Jamaica To Become the Next Hottest NYC Neighborhood, Report Says
QUEENS — As rents keep rising in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Jamaica is the top neighborhood to keep an eye on next year, according to real estate experts at StreetEasy.
In recent years, Jamaica, which previously lagged behind much of the city in terms of development, has undergone a fast-paced transformation with a number of new apartment buildings and hotels coming to the area.
The area, which also made it on StreetEasy's list of hottest neighborhoods in the city last year, is only minutes from JFK and provides express trains to Manhattan.
“The rise of Jamaica is due to a number of favorable factors, including a healthy growth in population since 2011, strong growth in interest among buyers and renters, comparatively low prices and convenient access to the New York City subway and Long Island Railroad systems,” according to Alan Lightfeldt, a senior data analyst at StreetEasy.
Neighborhoods that have been named “hot” experienced the largest increase in asking rents, sale prices and population, according to StreetEasy.
The median asking rent in Jamaica this year was $1,750, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to last year, according to StreetEasy.
The median sale price in the neighborhood rose by 39.3 percent, to $299,500 this year.
Jamaica's population has also grew by 8.5 percent in the past 3 years, StreetEasy said.
“StreetEasy has found what so many of us have known, that Jamaica offers a unique combination of transportation assets, cultural attractions and other aspects that make it attractive to developers, as well as potential residents and businesses," said Hope Knight, president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, a local nonprofit group that works to bring new investments to the neighborhood.
But Knight also underlined the need to keep Jamaica affordable.
"Our task is to make sure that development happens in a balanced way, that supports the need for affordable housing for current and new residents alike,” she said.
Four other Queens neighborhoods — Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens Hills, Woodside and Elmhurst — also made it to the list of the ten neighborhoods predicted to be the most in demand among homeseekers and renters next year.
“Demand and value continue to rise in Queens,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz in a statement. “The strong growth is a testament to the borough's appeal, especially for families.”
Other neighborhoods included Coney Island and Midwood in Brooklyn as well as Pelham Parkway and Bedford Park in the Bronx.
Earlier this year, Katz and Mayor de Blasio’s administration launched the “Jamaica Now Action Plan,” a strategy seeking to revitalize Jamaica by developing vacant spaces and replacing them with new housing and retail stores.
Overall, renters in Queens will have to pay a median rent of $2,527 in 2016, compared to $2,700 in Brooklyn and $3,192 in Manhattan, according to StreetEasy.
Illegally Parked Tractor-Trailers Towed as Part of NYPD Crackdown
QUEENS — Forest Hills police towed away several illegally parked tractor-trailers after their drivers recently turned the Grand Central Parkway service road into their rest area.
For several months, local residents have voiced concerns about tractor-trailers parked on the service road as well as in a nearby parking lot behind Forest Hills High School between 66th and 67th roads.
“Some of them leave the trucks there, some of them are sleeping there, they are also lined up on the service road,” said one concerned resident who did not want to give her name. “We don’t know what’s going on there at night.”
Other residents also complained that the parked vehicles block their view making it dangerous to drive in the area.
In order to address the concerns, police towed away the vehicles Thursday night, the 112th Precinct tweeted.
Due to complaints regarding tractors parked along the GCP Service Road, we're conducting a heavy duty tow operation pic.twitter.com/Ba8bbWSmYQ
— NYPD 112th Precinct (@NYPD112Pct) December 18, 2015
It was not immediately clear how many tractor-trailers were towed away and whether the drivers were issued fines.
3 Holiday Gift Ideas from Forest Hills and Kew Gardens
Need some Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other holiday gift ideas? Local businesses in Forest Hills and Kew Gardens have plenty to offer that'll help you whittle down your shopping list this season.
WHITE TRUFFLE INFUSED OLIVE OIL FROM MR. VINO'S CUCINA
DNAinfo.com/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska
This olive oil infused with white truffles imported from Italy is one of the best-selling items at Mr. Vino’s Cucina, a gourmet food store on Austin Street. It's perfect to drizzle over a dish at the end of preparation. The oil can be used for salads, meat or fish and even popcorn.
HAND-PAINTED LACQUER BOXES FROM SOLEIL
DNAinfo.com/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska
These unique and hand-painted lacquer boxes are perfect to store your jewelry and other accessories. Each box at Forest Hills boutique Soleil features a miniature painting inspired mostly by classic art masterpieces.
GIFT CERTIFICATE TO POTTERY CLASSES FROM POTTER'S WHEEL
DNAinfo.com/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska
The Potter’s Wheel, a longtime pottery studio in the heart of Kew Gardens, lets you explore your creativity during pottery classes. Fall in love with this old craft during a special introductory class that costs $50. A set of three classes is $150 and seven classes cost $210 for kids and $335 for adults. You can also use your gift certificate to buy items made by artists affiliated with the studio, such as mugs, vases, jewelry and plates.
Meet Run-D.M.C.'s Darryl McDaniels at Queens Library
QUEENS — "It’s Christmas time in Hollis, Queens."
Hip-hop legend Darryl McDaniels — the "D.M.C." of Run-D.M.C. — will be back on his home turf just days before the holiday to meet with local fans at the Queens Library.
Run–D.M.C., founded in Hollis in the early 1980s, was one of the most influential groups in the history of hip-hop.
The event will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Central Branch in Jamaica, but it will also be simultaneously live-streamed to D.M.C.'s "home" library in South Hollis.
McDaniels will talk about his life in hip-hop as well as his latest venture as an author and the publisher of the independent comic book company, Darryl Makes Comics.
Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska · DNAinfo Reporter
Are you planning to attend the event with Darryl McDaniels?
"He's going to talk about some of the obstacles that he had to overcome in his life and still managed to be very successful," said library spokeswoman Joanne King.
"And he really wants to talk about his comic book art and encourage some of the young people to explore their own creativity," King added.
The free program will be hosted by famed DJ and TV personality Ralph McDaniels, who recently joined the library as its first ever hip-hop coordinator.
Those who will gather at both branches will get to see Darryl McDaniels' interactive presentation about his artwork and music career. They will also be able to ask him questions, King said.
The free event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 22, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Queens Library — Central, 89-11 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica. It will be live-streamed to the library in South Hollis at 204-01 Hollis Ave. Free tickets to the Central Library program may be reserved here.
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