From The Peopling of New York City
If anyone has looked at Jenn's page and seen the real estate ads, here are some more of them from the 40's and 50's. In the first ad, I think it is relevant that the house is in a restricted section, and that the price dropped from $16,500 to $7,500. I also thought that it was interesting that for one of the apartments it said transients accommodated--transients are people who work or stay in a place for only a short time. In a lot of the ads we also see the need for immediate occupancy which is significant. I think a strong sign of gentrification can be found in one of the house listings on Nov. 1, 1950--the buyer needs to have at least $720 annual income. Also, the ad for roommates calls for college graduates, among other things, which hints at gentrification. I wanted to bold and italicize the text i felt was relevant, but I don't think it worked, so sorry!
August 11, 1940
HOUSES
• Elegant brick house, 6 rooms, garage, hot-water heat, oil burner, many extras (such as…?) ; restricted section; rare opportunity; originally $16,500, now $7,500, Elmhurst Ave.
• 86th St.—Rent, 6 rooms, garage, $85
APARTMENTS
• 80th St., Attractively furnished 2-room elevator garden housekeeping apartments; convenient fair, airport transportation; $50 monthly including gas, electricity; exceptional bargain! See for yourself, transient accommodated
• sublet, 2-room apartment, large living room and kitchen, beautifully completely furnished; elevator, two blocks all transits
• TOTAL 7 APARTMENT OFFERINGS FOR THIS DAY; NONE OTHERS HAD ANYTHING OF MUCH IMPORTANCE
August 14, 1940
• Less then one page of real estate ads; only one in Queens was for Jackson heights
o Single, cozy room, new modern home; reasonable, convenient
November 1, 1950
HOUSES
• Detached California-style duplex bungalow; 45x100 garden plot, 4-car garage, $720 annual income, immediate occupancy, 4½ rooms, special $9,990
• Rent, brick and room house, 2 baths, beautifully furnished basement, garage, $210 month, immediate occupancy
APARTMENTS AND ROOMS TO SHARE
• Young men, college graduates, Christian, share, large 7-room apartment, select locality, gentlemen, $47/monthly
• Big Ad # 1:
It’s easy to see why—
Subway at corner, low rents, pre-war room sizes have a attracted so many people to WOODBURY MANOR APARTMENTS @ 90 St. and Elmhurst.
But that’s not all…1 block to shopping and schools, rooms off foyer, snack bar in kitchen, large tenant’s park, children’s playground, automatic laundries,
2 rooms-$72, 3 rooms-$82.50, 3½ rooms-$87.50, 4½ rooms-$105,
includes directions to subway at bottom of ad
• Big Ad #2
New elevator Apartments, carefully planned for pleasant living
Saxony apartments, 34th Ave., 86th to 89th Sts. Now renting, late fall occupancy
Compare these low rentals: 3 rms.-$80, 3½ rms.-$85, 4 rms.-$90, 4½ rms.-$110
So much to enjoy: Colonialette center, foyer apts., unobstructed views, spacious rooms, private children’s play area, garage on premises, luxuriously appointed lobbies w/ phone to apt. system.
Also gives directions to subway
In an interview with Norman L. Horowitz, a real estate attorney who has worked all over Queens including Jackson Heights, I gathered information that both supports our claim of growing gentrification in Jackson Heights and also disproves it a little. On the one hand, he explained to me how he has assisted on house sales with white, middle-class Jews. He has never sen a purchase in that group, which is significant. This white, middle-class group is moving out while large groups of immigrants are still moving in. In fact, according to Mr. Horowitz, the three largest practices specializing in bank-closings in Jackson Heights are primarily staffed with Latinos, Pakistanis, and Asians, to accommodate the large influx of those specific buyers. This is not supportive of growing gentrification because we are seeing the middle-class leave and new immigrants come in. However, Mr. Horowitz believes that the neighborhood is ready for a bigger investment. He says, "I think stores are on the rise there, and nicer and more upscale businesses are coming into the area as far as I can see. The area is ready for an investment in a more upscale real estate purchases such as fancier condos and homes. The neighborhood is getting to that point where people can afford it and it would boost the neighborhood." This statement clearly supports our claim of the growing gentrification in Jackson Heights.
If anyone wants to see more of the interview, let me know and I'll put it up. I just felt that this was the more relevant stuff.
