Queens Neighborhood Suggestions for Middle Class Families (New York, Greenwich: real estate, apartment)

[queensgrl]

After suggesting to a poster looking for a neighborhood with good schools in Queens for $400K or less (they had originally looked in LI but high taxes changed their mind), I suggested that they reconsider the house purchase and get an apartment in District 26 (Bayside, Fresh Meadows, Bellerose, Eastern Flushing, Holliswood/Hollis Hills, etc.).

I have always been a proponent of home ownership so I was torn between the advice I gave and directing them to Cambria Heights or Laurelton in SE Queens because 1) "Good schools" is a relative term; and 2) I presumed they weren't Black/African American/Caribbean and wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood where they were the minority. I've rethought my original response and offer the following as food for thought ...

People of all races are diversifying some of the WORST neighborhoods in NYC. However, Laurelton and Cambria Heights (and similar parts of SE Queens) rarely get a nod, and are often described as war zone-like based on their racial compositions. Sadly, I find that people are only seeing the worst of Black/AA/Caribbean people instead of the best.

Truth is that you can get a well-maintained house with a front and backyard, and decent schools (check out greatschools.net for PS 176 in PS/IS 270, ranked 5 & 7 respectively) in Cambria Heights or Laurelton for <400K. From an income perspective, they are on par with or have higher AGI than many of the neighborhoods that have gentrified. They were once the "dream neighborhoods" of a diverse group of middle class people but are now rarely considered by those who aren't black.

NOTE: I grew up in Laurelton (1968-1980). My parents moved to Florida around 2000 so I've seen the good, bad and ugly of SE Queens and believe it's on an upswing. If you're middle class, looking for a nice house to raise a young family and don't mind living on the city's edge, give these neighborhoods a chance. There are some nice pics of Laurelton in the NYT article. Enjoy

Learn more:
Cambria Heights - Cambria Heights, Queens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laurelton - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/re...te/26livi.html
Laurelton, Queens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Woozle]

PS 176 in Queens is 1% white, 95% black. A white middle class kid would feel VERY unwelcome there..

If we're talking a generic middle class white family looking for good public schools and their own house, they frankly do not belong in Queens or, for that matter, anywhere in New York City. If New York real estate taxes are a bit too much for them, they should look at suburban New Jersey or perhaps even Greenwich, CT (where there are currently several houses available for under $450,000).

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by Woozle

..... If New York real estate taxes are a bit too much for them, they should look at suburban New Jersey or perhaps even Greenwich, CT (where there are currently several houses available for under $450,000).

This makes no sense at all.Property taxes in Westchester and NJ are the highest in the country.In most of these places the property tax on a $500,000 house is at least $15,000/yr...frequently a lot more.Property taxes on a $500,000 house in NYC would be less than $5,000/yr.I can't see anyone moving to Greenwich or NJ to save on property taxes.If they do,they are in for a big surprise.

[queensgrl]

Originally Posted by Woozle

PS 176 in Queens is 1% white, 95% black. A white middle class kid would feel VERY unwelcome there..

If we're talking a generic middle class white family looking for good public schools and their own house, they frankly do not belong in Queens or, for that matter, anywhere in New York City. If New York real estate taxes are a bit too much for them, they should look at suburban New Jersey or perhaps even Greenwich, CT (where there are currently several houses available for under $450,000).

Just to clarify my original post -- a person of any race or ethnic group might consider these neighborhoods. They don't have to be either black or white.

Further, when I was a child, I was the ONLY black kid in my class and never even realized it. There were white children and two asian children and we all got along. Maybe there's a lesson that we can all learn from our young people about racial tolerance.

[kovert]

Given the way many old time residents especially middle income are being priced out of their neighborhoods, perhaps its a good thing those areas get a bad rap.

I really don't see anyone from those neighborhoods actually try to combat their rep.

[nonstopmom]

I for one grew up in queens my whole life and raise my family here. There truely is no better place in my eye's to raise kids then here. I live in Little Neck. first of all we are 15-20 min from manhattan, shopping all over the place, great schools, plenty of publice transportation what can I say we are central to everything and don't pay the high taxes of L.I.. I like deversity and differents ethnic groups not just being stuck with all white kids. In the real world our kids need to learn how to deal with and learn about different cultures. I suggest Little Neck, Douglaston, Bayside, Fresh Meadows, Whitestone, Forest hill, Middle village, Maspeth so many great places to choose.

[dnalsI gnoL]

Originally Posted by kovert

Given the way many old time residents especially middle income are being priced out of their neighborhoods, perhaps its a good thing those areas get a bad rap.

I really don't see anyone from those neighborhoods actually try to combat their rep.

I agree. I hope to buy a house in Laurelton, Cambria Heights or St Albans within the next 2 years. Right now there are are a ton of houses for under $370k. That wouldnt get you much of anything in any other neighborhood in queens.

[queensgrl]

Another neighborhood that people may overlook is East Elmhurst. Middle class, decent area, near LaGuardia Airport. http://www.city-data.com/neighborhoo...mhurst-NY.html

[QNZ20]

Laurelton, Cambria Heights or Queens Village zip code 11427 and 11428 look good, heck the Jewish people are trying to move BACK into Cambria Heights. Queens Village- zip code 11427 and 11428 look good and are very diverse communities among the most diverse in the city

[queensgrl]

Originally Posted by QNZ20

Laurelton, Cambria Heights or Queens Village zip code 11427 and 11428 look good, heck the Jewish people are trying to move BACK into Cambria Heights. Queens Village- zip code 11427 and 11428 look good and are very diverse communities among the most diverse in the city

True. The the Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch Center is on Francis Lewis Boulevard, in Cambria Heights, New York, which is located adjacent to LubavitcherRebbe's burial ground. His followers have bought property all around the area (including my uncle's house)