Historic Weekend and Landmarks Advocacy

Since its founding in 1988, the Jackson Heights Beautification Group (JHBG) has been the primary advocate for preserving the built environment in Jackson Heights. Our grassroots efforts have resulted in the following:

• Publication of the history of Jackson Heights, Jackson Heights – A Garden in the City, written by board member Daniel Karatzas, in 1990
• Publication of a children’s book on the history of Jackson Heights, Jackson Heights – From Ice Age to Space Age, in 1996
• Sponsor of the annual Historic Jackson Heights Weekend, since 1991
• Designation of the Jackson Heights Historic District, by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, in 1993 (only the second in the borough at the time)
• Designation of an even larger area as a State and National Historic District, and recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, in 1997
• Currently advocating for the extension of the existing Jackson Heights Historic District

Historic Jackson Heights Weekend

Developed between 1910 and 1945 by Edward MacDougall’s Queensboro Corporation, Jackson Heights holds a unique place in 20th century urban planning history. Inspired by the English “Garden City” movement and as a reaction to unhealthy tenement life in Manhattan, Queensboro developed the first planned cooperative apartment community surrounded by gardens, parks, and athletic facilities.

Having once extended north toward LaGuardia Airport, the current borders of Jackson Heights mirror the boundaries of the 11372 zip code: the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway on the west, Junction Boulevard on the east, Northern Boulevard on the north, and Roosevelt Avenue on the South. The community was essentially “built out” by the mid-1950s, with our “on city blocks” turned into housing, commercial buildings, schools and houses of worship. Since then, most new construction has been the result of the redevelopment of one-story commercial buildings or fully detached houses built prior to current zoning guidelines.

Each year on the second weekend of June the JHBG sponsors a series of events, on both Saturday and Sunday, to not only engender greater “pride of place” for residents, but to also attract people (who have come from far and wide) interested in architecture and urban planning to our community. The annual Historic Jackson Heights Weekend is comprised of the following:

• A presentation on the history of Jackson Heights
• An exhibit of original photographs, brochures, maps and other ephemera related to the early years of the Jackson Heights development.
• A self-guided Garden Tour of up to 15 interior gardens found across the neighborhood. Most of these gardens are not visible from the street, since the apartment buildings are built around the perimeter of the block, thereby shielding the interior gardens from view. Some are quite large with elaborate landscaped plantings.
• Escorted Walking Tours of Jackson Heights, focusing on the Historic District.
• A Children’s Art Contest that invites local schoolchildren to celebrate their neighborhood. Winning entries are displayed locally, a reception is held, and cash prizes awarded!

Information regarding the Historic Weekend is distributed beginning in May, so be on the lookout! And come help us celebrate our Historic District!

Landmarks Advocacy

Even with these successes described above, much work remains to be done. The JHBG pays close attention to any proposed work on local properties that comes before the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). We testify at public hearings held by the LPC on proposals for properties in our historic district. Over the years the JHBG has worked with both residential and commercial property owners to assist them with complying with the Landmarks Law. Back in the 1990s we published informational guides for both commercial storefronts and residents. Potential violations within the historic district are brought to the attention of the LPC along with other City agencies.

Today, we are working on extending the Jackson Heights Historic District beyond its current borders. Volunteers interested in our advocacy work are always welcome to contact the JHBG.