64-500: South Jamaica Houses is a housing project in South Jamaica, Queens , New York. It is nicknamed "40 Projects." The original complex, South Jamaica I Houses opened in 1940, while the second complex, South Jamaica II Houses , opened in 1954. The entire complex is bounded by South Road to the north, 160th Street to the east, Brinkerhoff Avenue to the south, and 158th Street to the west. The South Jamaica Houses are commonly referred to as
128-447: A contingent from Stuyvesant High School . Principal Meister put his imprint on the school from its formation, for example selecting as school colors "green to represent chlorophyll and gold the sun, both of which are essential to the chain of life." Unlike nearly all other specialized high schools, Brooklyn Latin has a strong focus on the humanities and classics. All students are required to take four years of English, History, Latin and
192-554: A lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 86.1% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported 5 murders, 28 rapes, 156 robberies, 383 felony assaults, 153 burglaries, 414 grand larcenies, and 138 grand larcenies auto in 2018. South Jamaica is covered by multiple ZIP Codes . West of Sutphin Boulevard, South Jamaica falls under ZIP Codes 11435 north of Linden Boulevard and 11436 south of Linden Boulevard. East of Sutphin Boulevard, South Jamaica
256-591: A middle-income cooperative to be constructed on the site. The track was closed in 1959 and demolished in 1960, replaced by an expanded Aqueduct Racetrack . In 1959, the LIRR Atlantic Branch was grade-separated , leading to the closure of the Cedar Manor station. The Baisley Park Houses were opened in 1961. Rochdale Village opened in December 1963 on the former Jamaica Racetrack site, bringing with it
320-443: A modern foreign language. All classes regularly hold Socratic Seminars, in which students lead roundtable question-and-answer discussions, and all students take part in declamation (public speaking) exercises. Because of the small class size, Brooklyn Latin offers a relatively small student-to-teacher ratio (currently around 16:1). All students are required to take International Baccalaureate courses in junior and senior year. One of
384-443: A multi-state operation by the 1980s. Increases in murder rates and other crime followed the spike in drug-related activity. In 1986, the 113th and 103rd police precincts led Queens in murder incidents, with the 113th precinct ranking tenth in the city. On February 26, 1988, rookie police officer Edward Byrne was killed while guarding the house of a witness in a drug-related trial. Byrne's murder, and other violent crime in
448-474: A plainclothes NYPD officer. The acquittal of the officer and his partner led to incidents of looting, rioting, and incidents of violence against Whites in South Jamaica and Downtown Jamaica. In the 1980s and 1990s, South Jamaica was one of several New York City neighborhoods victimized by the national crack cocaine epidemic . Several gangs operated in the neighborhood. The Corley gang operated out of
512-594: A strong majority of Afro-Caribbean descent. In recent decades, the Hispanic community has expanded, with residents from Mexico , El Salvador , Puerto Rico , and the Dominican Republic moving to the area. Guyanese and Bangladeshis make up much of the larger portion of newcomers to the community. Bengalis can be found mostly around Sutphin and Merrick Boulevards along 145th, 153rd, 157th, and 170th Streets; South Road; and 105th, 107th, and 109th Avenues. There
576-532: A system of entrance examinations. The examination was developed with the assistance of Columbia University , and the program was later expanded to include the newly founded Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech. Their status as specialized schools was frequently threatened by factions within the New York City school system and government. As a way to preserve their special status, in 1972, the Hecht-Calandra Act
640-634: A technical career in industry. By 1922, Dr. Colston's concept was approved by the Board of Education, and Brooklyn Technical High School opened in a converted warehouse at 49 Flatbush Avenue Extension, with 2,400 students. This location, in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge , is the reason the school seal bears the image of this bridge, rather than the Brooklyn Bridge . Brooklyn Tech would occupy one more location before settling into its current site, for which
704-460: Is also a small population of Haitians , Pakistanis and Trinidadians who live in this area. The area is largely a middle-class community consisting of suburban one- and two-family houses ranging from colonials built around the 1960s to new developments. A small section of South Jamaica is named Bricktown, for its many brick row houses. A number of smaller apartment buildings along with some public housing projects are also located in
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#1733085498651768-774: Is located at the north end of South Jamaica, between the LIRR Main Line to the north and South Road to the south, across from the South Jamaica Houses. The Queens Public Library operates three branches in South Jamaica: Baisley Pond Park has over 100 acres (0.40 km ) of outdoor recreational space, including a 30-acre (0.12 km ) pond. The Federal Aviation Administration Eastern Region has its offices at Rockaway Boulevard in South Jamaica, near JFK Airport. St. Monica's Church , St. Monica's Cemetery, and Prospect Cemetery are all located on
832-626: Is located at the northwest end of the complex. Located at 159th Street and 108th Avenue on the east side of the development is the Jamaica Day Nursery. The nursery, which predates the projects, was moved into the complex in 1940. One block south is the South Jamaica Community Center, also known as the Samuel Huntington Community Center. The complex also includes several playgrounds and gardens. Adjacent to
896-668: Is located west of the Van Wyck Expressway in Richmond Hill . Many other regional high schools serving the area have since been converted into educational campuses, housing multiple small high schools. The closest educational campuses are the Jamaica Campus (formerly Jamaica High School ) near the Grand Central Parkway to the north, and Springfield Gardens Educational Campus (formerly Springfield Gardens High School ) to
960-474: Is named for its location south of Jamaica; the name Jamaica itself is derived from the Lenape word Yameco meaning "beaver". This was reflected in the naming of Beaver Pond at the border of Jamaica and South Jamaica. Through the 20th century, the neighborhood was also known as Cedar Manor . Through the 19th century, what is now South Jamaica consisted of farmland. Early developments in South Jamaica included
1024-474: Is now often mapped as Springfield Gardens North or Rochdale. The three sections constitute the western half of Queens Community Board 12 . South Jamaica is covered by the 113th Precinct of the New York City Police Department . South Jamaica is often referred to as "Southside" or "Southside Jamaica" (also spelled as "South Side"). This is said to be derived from the location of
1088-644: Is part of two ZIP Codes: 11433 north of Linden Boulevard and 11434 south of Linden Boulevard. The United States Post Office operates the Rochdale Village Station post office at 165-100 Baisley Boulevard. Several elementary schools are located in South Jamaica: Middle and junior high schools include: High schools include: The closest zoned high school is Hillcrest High School just north of Hillside Avenue in Jamaica. Richmond Hill High School
1152-617: Is represented by the New York City Council 's 27th and 28th Districts. South Jamaica is generally considered to be the area south of Downtown Jamaica (Jamaica Center) or Jamaica Avenue, with the Van Wyck Expressway to the west, and Merrick Boulevard to the east. The eastern border extends as far as the LIRR Montauk Branch tracks in the northern part of the neighborhood. John F. Kennedy International Airport lies to
1216-495: Is responsible for the development of the area. Considered a slum in the early 20th century, the neighborhood now consists of working-class and middle-class residents. South Jamaica is located in Queens Community District 12 and its ZIP Codes are 11433 through 11436. It is patrolled primarily by the New York City Police Department 's 113th Precinct, but also by the 103rd Precinct. Politically, South Jamaica
1280-511: Is still higher than other Queens areas, the NYPD 113th Precinct (which also patrols Hollis , St. Albans and Springfield Gardens ) saw dramatic decreases in violent crime since the 1990s, with a drop in major crime of 76 percent between 1993 and 2010. Based on data from the 2020 United States Census , the population of South Jamaica was 270,688, an increase of 231,794 from the 38,894 counted in 2010. Covering an area of 918.87 acres (371.85 ha),
1344-672: The 40 Projects , and occasionally as "the 40s" or the "40s Houses". The nicknames are said to be derived from the complex's opening in the year 1940, or the nearby P.S. 40 and J.H.S. 40 public schools. South Jamaica I is the original section of the complex opened in 1940. Measuring 9.02 acres (3.65 ha), it lies between South Road and 109th Avenue. It consists of 11 three-to-four story buildings with 440 units (originally 448). South Jamaica II lies between 109th Avenue and Brinkerhoff Avenue, occupying 13.3 acres (5.4 ha). It consists of 16 buildings three-to-seven stories high. The buildings in both sections have brick exteriors. A small parking lot
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#17330854986511408-555: The Long Island Rail Road Main Line tracks, Jamaica Avenue , or Liberty Avenue to the north; the Van Wyck Expressway on the west; Rockaway Boulevard on the south; and Merrick Boulevard on the east, adjoining the neighboring community of St. Albans . Other primary thoroughfares of South Jamaica include Baisley, Foch, Linden , Guy R. Brewer, and Sutphin Boulevards. The 180th Street Business Improvement District
1472-495: The New Dorp neighborhood of Staten Island, after New Dorp High School , which had occupied the building since it was built in the 1930s, moved to its current location on New Dorp Lane. The technical courses were taught in the annex, while the vocational courses stayed in St. George. Through the advocacy of parents, staff, and students, Staten Island Tech was made an independent high school by
1536-684: The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). The land was acquired at low cost, and the development was designed to feature low-rise buildings. Though located in a predominantly African American neighborhood, the houses were the first NYCHA facility to be racially integrated with both White and Black families. Construction began on September 28, 1939. The complex was dedicated by Mayor LaGuardia on April 15, 1940. The development opened on July 2, 1940, accepting 351 families. An additional 96 families moved in on August 5. The Jamaica Day Nursery, formerly located on 107th Avenue and 159th Street,
1600-582: The Prospect Cemetery opened in 1668, and the Prospect and St. Monica's Churches opened around 1857. Baisley Pond , created by local farmers from dammed streams, was acquired by the City of Brooklyn 's Williamsburg Water Works Company in 1852 for municipal water supplies. The Jamaica Race Course was opened in 1894 at Baisley Boulevard and New York Avenue (today's Guy R. Brewer Bouelvard), and expanded in
1664-539: The York College campus . Eagle Academy for Young Men III and the High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety are located south of Linden Boulevard . The closest zoned high school is Hillcrest High School just north of Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, while the closest educational campus is the Jamaica Campus (formerly Jamaica High School ) near the Grand Central Parkway . The Young Women's Leadership School of Queens
1728-402: The city's fiscal crisis . The York College campus, also delayed by the fiscal crisis, began construction in 1980 and opened in stages beginning in 1988. Despite urban renewal efforts, in 1966 South Jamaica was designated an official poverty zone by the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson during the president's War on Poverty , and was considered one of the few remaining slums in
1792-413: The City of New York , with Morris Meister as the first principal of the school. They were given use of an antiquated Gothic-gargoyled edifice located at Creston Avenue and 184th Street. The building, built in 1918 for Evander Childs High School, had been successively occupied by Walton High School (1930) and by an annex of DeWitt Clinton High School (1935). The initial faculty were comprised in part by
1856-572: The LIRR Atlantic Branch in 1906. The Queens Boulevard Line streetcar to Midtown Manhattan was extended along Sutphin Boulevard to 109th Avenue in South Jamaica in April 1916. Baisley Pond Park was opened by the city in 1919. In the 1920s, the neighborhood's population exploded after streets were laid down and houses constructed. Many African Americans began moving into the neighborhood at this time, while White residents began leaving
1920-538: The New York City Board of Education in May 1988. Nicholas M. Bilotti, who had been serving as director of the annex, was appointed principal of the new high school. Stuyvesant High School is named after Peter Stuyvesant , the last Dutch governor of New Netherland before the colony was transferred to England in 1664. Of the nine Specialized high schools, Stuyvesant has the highest score cutoff for entry. The school
1984-621: The Prospect Cemetery and the Prospect and St. Monica's Churches. At the same time, under the Program for Action the Metropolitan Transportation Authority planned to extend subway service into the neighborhood, by connecting the LIRR Atlantic Branch with the planned Archer Avenue subway in downtown Jamaica via a ramp in or near the campus site. The subway connection was never constructed, due to funding issues caused by
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2048-697: The Sciences at York College was formed in 2002 and continued to grow each year as a new class entered, reaching its present size in 2006, when the fifth class was admitted. There are now more than 500 students. As of 2024 the school is #1 in New York State and #25 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report . The school emphasizes small class sizes and is the only specialized school in Queens. Staten Island Technical High School began in 1982 as an annex of Ralph R. McKee Vocational-Technical High School, located in
2112-544: The South Jamaica Houses. The Supreme Team , formed in 1981 by Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff , operated out of the Baisley Park Houses. The cartel of Lorenzo "Fat Cat" Nichols was also headquartered in the neighborhood, supplying much of the cocaine in the area and around Queens. These groups had originated from the Seven Crowns gang that was started during the cocaine and heroin epidemic in the 1970s, and which expanded into
2176-714: The area between Linden Boulevard and Baisley/Rockaway Boulevards to be a southern subsection of South Jamaica called Baisley Park ; Baisley Pond Park , the Baisley Park Houses , the Baisley Park Branch of Queens Public Library , and the Baisley Park Bus Depot are located in this area. The neighborhood south of Rockaway and Baisley Boulevards to the Belt Parkway (including Rochdale Village ) historically has been considered part of South Jamaica, but
2240-708: The area. This includes the NYCHA -operated Baisley Park Houses and South Jamaica Houses housing projects, as well as the Rochdale Village and Cedar Manor Co-op developments, and the Baisley Park Garden development (also known as Baisley Gardens). South Jamaica and St. Albans are patrolled by the NYPD 's 113th Precinct, located at 167-02 Baisley Boulevard. The 113th Precinct ranked 55th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. The 113th Precinct also has
2304-402: The complex south to Brinkerhoff Avenue. Plans for the project were filed on August 23, 1951, estimated to cost $ 7.5 million. Residential occupation began in May 1954, and the development was completed by October of that year. In the 1980s and 1990s, during the national crack cocaine epidemic , the South Jamaica Houses were considered a hotbed for drug-related activity and violence. This included
2368-579: The country to own a Hilton Hotel. The son of 2 seven crown members Sheila Ford and Calvin Wilson he grew up on 153rd street and south road later raised in the South Jamaica Houses. Specialized high schools in New York City The specialized high schools of New York City are nine selective public high schools , established and run by the New York City Department of Education to serve
2432-545: The current York College campus. The Jamaica Race Course , a former horse racing facility, was located in South Jamaica. The site is now occupied by Rochdale Village. The AirTrain JFK route transports people between Jamaica and JFK International Airport on its elevated route over the Van Wyck Expressway without stopping. A southern extension of the New York City Subway 's IND Archer Avenue Line to South Jamaica
2496-520: The early 1900s. Some sources state its official opening year as 1903. Transportation was introduced into the neighborhood at the turn of the century. The Far Rockaway Line streetcar was opened along New York Avenue between downtown Jamaica and the Jamaica Racetrack on September 1, 1896, and was extended to the Rockaways by summer 1897. The Cedar Manor station opened at Linden Boulevard along
2560-513: The groundbreaking was held in 1930. Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School is the only specialized high school in New York City that does not require that an applicant take the SHSAT. Rather, students are accepted through auditions in the fields of vocal music, instrumental music, visual arts, dance, drama, and technical theatre. The High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College was created in 2002, with an emphasis on engineering . As of 2023,
2624-466: The legislature as specialized high schools, and admission was by audition and portfolio rather than examination, in keeping with their artistic mission. Staten Island Tech began in 1982 as an annex of Ralph R. McKee Vocational-Technical High School and was made an independent high school in May 1988. HSAS, HSMSE, and QHSSYC were opened in 2002. Brooklyn Latin was established in 2006. All of these schools are required by state law to admit students based on
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2688-449: The needs of academically and artistically gifted students . The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) examination is required for admission to all the schools except LaGuardia, which requires an audition or portfolio for admission. The Bronx High School of Science was founded in 1938 as a specialized science and math high school for boys, by resolution of the Board of Education of
2752-424: The neighborhood and its demographics; Hollis, Queens in the northeast corner of greater Jamaica and Queens CB12 is referred to as "Northside". The South Side nickname dates back to the first half of the 20th century, when several local community organizations carried the name. An additional nickname, "South Suicide Queens", is a reference to the high crime rate in the neighborhood since the 1980s. South Jamaica
2816-420: The neighborhood had a population density of 42.3 inhabitants per acre (27,100/sq mi; 10,500/km ). The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 55% African American , 1.0% White , 0% Native American , 16% Asian , 0% Pacific Islander , 6% from other races , and 5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16% of the population. South Jamaica is predominantly African-American with
2880-480: The neighborhood led South Jamaica to become a symbol for the national drug epidemic, and the city's war on drugs instigated by Mayor Ed Koch . Following the killing, Koch created the Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) program, with the first team dispatched to South Jamaica on March 14, 1988. Entering the 21st century, South Jamaica has seen a revival in terms of safety and quality of life. While crime
2944-511: The neighborhood needed improved housing conditions. On August 16, 1939, New York City Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia announced plans to allocate $ 20 million towards five planned public housing projects, including the South Jamaica Houses, and the two-part Vladeck Houses in the Lower East Side of Manhattan . The South Jamaica development itself would cost $ 2.5 million. These were some of the first housing developments to be built and operated by
3008-581: The neighborhood were without modern utilities such as electricity and indoor plumbing . The Jamaica Racetrack, meanwhile, was blamed for bringing down property values, and was in poor operating condition. In 1939, the city began slum clearance projects in the neighborhood. The first was the South Jamaica Houses public housing project, originally referred to as the "'South Jamaica' slum clearance project", opened in July 1940. A second portion of
3072-484: The neighborhood's first supermarkets and shopping centers. The Cedar Manor Co-op opened around this time as well. By this time, the neighborhood was overwhelmingly Black, with the exception of the racially integrated Rochdale Village. In 1970, the New York City Board of Higher Education approved plans to replace 50 acres (20 ha) of slum land with a permanent campus for York College . The site included
3136-490: The neighborhood, coinciding with other white flight periods in the city. By the 1930s, the neighborhood was considered to be predominantly Black, especially in contrast to other southeast Queens neighborhoods, although a significant White population remained. At this time, the neighborhood was considered a major slum , due to overcrowding, high crime, and lack of infrastructure. Many houses were frame houses constructed only of wood and were not fireproof , while residences in
3200-597: The operations of the Corley gang and the Supreme Team . This has continued into the 21st century, in spite of major drug raids by the New York City Police Department in 1999 and 2012. Three elementary schools are located near the complex: The nearest middle and junior high schools are: The closest high school to the South Jamaica Houses is the Queens High School for the Sciences , a specialized high school , located on
3264-495: The original three specialized high schools in New York City (the other two being Stuyvesant High School and Bronx High School of Science). In 1918, Dr. Albert L. Colston, chair of the Math Department at Manual Training High School, recommended establishing a technical high school for Brooklyn boys. His plan envisioned a heavy concentration of math , science, and drafting courses with parallel paths leading either to college or to
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#17330854986513328-503: The otherwise middle-class borough of Queens. In the late 1960s and continuing through the 1970s, South Jamaica and other Southeast Queens neighborhoods saw increasing rates of drug sales and usage, including cocaine and heroin epidemics. The neighborhood also had some of the highest rates of automobile theft in the city, attributed to the proximity to car theft rings centered in John F. Kennedy International Airport . In 1972, South Jamaica
3392-611: The project opened in 1954. By 1955, following the takeover of the Jamaica Race Course by the Greater New York Association , the city and city planner Robert Moses began evaluating plans to replace the track with new development. Plans included an additional public housing development, and one of several potential Queens sites for the failed relocation of the Brooklyn Dodgers . In October 1956, Moses planned
3456-738: The school is #1 in New York State and #22 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report . HSMSE was designed to be a small school with only about four hundred students. The High School of American Studies at Lehman College is located on the Lehman College campus, in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx . Unlike the rest of the specialized high schools, American Studies curriculum emphasizes U.S. History, offering three years (as opposed to only one) of AP-level U.S. History. The partnership with Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has allowed
3520-404: The school to plan multiple trips outside of New York City, with students paying relatively cheap fees. In 2008, U.S. News & World Report ranked American Studies as the 29th best public high school in the country and 2nd in New York State. In 2009, the school rose to be the 19th best public high school in the country. In 2014, HSAS was ranked #1 in New York State. The Queens High School for
3584-510: The south across the Belt Parkway . This area overlaps with the neighborhoods of St. Albans to the east, and Rochdale and Springfield Gardens to the south. Many maps however consider South Jamaica to be bounded by Linden Boulevard to the north, and Rockaway Boulevard and Baisley Boulevard to the south, with the section north of Linden Boulevard (including the South Jamaica Houses ) defined as part of Jamaica . Other maps consider
3648-532: The south. Campus Magnet (formerly Andrew Jackson High School ) is located in Cambria Heights to the east. John Adams Educational Campus (formerly John Adams High School ) is located in Ozone Park to the west. The Young Women's Leadership School of Queens was formerly located in the P.S. 40 facility, but is now located across from Hillcrest High School. Other schools: The campus of CUNY York College
3712-527: The west of complex lies the Atlantic Branch of the Long Island Rail Road , which does not stop in this area. To the north across from South Road is the campus of York College . Prior to the construction of the project, South Jamaica was considered a slum and severely overcrowded. The site of the South Jamaica Houses was occupied by 150 wood-frame houses. It was estimated that 3,000 families in
3776-521: Was declared "the largest officially designated poverty area in Queens" by the Human Resources Administration. The neighborhood was also the center of several racial issues in the 1970s. Students from South Jamaica were bused into other school districts in order to maintain integration of schools, leading to outcry from White residents of those districts. Other racial events included the shooting of Clifford Glover on April 28, 1973 by
3840-460: Was established in 1904 as a manual training school for boys, hosting 155 students and 12 teachers. In 1907, it moved from its original location at 225 East 23rd Street to a building designed by C. B. J. Snyder at 345 East 15th Street, where it remained for 85 years. It moved to its current location, a building on the Hudson River at 345 Chambers Street, in 1992. In 1934, Stuyvesant implemented
3904-487: Was formerly located in the P.S. 40 facility, but is now located across from Hillcrest High School. [1] [2] South Jamaica, Queens South Jamaica (also commonly known as "Southside") is a residential neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City , located south of downtown Jamaica . Although a proper border has not been established, the neighborhood is a subsection of greater Jamaica bounded by
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#17330854986513968-528: Was moved into a new headquarters within the complex on September 9. The complex generated controversy over the alleged selection of tenants by race, and because many applicants from Manhattan, Brooklyn and The Bronx were selected over local South Jamaica residents. Plans to extend the complex emerged in the mid-to-late 1940s. On January 6, 1951, the Housing Authority announced plans to condemn additional slum land to build South Jamaica II Houses, extending
4032-598: Was passed by the New York State Legislature , designating these schools as specialized science and math high schools for New York City. The Act called for a uniform exam in math and science to be administered for admission to these schools, in keeping with the uniform examination that had already been required by the New York City Board of Education for admission to these schools. The School of Performing Arts and The High School of Music & Art (consolidated in 1984 into LaGuardia High School) were also designated by
4096-528: Was planned under the 1968 Program for Action by way of the LIRR Atlantic Branch , but not completed. Numerous MTA bus lines run through the neighborhood, including the Q4 , Q5 , Q6 , Q7 , Q9 , Q40 , Q60 , Q84 , Q85 , Q111 , Q112 , Q113 , and Q114 . Kelvin J. King aka Kelvin J. Ford born in South Jamaica Queens in July 1975 is a real estate mogul and entrepreneur is the youngest black man in
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