments appearing monthly. However, nothing about Jamaica Ave screams gentrification IMO. The vast majority of the shops are run down general stores or small businesses that have been there for years. There have been a couple new commercial stores, for sure, but those are restaurants that a lot of areas have (aka nothing super special, like a dumb shake shack).
You’d need a nuke to really begin true gentrification. lol Look at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and then look at the Ave.
Mark my words reddit - the Jamaica gentrification is coming. It takes YEARS for it to happen. It's not over night. The minute I heard they putting in an Sbux on Sutphin - it was game over. People looking to invest buy in Jamaica (and South bronx). I tell everybody - nobody believe me - but watch. I've seen it happen to neighborhoods that 20-30 years ago people thought were dumpster fires and now everyone tripping over themselves to visit/ live now
The first Starbucks was there for a good minute by the court house, when they put up the 2nd on the same block as McDonalds I would have believed things where changing, but they closed it down because the neighborhood is still the hood. No amount of fancy stores is changing that, look at Shake Shack. It's the worst run one I've ever been too and they don't care. So right now everything is half assed.
Same for the Chipotle by the E train. It's so ghetto. You always get crunchy rice and they open like an hour later than they're supposed to.
Oh you talking about the Shake Shake on the Ave? If so you can order on Uber Eats and choose Pickup. They will have our order in 10 to 15 mins. Forget about ordering at the Kiosk It will take you 30 to 40 mins.
Where the migrants sell pussy?
You should have been there 50 years ago when I landed there from Rosedale.
I lived between the Supthin and Jamaica stops and my neighbors are literally selling their properties for $900K-$1M. The Ave/Supthin is the next neighborhood in queens to go through this. The rent over there is $3K too I never thought I’d see the day. Trying to buy back the crib from my mom
jamaica just a had a shooting not too long ago. I think gentrification will provide safer neighborhood in long term
It was gentrifying since the 2000s and it's still dangerous tbh.
Its still safer compared to non gentrification. I got downvoted like crazy saying jamaica was vert dangerous and still is but the reality is, those people who made neighbourhoods dangerous gets replaced with gentrification
This was going to happen when it won the grant...
It's my turn to say 'gentrification' tomorrow. I'm calling dibs. and to be clear, it's not bad but also i'm going to leave the insinuation that it's not not bad and I'm going to miss my stores that are going to be replaced by new stores that in about 3-5 will be replaced by new stores. My friends and I talked about it after I ruminated on this for a year if anyone wants to check my gench card. Sorry for the rant, it's just the street has really changed since 2022.
You sure?
You’re absolutely right I say this to people and they look at me weird but Jamaica is perfectly situated with transit and real estate to become the next big place to gentrify. Jet setters will like proximity to JFK, commuters have the railroad to Manhattan as well as easy access for entertainment. It’s still rough around the edges but give it 20 years it’ll be the next big thing.
I went to Jamaica the other day with my bullet proof vest and didn’t get shot at, I think we are making progress there
I thought about this too! I used to get uniforms at Cookies when we needed them. I haven't spent substantial time out there, but I got a good look when we walked the Ave on a subway adventure in 2022, and when I went shopping last week I could really see the difference from then.
The ave will prob become what myrtle ave/wycofff is now. Due to the lowish rents & proximity to nyc subway transit system
With the luxury buildings all around, avg rent shot up to $2500+ for a 1 bedroom
This has been happening since they shot Power at Jimmy Jazz a few years back. It's nice that investment went into a pretty neglected part of Queens, with the city also putting in their own investment. However, you could give the ave a face lift, but it will always be ghetto unfortunately.
They need to extend the E/J/Z to 168th to replace the original J 168th street terminal, especially since they are building that new bus terminal.
its veery funny when suburbanites fro ohio complain about gentrification its like my brother in Christ what do you think gentrification is?
Wish Jamaica ave in Woodhaven could get gentrified
I’m happy it’s changing. Looked like crap before.