Jackson Heights: Evolution

From Decoding New York

Jackson Heights. A sampling of Jackson Heights' plurality of diverse shops and restaurants.

"Significant Indian, Thai, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Colombian, Argentinean, Mexican, Korean, Filipino, Chinese and European American populations are just some of the many groups that call Jackson Heights home, creating a diverse neighborhood chock full of vibrancy, colors and smells,"

-Next Stop: NYC promotional website.

Jackson Heights was not always this diverse. Until the 1960s, Jackson Heights was generally understood to be a white-only neighborhood. In the 1920s, the Queensboro Corporation designed the neighborhood to be a comfortable place for upper middle class urban (white) professionals to settle down and start families, all within easy reach of Manhattan. Queensboro achieved some of its goals with startling success. One hundred years since its conception, Jackson Heights is a place for families to live prosperously and comfortably. However, like so many efforts in New York's history to homogenize, progress has overcome bigotry. Today, Jackson Heights is anything but white-only.

Jackson Heights. Typical residential street in Jackson Heights.

There seems to be a consensus among Jackson Heights residents that the neighborhood has seen improvements since early 1990s. Some credit this to the administration of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, but not to be overlooked are the efforts of the Jackson Heights Beautification Group. The JHBG worked hard to secure the designation of Jackson Heights as a New York City Historic Landmark District and has been vigilant in enforcing the regulations affecting both homeowners and businesses. The JHBG has been a driving force in effecting positive change in the community and attracting families. The crime-ridden Jackson Heights of the 1970s and 80s has given way to a safe-haven for new immigrants and families to live and thrive in New York.