Jackson Heights/History

History
In earlier times Jackson Heights, and the Woodside neighborhood, were part of the Leverich lands. Today the sole remaining reminders of this 400 year old property ownership are a Leverich Street and the family cemetery located mid block to the east of the street. The only access is through an alley on 35th Avenue.

Until the early part of the 20th century, the area now called Jackson Heights was predominantly farmland. Until the early 20th century it was part of the now extinct Newtown, which encompassed present day East Elmhurst, Jackson Height, Elmhurst, and Woodside. The Newtown name is preserved in Newtown High School and Newtown Creek.

With the planning for and construction of the Queensboro Bridge - completed in 1909 - followed by the #7 elevated train line between Manhattan and Flushing in 1917, Northern Queens became readily accessible to Manhattan, and represented major suburban development opportunities.

Most of the original neighborhood is a National Register Historic District and a New York State Historic Register District. About half has been designated as a New York City Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. It comprises 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 A. MacDougall's Queensboro Corporation beginning about 1916, and following the arrival of the No. 7 elevated line between Manhattan and Flushing. The community was initially planned as a place for middle- to upper-middle income workers from Manhattan to raise their families. . The Jackson Heights New York State and National Register Districts range from 93rd Street through 69th Street between Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue. Some property fronting on Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue, as well as some "cut-outs", are not inside the Register Districts. A former golf course located between 76th and 78th Streets and 34th and 37th Avenues was built upon during the 1940s. The New York City Historic District of Jackson Heights was designated October 19, 1993. It encompasses an area between 76th and 88th Streets and Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard (PDF map of the District). Unlike the State and National Districts, the local designation comes with aesthetic protections.

Jackson Heights is believed to be the first garden city community built in the United States, as part of the international garden city movement at the turn of the last century. There are many private parks (historically called "gardens" by the residents) within walking distance of each other. They are tucked in the mid-blocks, mostly hidden from view by the buildings surrounding them. Several approach the size of Gramercy Park in Manhattan, and one is slightly larger. Unless given an invitation, entry is restricted to those who own a co-op around its perimeter. The basis for the private ownership of the parks of Jackson Heights is derived from its founding principle as a privately owned neighborhood built largely under the oversight of one person. The historic section of Jackson Heights is the more affluent part of the neighborhood.

Primarily during the 1930s, Holmes Airport operated on 220 acres adjacent to the community. The area later became the Bulova watch factory site.

The original Jackson Heights was a planned development laid out by Edward A. MacDougall's Queensboro Corporation, with the first buildings completed in 1911. The community was initially planned as a place for middle-to upper-middle income workers from Manhattan to raise their families. .

Most of that original neighborhood has been designated a National Register Historic District and a New York State Historic Register District, with about half designated as a New York City Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on October 19, 1993. The city historic areas encompass an area between 76th and 88th Streets and Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard. Unlike the State and National Districts, the local designation comes with aesthetic protections.

The historic districts are noted for their large garden apartment buildings, with the term "garden apartment" first used to describe buildings in Jackson Heights. But the original plan also called for many groupings of private homes. The New York State and National Register Districts range from 93rd Street through 69th Street between Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue. Some property fronting on Northern Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue, as well as some "cut-outs", are not inside the Register Districts.

A former golf course located between 76th and 78th Streets and 34th and 37th Avenues was built upon during the 1940s.

Beginning in the late 1920s the area north of Northern Boulevard was developed. Much of this development was on 220 acres occupied by the former Holmes Airport. Much of the area later became the Bulova watch factory site.

Historic Places
On the National Register of Historic Places:
 * Jackson Heights Historic District
 * The Lent Homestead and Cemetery are just north of the neighborhood.
 * US Post Office-Jackson Heights Station

Historical Society
The Jackson Heights Garden City Society is a historical society, whose founders include local historians, the Queens Borough Historian and local activists. They created and oversee the Jackson Heights Garden City Trail and publish a walking guidebook to Jackson Heights. They also collect artifacts of the community. Periodically the Society testifies before the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission on issues of concern to the community.

Personal Memories
Memories of the neighborhood are presented here.


 * When I moved to Jackson Heights in the early 1980's it was sometimes referred to as the "Cocaine Capitol of the World." The genesis of this moniker was reputedly several books of fiction that used the description and was picked up by the mass media as truth. I recall a New York Times story about a jogger who was dragged into a van by some drug dealers who mistook him as a competitor. He was released "unharmed" a day or so later. But to me Jackson Heights was never the neighborhood one might deduce from that name and occurrence. It was much like today, albeit with a less diverse populace. Tom Lowenhaupt, 75th Street, July 22, 2010.