Jackson Heights Historic District Designation

October of 1993 the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate a section of Jackson Heights as a historic district, ending a struggle that begun in the 1980s. This move by the Landmarks Preservation Commission was designed to protect the area’s buildings from a potential change to it’s original character. Over 200 buildings and private homes lay within the designated district borders, between Roosevelt and 34th Avenues, from 76th to 88th Street

Historic District Borders
Credit: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

English Garden Homes in Jackson Heights
Credit: John Roleke

The commission’s unanimous vote, and the ratification by the city council proved to be a huge win for the group of residents who fought for landmark status in Jackson Heights dating back to 1980.

• The 1980 campaign began when Community Board 3 asked the commission to consider landmarking a portion of Jackson Heights. However, due to large hurdles such as former borough president Donald Manes, who used his seat on the Board of Estimate to block landmark designations in Queens.
• The tide will eventually shift by the late 1980s when Manes committed suicide and when changes to the city charter were made giving the city council to ratify landmark designations, and in 1988 the Jackson Heights Beautification Group launched a campaign to promote the landmark designation.
• The push by the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, which is comprised of primarily white business owners and professionals, lead to the eventual restoration of the old Jackson Heights with the creation of the Historic District, which many residents have labeled “White Jackson Heights”