Jamaica Estates, Queens

to the South, Utopia Parkway and Homelawn Street to the West and 188th Street to the East.

Jamaica Estates was created at the turn of the century by the Jamaica Estates Company, which developed the area's hilly convert|503|acre|km2, while preserving many of the trees that had occupied the site. [Shaman, Diana. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE0DB1338F932A1575AC0A961958260 "If You're Thinking of Living In/Jamaica Estates, Queens; An Enclave That Treasures Its Trees"] , "The New York Times", September 21, 1997. Accessed November 11, 2007.] Jamaica Estates now has significant Jewish-American and Asian-American populations.

The only apartments and multi-family housing lie near the southern border within a few blocks from and along Hillside Avenue. The main shopping corridors include Hillside Avenue and Union Turnpike.

Education

The neighborhood is served by two public elementary schools. Residents in the eastern part of Jamaica Estates are served by [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/26/Q178/default.htm?searchType=school The Holliswood School (PS 178)] on Radnor Road at 189th Street in School District 26, and residents in the western part of the neighborhood are served by [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/29/Q131/default.htm?searchType=school The Abigail Adams School (PS 131)] in School District 29. [http://www.tmla.org/ The Mary Louis Academy] , an all-girls Catholic college-prep school, ans Immaculate Conception school is also located in this neighborhood, on the corner of Edgerton Boulevard and Wexford Terrace.

The Queens Campus of the United Nations International School, for students in grades K-8, is located on Croydon Road. It is run by the United Nations, and has its main location on the East Side of Manhattan. The school was originally intended for the children of UN diplomats and employees but enrollment is open to everyone. [ [http://www.unis.org/schools/queens/ Welcome to UNIS Queens] , United Nations International School. Accessed December 4, 2007.]

Transportation

The northern terminus of the New York City Subway's IND Queens Boulevard Line (NYCS service|F), 179th Street station, is located at the entrance of Jamaica Estates at Midland Parkway and Hillside Avenue, with the 169th Street NYCS service|F Station located on the corner of Hillside Avenue and Homelawn Street. The neighborhood is also served by the Q17, Q30, Q31, and Q46 bus lines. Numerous express buses to Manhattan also stop on Union Turnpike. The commute to Midtown Manhattan takes 30 to 45 minutes.

In contrast to much of Queens, most streets in Jamaica Estates do not conform to the rectangular street grid and follow topographic lines, the most notable example being Midland Parkway. Many of the named streets have Anglo-Saxon origins, such as Aberdeen, Avon, Barrington, Chelsea, and Chevy Chase Street.

Noted natives

*Gary Ackerman, who is presently serving his twelfth term in the United States House of Representatives, where he represents Jamaica Estates and the Fifth Congressional District of New York
*Joseph "Run" Simmons, the "Run" of Run-D.M.C., lived in the area for some time before moving to New Jersey. [Lee, Felicia R. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05EFDE1438F931A25752C1A9669C8B63 "COPING; Rapper Is Reborn to Sounds of the Spirit"] , "The New York Times", November 12, 2000. Accessed November 11, 2007.]
*Donald Trump grew up in the area. [Ojito, Mirta. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402EFD91E39F93BA3575AC0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3 "CAMPAIGNING FOR CITY HALL: THE BATTLEGROUND; Gauging the Vote of the Satisfied"] , "The New York Times", September 8, 2001. Accessed November 11, 2007.]

Popular Culture

*On film, the (non-existent) address 2432 Derby Avenue was the home of Cleo McDowell in Coming to America.

References

External links

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE0DB1338F932A1575AC0A961958260 If You're Thinking of Living In/Jamaica Estates, Queens; An Enclave That Treasures Its Trees] , "The New York Times, September 21, 1997