We moved from Astoria to JH five years ago. We looked all over NYC before moving, and definitely found JH to have the best value. In terms of pros/cons I think Daisy's breakdown is pretty spot on. The transportation options are a million times better than our situation in Astoria. If the N/W (back then) was down, we were sh*t out of luck, especially because we were all the way out by Ditmars. But in JH, if the 7 isn't running, you'd at least have the E/F/M/R as back-ups, even if it meant a little longer walk.
I do miss Astoria Park--I know I was spoiled by living so close to it. Now, a train ride is required to find similar green space. Also, and this is very much a personal observation, I built a personal community much more quickly in Astoria than I've been able to here. That said, I think there is a greater general sense of community/community pride here than I found in Astoria. There are lots of good people here working to keep the neighborhood strong, safe, and growing.
When you're zeroing in on a place, try to check it out at different times of day. Our block and building are generally very quiet, but the bedroom windows face toward 37th and its endless parade of 3 a.m. garbage trucks. It's taken some getting used to. And by "getting used to," I mean "I've become quite proficient in swearing while half-asleep."
They have a garden tour coming up in June--as a prospective resident of JH, I highly recommend attending. Not only are the gardens themselves beautiful and serene, but you'll get a chance to speak with residents of each of the buildings. It's a great way to get a feel for the area and some insider tips from people who know it best. There is more info here:
http://queens.brownstoner.com/2014/04/historic-jackson-heights-weekend-scheduled-for-this-summer/I hope you pick JH--but good luck with the move wherever you decide to go!
Topic: Moving to JH from Astoria..Has anyone done the same?? (Read 5931 times)