Who lives in Forest Hills? (Russia: houses, neighborhoods, school)

[bklynntv]

My husband and I are considering moving from Brooklyn to Forest Hills, but we can't get a sense of who lives in the neighborhood. Any time we go to visit, we don't really see any people in the streets.

Specifically, we are wondering if there are very large populations of Orthodox Jews, and/or Russians. Our current neighborhood has large numbers of both groups, and we are looking for a change. Our son is 2, and we would prefer a neighborhood where other children want, and are allowed to socialize with him (we have had problems with this here), and where we might have more in common with our neighbors.

We are currently looking at houses around the Van Court area in the PS 144 school zone. Any information would be appreciated.

[Chava61]

Forest Hills does have a Jewish population but there are definitely non-Jewish people living in the neighborhood.

[NYCAnalyst]

Most of the Jewish Population is nearby in Rego Park, north of Queens Blvd (around 108th Street)

If you are looking around PS 144, that area is very diverse. When I was a kid, I used to play ball at PS 101.

[bklynntv]

Are there a lot of families with young children, or mostly older retired people? I never see kids playing in the streets or many people walking with strollers, or really anyone walking at all. Is Forest Hills just more of a suburban type of place where most people drive to where they need to go?

[Chava61]

Forest Hills has a lot of retired people but there are also families with children (many of which are Jewish but not necessarily Orthodox Jews).
Since parking in the street is difficult in Forest Hills, I would say that most people commute by public transportation (subway or bus) as a lot of people don't own cars.

[NYCAnalyst]

Originally Posted by bklynntv

Are there a lot of families with young children, or mostly older retired people? I never see kids playing in the streets or many people walking with strollers, or really anyone walking at all. Is Forest Hills just more of a suburban type of place where most people drive to where they need to go?

Kids can't play in the streets because the Private Security force of the Forest Hills Gardens doesn't allow it.

Actually, they really don't care. I used to play in the street. Epic Security would always come to us and tell us we had to leave, because some old person called in a noise complaint.

Kids play in playgrounds and the park on Austin Street.

The houses are bigger in Forest Hills (esp. the Gardens) so you won't see as many people roaming the streets as in other neighborhoods. If you want a sense of who lives in the neighborhood, drive down Austin Street from Yellowstone Blvd to 75th Avenue on a weekend during the day.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by NYCAnalyst

Kids can't play in the streets because the Private Security force of the Forest Hills Gardens doesn't allow it.

Actually, they really don't care. I used to play in the street. Epic Security would always come to us and tell us we had to leave, because some old person called in a noise complaint.

Kids play in playgrounds and the park on Austin Street.

The houses are bigger in Forest Hills (esp. the Gardens) so you won't see as many people roaming the streets as in other neighborhoods. If you want a sense of who lives in the neighborhood, drive down Austin Street from Yellowstone Blvd to 75th Avenue on a weekend during the day.

The area of Forest Hills Gardens has private homes and the streets are considered private. (I believe you need to permission to park there if you don't live there.) In Forest Hills Gardens people need a car. But in Forest Hills itself the situation is different.