King Park
Jamaica Avenue at 153rd Street
Located in the heart of Downtown Jamaica, this 11-acre park is on the former farm of Rufus King, a framer of the U.S. Constitution and outspoken opponent of slavery. The park surrounds the King Manor Museum and contains a playground, a children’s mist pool, handball and basketball courts, winding paths, and open space for soccer and concerts.
GJDC is currently partnering with Centro Hispano – Cuzcatlan, Jamaica Neighborhood Center, and King Manor Museum to improve the physical quality and programming of King Park:
Through the support of the J. M. Kaplan Fund’s “Immigrants and Parks Initiative” GJDC along with the aforementioned organizations have begun an effort to improve the environs of King Park. The partnership’s efforts will focus on programming the new multi-use turf field as well starting a volunteer-led horticulture program.
To see a video produced by the J.M. Kaplan Foundation about the “Immigrants and Parks” Collaborative work click here.
Pathways
Jamaica Pathways is a system of enhanced pedestrian routes designed to create a safe and attractive environment to encourage visitors to leave their cars and explore Downtown Jamaica on foot. The first three pathways, now open on Sutphin Boulevard, 159th Street and 160th Street, connect downtown street sections to transit or parking facilities. The project provides pedestrian amenities like special sidewalk surfaces, lighting, path finding information, trees, landscaping and coordinated graphics. Jamaica Pathways will be expanded to connect other streets in the community in the near future.
Jamaica Market
90-40 160th Street
This town center contains a variety of restaurants, boutiques, and unique craft shops that represent the ethnic and cultural diversity of Jamaica. A multicultural food court and shopping area offering everything from Indian food to authentic African tribal sculptures to Peruvian music CDs, Jamaica Market is the perfect place to meet for lunch. This Greater Jamaica Development Corporation facility hosts a weekly Farmers’ Market and shops run by local entrepreneurs, including many minority and women-owned businesses.
Station Plaza: coming soon
Station Plaza will be Jamaica’s most animated public space. A forecourt to the LIRR Jamaica Station, it will consist of two public spaces on Archer Avenue on either side of Sutphin Boulevard, with seating, trees, landscaping and outdoor dining. Transit information, new subway exits, public information kiosks, and concessions will be new amenities for transit users. These spaces will be managed, maintained, and secured by the Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District.
Gateway Plaza
Gateway Plaza combines several important objectives: It creates a new image for Downtown Jamaica’s western entrance from Atlantic Avenue and the Van Wyck Expressway, provides a new neighborhood park in an area that is underserved, and will allow the construction of the Atlantic Avenue extension. The new Gateway will be named and planted with decorative grasses and indigenous roses. It will have special lighting and signage, giving this entrance to Jamaica, seen primarily by motorists, a new and welcoming image.
Prospect Cemetery and the Chapel of the Sisters
159th Street and Beaver Road
Founded in 1668, this is one of the oldest colonial cemeteries in New York, housing the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers and Egbert Benson (New York’s first Attorney General). The landmark 1857 adjoining chapel is being renovated as a performance and arts space and will enjoy new life as part of the York College campus. The renovation has received key support from Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and Councilman Leroy Comrie.
King Manor
Jamaica Avenue at 153rd Street
King Manor, the oldest house in Jamaica, is the focal point of the historic 11-acre King Park. The house takes its name from the 18th and 19th century statesman Rufus King, who signed the United States Constitution, spoke out against the spread of slavery, and served as a senator from New York for 19 years. King attached the 18th century Dutch-style house to the Long Island “half house” on the property. In 1810 King further expanded his home by adding a Federal-style dining room and two bedrooms. This landmark is one of the oldest historic house museums in the country.
First Presbyterian Church
89-60 164th Street
Two companies of Revolutionary War “Minutemen” were led by members of this church. The 1813 sanctuary was moved from Jamaica Avenue around the corner to this site in 1920 on a mule-drawn trailer made of logs.
Grace Episcopal Church
155-03 Jamaica Avenue
Completed in 1862, this handsome landmark is actually the third Grace Church built on this site. Founded in 1702 as the official church of the British colonial government, the surrounding graveyard holds the remains of Rufus King, as well as other elected officials and gentry of that time.
St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church
94-20 160th Street
This distinctive brick Romanesque Revival church was built in 1857-58 with a tall central campanile. The church was built by Anders Peterson, a Danish-born contractor who later built the First Reformed and Grace Episcopal Churches in Jamaica, both completed in 1863. St. Monica’s was designated a landmark in 1979. The church’s facade was saved following a destructive storm and has been incorporated into a modern day-care center on the York College campus.
First Reformed Church (The Landmark Project)
153-10 Jamaica Avenue
A Classical Revival church was built on the site in 1833, but was destroyed by a fire in 1857. The new brick Romanesque Revival church, constructed in 1857, has round arches, a massive form, a basilica plan, broad gables, and high flat brick walls. The sermons were in Dutch and English into the late 19th century. The landmark church has been converted into the Jamaica Performing Arts Center managed by Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.
Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
161-04 Jamaica Avenue
Built in 1896, this neo-Italian Renaissance style building has lower floor deep rustication, a strong entablature over the lower floors, and a wrought iron railing crowning the entrance. Home of Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, this vibrant landmark building houses a 1,650 square-foot visual arts gallery, a 99-seat proscenium theatre, painting and dance studios, a ceramics studio, a computer lab, and a music studio.
The Firehouse
89-56 162nd Street
Built in 1925, this former firehouse was renovated by Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. GJDC owns and operates the landmark building, renting it as offices for two non-profit organizations.
The Borough Office Building
90-04 161st Street
Built in 1929 and designed by the architectural firm Dennison and Hirons, this art deco building is a striking structure with bronze doorways and polychrome terracotta floral designs set into a limestone facade. The eight-story building was contributed in 1980 by Fred C. Trump.
The Tabernacle of Prayer (former Loews Valencia Theater)
165-11 Jamaica Avenue
The Loew’s Valencia Theater, designed by John Eberson, opened in 1929 and was Queens’ major first-run theater for nearly 50 years. The beautiful space has a ceiling filled with moving clouds and twinkling stars along with graceful arches, statuary, and a fish pond in the lobby. Since 1977, the landmark building has served as the Tabernacle of Prayer for All People.
Jamaica Business Resource Center
90-33 160th Street
Step back into classic 1930s New York in this little-changed block of Jamaica. Renovated in 1934, this building was outfitted with a new art moderne facade while the interior was transformed into the restaurant and nightclub, La Casina–still the only known example of an art moderne nightclub in New York. An exquisite renovation of this landmark was completed for the Jamaica Business Resource Center’s offices.
York College, City University of New York
94-20 Guy Brewer Boulevard
York College, the City University of New York’s newest senior college, offers baccalaureate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, accounting and business, communications technology, computer science, social work, teacher education, and various health professions. It is the first CUNY school to offer a comprehensive program in aviation studies, and is the only CUNY senior college offering majors in gerontology, biotechnology, information systems management and a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
The campus is also home to the regional office and laboratory of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, visit http://www.york.cuny.edu.