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As a rule of thumb, any block near the J/Z train is going to be undesirable - some more dangerous than others, but none that you'd want to live on. I used to live on Jamaica Ave and 96th Street in Woodhaven and it was pretty crappy. Too many punk teenagers posting up on the Ave like zombies, pretty depressing.
Didn't the decline start in the early 80s ? Around 1986 , my ex and I were exploring NYC and we took a wrong turn off the expressway and ended up in South Ozone Park. It was pouring heavy rain that night and the area had a very sketchy appearance. We did not stay there long.
As a rule of thumb, any block near the J/Z train is going to be undesirable - some more dangerous than others, but none that you'd want to live on. I used to live on Jamaica Ave and 96th Street in Woodhaven and it was pretty crappy. Too many punk teenagers posting up on the Ave like zombies, pretty depressing.
I don't find those blocks bad at all. I wouldn't want to live there because of the noise from the elevated train, but the actual neighborhood immediately around Woodhaven Blvd. and Jamaica Ave. is not bad at all. It's got some beautiful Victorian farmhouses, most in good repair.
It's also pretty diverse, ethnically. The neighborhood stores reflect that. There is: a German-American delicatessen (Manor Deli), an old-fashioned German-American candy store (Schmidt's Confectionery), an Italian bakery, a great little hardware store run by an Asian guy, a "spirituality" store staffed by a Brazilian, a football club/bar that seems to be either Portuguese or Spanish (Bicheiro's), a pharmacy stocked with Russian products run by Central Asians, a Filipino restaurant (Mama Meena's), a Colombian restaurant (Pollos Doña MarÃa), Colombian bakeries, Peruvian restaurants, Indian-Pak groceries, etc. etc.
Ozone Park should not be confused with South Ozone Park. South Ozone Park is a pretty rough area. Ozone Park to me is an average NYC neighborhood in terms of crime and safety. You have some teenage thugs involved in drugs there, but so does every neighborhood in Queens except for areas like Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, and Northeast Queens. A general rule about Queens, is usually the west and southern parts are rougher than the northern and eastern parts. There are exceptions of course. But southern Queens is pretty rough and this includes the Rockaways.
You have some teenage thugs involved in drugs there, but so does every neighborhood in Queens except for areas like Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, and Northeast Queens. .
Uh, I wouldn't say except for those neighborhoods either. They might not be as out in the open about it, but it happens there too.. and they're not all thugs, but "regular" people too.
I live in the area and it is NOT GHETTO! That is false and a total exaggeration. The neighborhood is not bad at all. It is a decent area and very convenient. There is a big Pathmark there too!
I live in Woodhaven right now, and its pretty safe, as far as you can walk down the street w/o getting jumped. There is NO parking on the avenue and side street parking is only available during early AM hours till around 2pm
The J/Z is pretty reliable - almost never taken out of service - I used to work overnight - I am a female and have never been bothered - That said - I have seen kids attacking other kids - so I make sure I never get off @ Elderts Lane stop as the school is getting out - it is a very intense ride - too many kids. The HS, Franklin K Lane has been closed and re-opened as 5 smaller schools - all this means is that the kids all wear different colored polo shirts, and are just as unruly as they were when FKL was open - There is a very heavy police presence around the station during school hours - but every few months huge 20 on 20 type fights break out - Cops quell the violence pretty quickly- but if you have the unfortunate pleasure to be shopping or in the area it can be scary. As the police will stop you and ask you to say put if they think you are young and involved.
I am moving my family out of Woodhaven - When I grew up here in the 80's it was beautiful- moved out for college and then back again in '98. It has been on decline since then , all the families I grew up with are gone, and replaced with single room occupancy dwellings - most illegally converted 1 fam homes into single rooms for rent for a high turn over renters who are mostly new immigrants, and a few Section 8 . - Fires and home break ins are on the rise as these stacked dwellings crop up.
There is drug/gang activity on the avenue at night - with graffiti cropping up on most corners (peoples houses and fences) at the Block Association meetings the police beat cop says this is the gangs way of trying to carve out their turf. Also teens with nothing to do.
There is prostitution happening on Woodhaven Blvd right by the Woodhaven Blvd train station. You can see a few pros on a hot summer night walking up and down WH Blvd proper. Or you;ll just see a lady hanging out by the bus stop but never catching the bus.
The schools are failing and the library is almost empty - I have to order my books online and have them shipped to the library for pick up because the shelves are empty.
The ppl that live here are mostly Dominican, with some older PR's. - Mexicans and Coloumbians are sprinkled in. There is a growing Indian/Pakistani and other Asian presence - There some older Chinese and Koreans in the nabe but they are moving out quickly.
If you are looking to rent a room, are not too sensitive to noise, dont drive and dont plan to make a life here or plan a family, you'll be fine.
I don't find those blocks bad at all. I wouldn't want to live there because of the noise from the elevated train, but the actual neighborhood immediately around Woodhaven Blvd. and Jamaica Ave. is not bad at all. It's got some beautiful Victorian farmhouses, most in good repair.
It's also pretty diverse, ethnically. The neighborhood stores reflect that. There is: a German-American delicatessen (Manor Deli), an old-fashioned German-American candy store (Schmidt's Confectionery), an Italian bakery, a great little hardware store run by an Asian guy, a "spirituality" store staffed by a Brazilian, a football club/bar that seems to be either Portuguese or Spanish (Bicheiro's), a pharmacy stocked with Russian products run by Central Asians, a Filipino restaurant (Mama Meena's), a Colombian restaurant (Pollos Doña MarÃa), Colombian bakeries, Peruvian restaurants, Indian-Pak groceries, etc. etc.
Manor OPEN
Mama Meena CLOSED
Sage (Santeria store) OPEN
Bicheiro's OPEN
Dona Maria OPEN
Italian Bakeries have all CLOSED - replaced by Inadian and Spanish bakeries - sub par quality for sure
Woodhaven is a dying ship
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