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Author Topic: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?  (Read 7549 times)

Offline toddg

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Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« on: January 11, 2008, 11:00:17 AM »
Via the Jackson Heights, NYC blog (great to see it back after a bit of a hiatus!), JH resident and graphic artist David Heatley ponders the question, "Is Queens the New Brooklyn?"   Short answer: well, no, not quite, but we have charms of our own.
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Offline MeliZoops

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2008, 11:56:59 AM »
Well, which part of queens...and which part of brooklyn?

these type of discussions seem to focus on the hipster areas where gentrification is taking place - Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Flatbush, Park Slope, Astoria/LIC, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, et al...notice these places are all relatively close to Manhattan and all pretty accessible by subway.

in these conversations, no one talks about East New York, Midwood, Brighton Beach or Brownsville....just like no one talks about Woodhaven, Flushing, Richmond Hill, Masbeth or Howard Beach.  i.e., the sections that are majority of each borough where one might have a longer commute to Manhattan (via bus) and a less attractive police blotter.

promoting one area or another is usually a strategy for someone's financial gain (real estate developers, landlords, business owners), so i try not to buy into the whole "up and coming neighborhood" thing.  (i mean, JH has been touted as "up and coming" since i moved here 9 years ago)
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Offline bs96

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2008, 12:06:56 PM »
I kind of agree.

I feel like when people say, "Brooklyn", they just mean The Slope, Billyburg, Ft. Greene, and other gentrified areas.

Of course QNS has its better neighborhoods, but I feel that overall, it's more democratic.  I don't think the income disparities are as great.
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Offline toddg

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2008, 01:13:24 PM »
Thankfully, the cartoon celebrates the entire borough of Queens.  I think the title was clearly intended to be humorous.  I agree that "X is the new Y" is an overused and boring marketing tool.  But its overuse itself can be quite funny.  Here's a digram of all of its uses in 2005.  Here's an effort to trace the origins of this phrase.
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Offline bs96

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2008, 01:33:54 PM »
What was with the focus on agriculture and animals in the cartoon?

Felt kind of stream of consciousness - like it was whatever he happened to be thinking about at the time.

No Queens Museum of Art?  No Shea?  No Tennis Center?
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Offline GregNYC

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2008, 07:35:34 PM »
I think that Queens has more immigrants.  Brooklyn is cleaner.
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Offline mistapresident

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2008, 06:12:15 PM »
Quote from: GregNYC on January 11, 2008, 07:35:34 PM
I think that Queens has more immigrants.  Brooklyn is cleaner.

That's a bold and unruly statement, GregNYC.
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Offline KC

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2008, 10:39:12 PM »
Brooklyn?  Brooklyn?  Yeah, I think I've heard of that place.

Isn't that where the G train ends up?
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2008, 01:01:42 PM »
I thought Queens was becoming the new Brooklyn, but maybe the title goes to the Bronx?

This is from curbed
Bronx Winning Battle for Manhattan's Castoffs?


"The old cliché goes that when snooty Manhattanites finally get priced out of the better borough, and they want to stay in New York City, they pack up and head to Brooklyn. The property is cheaper, you can have a car, the kids get that fresh country air, etc., etc. But in this week's Observer, Tom Acitelli runs some I.R.S. numbers and comes to this stunning conclusion: From 2001 to 2006, more Manhattanites relocated to the Bronx than Brooklyn, or any other borough for that matter. Over that stretch of time, 23,390 people headed north to the home of the Yankees, while the home of the Nets (eventually?) consistently ran second place in the year-to-year numbers. Queens and Staten Island were, uh, less desired. Between 2005 and 2006, the most recent year the I.R.S. numbers were available, 4,680 Manhattanites moved to the Bronx, and 3,731 went to Brooklyn. Whodathunkit?! Also between 2005 and 2006, a total of over 10,000 Manhattanites migrated to outer boroughs. Yes, but how many survived?"
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Offline chrisj

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2008, 01:50:24 PM »
I've lived in Manhattan, Brooklyn and now moved to JH. Of course I was drawn to here because prices in Brooklyn are absurd. Why do I love Jackson Heights? Its Diverse, pre-war + landmarked, garden apartments, the history of the neighborhood, great food. I'm walking distance to the express trains, so I can get to midtown in under 30 minutes. Maybe if I was 10 years older I would have found a great deal on a brownstone in Brooklyn. This is not the case so my decision was the best neighborhood that fit a community I wanted to live in. But not all of Queens is Equal. I'm sure some of you have seen the Queens Crap blog. I'm also not a fan of the new construction in Long Island City. I'm sure Forrest Hills and Kew Gardens are nice - but I didn't want to live to far out.
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Offline Greentea822

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2008, 03:45:19 PM »
ah, now we have to ask which part of BX?  Riverdale is a big destination, and accroding to an article a few years ago in the Times, SoBro is the new 'in' place to be!
really?
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Offline kate

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2008, 04:29:18 PM »
In this month's time out survey for top 50 areas, Jackson heights--between 37th and 35th avenue was ranked 34th. Interesting because Forest Hills was nowhere to be found, neither was Bayside, areas one might expect make that list. Of course, Park Slope and areas near there made the list. On the bad side, none of the restaurants in our vicinity--Elmhurst/JH got anything. I think Nusara was nominated.
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Offline buddy

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #12 on: April 18, 2008, 10:12:50 PM »
Quote from: kate on April 17, 2008, 04:29:18 PM
In this month's time out survey for top 50 areas, Jackson heights--between 37th and 35th avenue was ranked 34th. Interesting because Forest Hills was nowhere to be found, neither was Bayside, areas one might expect make that list. Of course, Park Slope and areas near there made the list. On the bad side, none of the restaurants in our vicinity--Elmhurst/JH got anything. I think Nusara was nominated.

I'm surprised the Jackson Diner didn't get nominated. 
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Offline Chuckster

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #13 on: April 18, 2008, 10:48:04 PM »
I'm familiar with a few sections of the Bronx, such as the Grand Concourse area.  This area has beautiful pre-war and art deco style buildings with large apartments boasting high ceilings, sunken living rooms, hardwood floors, closets galore....the works.  These buildings at one time also had doormen and were home to the more affluent Bronxites.  Unfortunately, they haven't been maintained over the years and the surrounding communities have experienced lots of deterioration as well.

I don't doubt that the Bronx will experience its hey day once again...perhaps within the next 10 years?  The Bronx has lots to offer...good transportation options, Orchard Beach, City Island, the Arthur Avenue shops and restaurants, The Bronx Zoo, The Bronx Botanical Gardens, Yankees Stadium, the Loews Paradise Theater, the beautiful homes in the Riverdale section, numerous parks, the gorgeous campuses at Lehman College and Fordham University, and so much more.  Did I say how much I like the Bronx?
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Offline buddy

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Re: Is Queens the New Brooklyn?
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2008, 08:07:26 AM »
Quote from: Chuckster on April 18, 2008, 10:48:04 PM
Did I say how much I like the Bronx?

I was born in the Bronx and spent a lot of time there growing up.  I've always thought it had so many beautiful spots from its architecture, parks etc.  It would be great if it had a resurgence.  It's long over due.
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