Jason Samstein

Dashiell Lumas

Forest Hills

Forest Hills is a unique neighborhood, both for it’s cultural diversity and it’s uniquely educated populous.  While New York is often known as a “melting pot” of cultures, this has often indicated large blocks of segregated ethnicities, rather then an integrated whole. Forest Hills, however, could possibly be an indication of a changing of trends. Located in the borough of Queens, New York, Forest Hills is home to approximately 69,266 residents, 31,485 males and 37,781 females. In addition, my bike got stolen here. Dashiell Lumas’ bike got stolen out of his driveway in broad daylight in Forest Hills. That just goes to show that even an affluent neighborhood is not without its fair share of crime, and statistics are not necessarily accurate predictors of crime.

Crime

In fact, the crime statistics do tell a bit of a different story. Forest Hills crime rates are so notoriously low that it is often referred to as “the snooze precinct.” As we’ll see this is in line with the perceived utopia of living in Forest Hills. However, tales like those of Mr. Lumas may be indicative of the influence of crime in surrounding neighborhoods. For instance, precinct 103 has seen almost double the crime in 2012, and has witnessed a late increase in crime over the last two years. This means that although crime increase in Forest Hills is non-existent, just the fact that Forest Hills is surrounded by crime-ridden neighborhoods could have an impact on its populace.

Diverse

Forest Hills is a relatively diverse neighborhood. 59.58% of the people in Forest Hills identify themselves as White, 23.70% Asian, 12.03% Hispanic, and 3.73% Black. Surprisingly, about 47 per cent of Forest Hills residents are foreign-born. In comparison, the New York City average for Whites is 43.9 %, 12.8 % Asian, 28.8%, and Black: 24.9%. As is evident by the demographics, there are more White people in Forest hills than in the rest of the city, on average. However, this trend is beginning to change. In particular, the Asian demographic in Forest Hills has increased by roughly 26% from the year 2010 to 2012. The white demographics have seen correlated decline. What this may mean is that a steady increase in immigration has shaken up, the usual block structure of these neighbors. New York has always been known for constant change and this may be another new development with numerous implications.

Forest Hills also has a unique historic element. It is perhaps most remember as the home to the US Open Tennis Tournament. A hired architect constructed many of the homes as part of a planned garden city in 1939, making most buildings relatively old. In addition, Forest Hills was home to such famous characters as Peter Parker in Spiderman. Forest Hills is the real life hometown to famous artists The Ramones as well as Simon & Garfunkel and Ray Romano. The main subway stations are the 71^st ave Subway station (E,F,R,M) and the Kew-Gardens Union Turnpike station (E,F). The principal streets and thoroughfares in Forest Hills are Austin St (Shopping), Metropolitan Avenue (Vintage Shops) and Queens Boulevard (Multi-lane highway). Queens Boulevard is also home to Queens Center Mall, the primary shopping center for most Forest Hills residents (and a common hang-out spot for teenagers). Some major schools in the area include Forest Hills High School, Russell Sage Middle School and P.S. 101 elementary school in the gardens. The main outdoor recreational sites are Forest Park and Flushing-Meadows Corona Park.

Economics

Forest Hills is perhaps most prominently known for its wealth. A vast majority of the town is home to citizens in an upper-middle class income range. The town, founded in the 1910’s, was originally intended to be for low-end income families. This plan backfired, however because the price of the housing actually skyrocketed. In fact, in the end this area became one of the higher end areas in all of New York, the Forest Hills Gardens. The neighborhoods poorest area is the northwest edge of Forest Hills, where low incoming housing project lies.

The median household income for Forest Hills residents is $71,805. The median household income for New York city is an estimated $78,403. The mean household income for Forest Hills is roughly $93,000. This reflects Forest Hills relative affluency compared to the rest of New York. The mean household income for residents in New York $78,400. The disparity between mean household income and median household income is always a good indicator of the gap between the rich and the poor. As evident by the statistics from Forest Hills in relation to New York city, we can conclude that the gap in Forest Hills is extremely large (a difference of about $20,000). Interestingly enough, however, for New York City as a whole, the gap is even higher, $30,000. Yet, the $93,527 mean household income of Forest Hills nevertheless suggests that the community is highly affluent.  Once again, we see that the expected income is higher then that of New York city overall, given the value of the property in Forest Hills.

Forest Hills relative affluence is reflected in others statistics as well. The percentage of people below the poverty line in New York City as whole is 20.9%. However, in Forest Hills that number is at a relatively low 7%. This is reflected even further when looking at the number of families are below the poverty line. In New York 18% of families are below the poverty line; compared to only 5.4% within Forest Hills.

Some Social Dynamics

Reflecting on Forest Hills’s social statistics also reveals some interesting dynamics. While the average household size in New York is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.47, Forest Hills actually remains behind those average: 2.1 and 2.9 respectively. This brings to light some interesting questions about the dynamics and relationship between wealth and family size. One might have thought the apparent affluence of Forest Hills would have led to a higher average family size, but it seems to have worked in the opposite direction.

However, marital status statistic further complicates the picture. The New York City average of people never married is 46%.  In forest Hills, that number is as low 31.5%, which is a very interesting dynamic.

Forest Hills educational level is one of its more staggering characteristics. While in the United States only 28.2% of residents achieve a Bachelor’s degree. This statistic is significantly higher in Forest Hills at 53.8%. In fact, some studies indicate that this level of education is higher then over 98% of neighborhoods in the country. Overall, what can be said of Forest Hills is that the quality of life (education and income of residents) is significantly higher than that of New York City by comparison, which means that Forest Hills may be a more desirable neighborhood to live in than most throughout the city.

Other Interesting Articles

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ny/queens/forest-hills/#desc

http://www.urbanresearchmaps.org/plurality/

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/realestate/nabe-forest-hills.html

Flushing Queens: Main Street

Flushing, Queens: American Melting Pot on a High Boil

Chidi B. Nnaji and Joyce Chan

Formerly know as the Dutch colony Vlissingen, Flushing has today evolved into one of the major tourist attracting places in Queens, NY.

Main Street, Flushing

To the many residents of and commuters to Queens, the phrase “main street, flushing” calls to mind many main street-unique memories: the smell of charcoal and sultry charred lamb, beef, pork, and chicken kebabs from smoky BBQ carts in front of a Chase bank and images of corners and sidewalks of supermarkets crowded with people gravitating around Hong Kong and Chung Fat Supermarket, to name a few.

The intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Ave is the third busiest intersection in New York City, after Times Square and Herald Square; so those visiting from outside New York City that find themselves in Flushing en route to Manhattan may mistake it for the heart of the city itself (well, a mini one).

The Food!!!

So just what is it that makes up the hustle and bustle of this unique, cultural center? A long history of immigrant businesses and dreams.

Many people who have visited Flushing will often recall certain restaurants or eateries that they visited: most of these places were started by immigrants, or are immigrant-owned.  They are what helped to shape the uniqueness of Main Street and draw visitors from various parts of the globe. Some of the most popular places include Taipan Bakery, Joe Shanghai’s, and the basement packed with regional Chinese cuisines in the fairly new New World mall.  Aside from Chinese cuisine, some of the other popular food choices are Korean shabu-shabu, Vietnamese pho, Japanese sushi and sashimi, halal, and Taiwanese bubble milk tea (because some of the first Asian immigrants to Flushing were from Taiwan, it’s no wonder that bubble tea places such as Kung Fu Tea, Chatime, and Quickly’s have been such a huge success).

According to an account by Zhang Pingping (the man who started the Celebrity Travel Service, one of the oldest Asian immigrant-started businesses in Flushing), “[the] elders blamed us for being ‘so bold’ and having the audacity to set up a business in the ‘drug-infested area’… Actually, 40^th Road [Flushing] was at the time just a distribution center for marijuana.”  It’s really difficult to imagine how the Flushing of thirty years ago compares to the Flushing of today.

Chinatown

If you were to take a poll in Queens and ask the first place to come to mind when one hears the word “Chinatown,” there is a high probability that 90 percent of responses would read, “flushing.” If you haven’t already guessed from the previous paragraphs, Flushing, Queens is considered the Chinatown of Queens. However, unlike the Chinatown of Manhattan, Flushing is a more urban Chinatown with a significant Korean population. Those from Murray Hill (a neighborhood adjacent to the neighborhood of Flushing that has a strong Korean community) would tell you that people travel to Main Street for shopping, food, and education (school or after-school tutoring programs).

So next time you’re looking for a little city excitement without all the crowdedness of Times Square, check out Main Street!

 

Chinatown

CHINATOWN – A Snapshot
By Katie Cheng & Paul Shapturenko

US Census data does not offer data profiling on Chinatown alone. Instead, the data provided covers an area of three zip codes, collectively dubbed Lower East Side/Chinatown (LESC). Despite this grouping, specific trends can be highlighted regarding this area’s Chinese/Asian population.

Like many neighborhoods around the city, Chinatown is clearly defined by trees and concrete: namely, by Columbus Park and Lafayette Street from the west, and Seward Park and Grand Street from the east.

On weekend mornings, one can make out the usual group of middle-aged Chinese practicing t’ai chi ch’uan, commonly known here as “tai chi”, and picnic benches full of mahjong players. Shopkeepers tend to open early, so shopping connoisseurs and bargain hunters would be wise to come shortly after dawn.

Upon a tourist’s first glance, the area gives an impression of a busy commercial and residential center. The streets are filled with residents and curious tourists alike who are shopping, eating out, or just visiting. It is one of the busier areas of NYC, as there are nearly as many people outside in the nighttime. Walking on Mott Street northward towards Grand, one sees banks, restaurants, specialty shops, bakeries, jewelry stores, street vendors, and signs for medical services and professionals. For many visitors, Chinatown is a cornerstone tourist attraction; as a result, its permanent residents and their lifestyle is obscured by the constant masses of people in the area. A careful examination of readily available Census data shows that this neighborhood and its residents exist as a distinct entity, living side by side with long term residents of the more general Census-covered LESC area.

Figure 1. Data from US Census Bureau 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

A profile of Chinatown can be constructed based on the 2009-2011 Census report characteristics. During this period, statistics show that about 25% (Number of foreign-born Asians/Total population) of the LESC total population is born in “Asia” compared to the area’s “Foreign-born” population of 36% (Foreign-born population/Total Population). This indicates that more than half of this area’s foreign-born residents are from Asia.

Chinatown is a changing neighborhood impacted by immigration trends, economic trends, and by the residents who choose to live in this neighborhood. Behind the Chinese stores and restaurants are residents that go to school, work, and live in the neighborhood. As stated previously, those classified as “foreign-born” represent about36% of the total population of this neighborhood. Surprisingly, there is no data which identifies the specific language or dialect spoken by its foreign-born populations, although Asia is extremely diverse in its linguistic roots and evolved modern counterparts. Therefore, we believe that a more complete profile of this neighborhood should include information about specific languages or even dialects spoken at home. This data will more accurately portray Chinatown’s consituent population, and allow for a concise yet specific geographical mapping of its origins.

Although Asian immigration to New York City has been on the rise in the past decade, Chinatown’s population has been on a relatively steep decline. According to Census data, the five-year span between 2006 and 2011 saw the LESC population decline by some 15,710 people, or 9.6%, and specifically a 14% decline in the Asian population. Even if a third of this decline comes from Chinatown itself, it is still in substantial conflict with growing Asian immigration. An explanation for such a phenomenon could be the crowding-out of either residential or commercial sectors, a predominantly non-Chinese Asian influx into the city, or the return of many to their homeland. The latter theory could very well be the most plausible; it appears Chinatown has become increasingly commercialized, sometimes even offering more consumer goods and services than lodging or residential property.

The reasons behind this trend, dubbed the “Chinese Dream” by writer Bonnie Tsui, is similar to the American Dream in its manner of extraordinary upward economic mobility. Now, foreign-born Chinese immigrants to the US are returning to China in increasing numbers. The Chinese government has provided incentives for the move back in the form of financial aid, cash bonuses, tax breaks, and housing assistance. Additionally, labor shortages in China and higher unemployment in the U.S. have contributed to the outflux. To a large extent, Chinatown is suffering from a loss in economic appeal of the entire United States.

Figure 2. Data from US Census Bureau 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. Note: Legend represents household income values in thousands, USD.

Apparently, distraught residents of Chinatown have taken notice of this trend, and have several theories of their own. A Dec. ’08 report by the Coalition Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV) cites gentrification as a major factor in Chinatown’s decreasing number of Chinese residents and local businesses. They state that the development of “trendy” new restaurants and luxury condominiums are to blame for skyrocketing rent and property prices, not to mention other negative spillovers such as neighborhood criminalization. This would undoubtedly repel potential Chinatown inhabitants, many of whom are low-income residents and small-business owners. New businesses cater to a much wealthier clientele, further widening the considerable sociocultural gap in the neighborhood.

Central Harlem

By: Morgan Flynn and Abin  Sajan

Through 20s and 30s, Central Harlem was the site of a revolutionary cultural change in the African American community. The “new negro movement”, later known as theHarlem Renaissance is responsible for some artistic legends such as Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, etc. Before the Harlem Renaissance, middle and upper class white families mainly occupied Harlem. A shift in ethnicities occurred as the Harlem Renaissance captivated national attention. Middle and upper class white families left the area and African-Americans moved in from around the nation.

Even today, this stronghold of African-Americans has survived for over a hundred years. Those who are of African American/Black race make up approximately 68.9% of the entire population in Central Harlem. However, due to an increase in student population and the relative affordability of housing in the area, the white population has started to grow up to 19.3%, which when taking into account how strong the African American presence is in Central Harlem, is a fairly large percentage of the population. This growth of the white population has much to do with the decrease in the crime rate in this area, which has gone down significantly in the past ten years, making the area more appealing to outsiders. Arguably the largest factor in the increase of whites in Central Harlem is the amount of prime, affordable real estate that is manageable to young adults, either studying in college or jump starting their career and looking for a long term stay in an area that is relatively safe and not as hard on their wallets.

Race alone or in combination with one or more other races
Total population	124,233	+/-4,592	124,233
White	23,960	+/-2,140	19.3%
Black or African American	85,603	+/-3,773	68.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native	1,180	+/-384	0.9%
Asian	4,830	+/-996	3.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	N	N	N
Some other race	13,929	+/-2,072	11.2%

When looking at the type of households that occur in Central Harlem, the previous statement of young adults moving to the area for opportunity rings true. Of the total households in the area, 50.7% of them are nonfamily households, and of that percentage only 12.7% are ages sixty five and over, and an overwhelming 43.0% are living alone. Of all the households, an astonishing 60.4% included individuals who have never been married. This makes sense when considering the students that have migrated from expensive housing in the Upper West Side upwards to Central Harlem, where they would not have a family to raise or a significant other because they are still fairly young. However, the percentage of family households is not to go unnoticed. Of the 49.3% of family households living in the area, 24.2% have children under the age of eighteen. From this number it is safe to assume that these are relatively young parents with small children, who are also looking for a cheaper place to live than a more expensive apartment further downtown. Both statistics involving households prove the notion that young adults, whether they are of African American or white race, are migrating towards Central Harlem at a larger rate than before.

HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE
Total households	51,743	+/-1,671	51,743
With own children under 18 years	6,900	+/-770	13.3%
Nonfamily households	26,255	+/-1,512	50.7%
Householder living alone	22,244	+/-1,501	43.0%
65 years and over	6,577	+/-735	12.7%
Households with one or more people under 18 years	14,991	+/-1,228	29.0%
Households with one or more people 65 years and over	10,633	+/-782	20.5%

Central Harlem has never been an area where incomes were particularly high, as many Americans nowadays are struggling to find a job after the devastating recession. While more than half of the population, 59.8% of the population to be exact, a shocking 40.2% of people living in Central Harlem are not in the labor force. Because of this, it is not hard to believe that 23.7% of the population uses Food Stamps/SNAP benefits in order to pay for household necessities.  Overall, 24.2% of all families in Central Harlem are below the poverty level.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Population 16 years and over	101,376	+/-3,444	101,376
In labor force	60,613	+/-2,979	59.8%
Civilian labor force	60,613	+/-2,979	59.8%
Employed	51,811	+/-2,636	51.1%
Unemployed	8,802	+/-977	8.7%
Armed Forces	0	+/-115	0.0%
Not in labor force	40,763	+/-2,477	40.2%
Civilian labor force	60,613	+/-2,979	60,613
Percent Unemployed	(X)	(X)	14.5%
Females 16 years and over	56,095	+/-2,225	56,095
In labor force	31,993	+/-1,781	57.0%
Civilian labor force	31,993	+/-1,781	57.0%
Employed	27,601	+/-1,486	49.2%

 

Upper West Side

By: Brian Wang

Big Nicks Burger and Pizza Joint
(Source: http://tinyurl.com/a4eebx6)

If you happen to walk by West 79th St and Broadway on any given day at lunchtime, you’ll probably find a large line waiting to get in what appears to be a whole-in-the-wall restaurant. At a closer inspection, you’ll find that the restaurant’s name is “Big Nick’s Burger and Pizza Joint.” Since the 1960s, Big Nick’s has provided a huge array of food from an enormous, 13-page menu to patrons at affordable prices. But that might all change. Big Nick’s may close in the future because of a 50%, or $20,000 per month, rent hike for a 1,000 square foot piece of property. Welcome to the Upper West Side.

Nestled between Columbus Circle and approximately 110^th St between Central Park West and 12^th Avenue is the quaint, primarily residential neighborhood of The Upper West Side. In fact, nearly 90% of the employed workforce commutes to work with an average commute time of 29.5 minutes. Tourists might stop to look at landmarks such as the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, or even Macaulay Honors College. Casual New Yorkers might stop by for a break from the hustle-and-bustle of Midtown by strolling past the countless apartments, grabbing a bite at one of the neighborhoods many established restaurants, or shopping at one of the many mom-and-pop stores or chains. But what lies behind the surface of the Upper West Side? What are the people like? What about the real estate? Just by digging lightly into the Upper West Side, you can find many interesting economical details of the neighborhood.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Upper West Side is the high income and educational levels of the residents. How high? The per capita income, which measures

Upper West Side residential apartments. Photo by Nathaniel Arnold.

income per person, is approximately $82,987, well above the same number for New York City, $31,417. Going further, the median family income is about $153,912, which is nearly three times the New York City median family income. Since the median household income for the Upper West Side is almost $100,000 above the median family income at $242,596, we can assume that the family income distribution heavily favors the upper end of the income spectrum. What makes the per capita income so high? Without more comprehensive studies, it is difficult find causation for the above question. To provide answers, we would have to study the movement of people in and out of the Upper West Side and correlate them with other factors, such as real estate prices, development, etc. For example, it is possible that rich families moved to the Upper West Side because they could afford the high real estate prices or that families obtained positions of high income because they came from a wealthy area.

However, the statistics regarding education can provide evidence of correlation with high income. Of the population 25 and older, 75.6% have a bachelors, or graduate/doctoral degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who hold Bachelors and graduate/doctoral degrees combined make a median of $1,400 per week, nearly 75% more than the median weekly income across the United States.

Another interesting thing you’ll notice is that the Upper West Side is expensive to live in. Those small, one or two bedroom apartments you passed while walking along Columbus Avenue or Central Park West? The average price one of those is $950,000, plus nearly $2,000 a month of fees. (For comparison’s sake, that same $950,000 will get you a spacious house in Great Neck.). Situated next to those multi-million dollar apartment complexes, however, are often rent-stabilized housing projects that may cost under $400 a month to live in. As a result of the many low-cost, government-funded housing options available in the Upper West Side, it isn’t too surprising that approximately 10% of families have an income below $25,000, placing most of them below the poverty level.

For now, enjoy small scale establishments like Big Nick’s Burger and Pizza Joint while you can. As the Upper West Side becomes more commercialized, developed, and expensive to live in, you’ll start to see more and more complexes such as Columbus Square, a set of expensive apartments and retail space (mostly for large chain stores) spring up and take the place of mom-and-pop shops. Walk down any street after school hours and you can already see the effects of commercialization: you’ll see elementary-school aged students waving around the newest smartphones while their parents follow along carrying designer bags and wearing designer clothing.

Greenwich Village

By: Medwin Chiu and Liudi Yang

Amidst the honking traffic, the scurrying of people, and the sauna effect of steam vents, there is a quaint little neighborhood away from all the clatter. With just a turn or two from the red subway line, the surrounds change to what seems like a Queens neighborhood smack in the middle of lower Manhattan. This is Greenwich Village. Next to it, in the Financial District we see a continuation of what one envisions Manhattan to be like. While Greenwich looks more peaceful and quiet, with small historical tenement buildings, the Financial District is busy and loud with towering skyscrapers. These two places make up a majority of lower Manhattan. Greenwich Village has a very rich history of immigration patterns. Serious immigration did not take place here until the late 19th century when it started to give characteristic to the neighborhood as seen here. What was the home of the upper class became overwhelmed with French, Irish, and Italian immigrants, making the area more commercialized. However, as seen here, this new tenement district also attracted artists and bohemians who found the area desirable due to low rent. Fast forward to today, we see an impressive neighborhood that very diverse in culture thanks to its colorful past. Geographically, Greenwich Village is the area between Houston and 14th St, from the Hudson River to Broadway Avenue The Financial District, on the other hand, is the area below Chambers St. from the East River to the Hudson River. However, for purposes of this report, the demographic information is about the people who live below 14th St. from the Hudson River to Bowery, part of both these neighborhoods. Known for one of the symbols of American capitalism, Wall Street, the Financial District houses many other institutions of finance. It gets it’s fair share of tourists, whether it be for the Charging Bull or the famous Tiffany’s and Co. in the area. The demographics of Greenwich Village and the Financial District in the modern day is an interesting view of a part of New York City. We will explore it further throughout this blog post.

What characterizes an average American? Well, it would be someone who lives in the suburbs, a parent, eats an average of 25 pounds of candy a year, go to bed at midnight, and own at least one pet, according to the 2000 census as discussed in an NPR “Talk of the Nation” session. People who live in Greenwich Village and the Financial District are nothing like the typical American based on the American Community Survey (ACS) from the United States Census Bureau. First off, as seen in this table, the economics of the people who live in this area are nothing like what represents an average American. The salary people earn has a median of $108,446. This is more than twice the national average. At $995,100 as the median housing value, you’ll find the explanation for a lot of the demographic trends. 75.7% of the people who live in this area are in the work field. Many of them have occupations in the management, business, science, and art fields. Looking at The Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce website, you can see a reflection of this diverse group of workers. From the Consultant groups to the Blue Note Jazz Club, The Greenwich area has many opportunities for the young workers.

When you think of those sappy love dramas in NYC, the main characters usually live in the Village. This is because the  Village is a relatively young section of NYC with about 44% of the population in this area between the ages of 20 and 40. What’s more interesting is that about 57% of the entire population is single. Based on this information, it can be inferred that many young people do move into the Village area to seek out a potential love life. Now, if you were to predict a change within the next 10 years of this area of Manhattan, you would probably not see much of a change. This is because of a low fertility rate among women, as seen in this chart, which says that only about 2000 women give birth every year. This population isn’t going anywhere anytime soon either. The Village will continue to be a hub for the young people of New York.

Despite its youthfulness, Greenwich Village and the Financial District are not too terribly diverse areas of NYC. The population of Greenwich and the Financial District has an overwhelming amount of Caucasians, as seen from this chart. With 76.6% of the area comprised of them, it is clear that they dominate the area. The next largest demographic group would be Asians, which comprise of a fair amount of the population, 14.5%. With the culturally diverse and artistic group of youths we see in the area, diversity in ethnicity of the dwellers is something that is lacking in this area of Manhattan.

By looking at the “Educational Attainment” section of this chart from earlier, the majority of the population here is well educated. “Education is the key to success” they say. We can definitely see a correlation between the level of education and the income levels of these neighborhoods. With almost 80% of the population having a bachelor’s or graduate degree, the population of Greenwich is definitely comprised of individuals who are seeking advancements in their careers early on. We could also see why people of the Financial District would have a strong educational background.

Greenwich Village and the Financial District is one of the most modern and more youthful areas of Manhattan. Looking towards the future, should we expect a change in the population? Seeing the price of living and the overall environment of the area, this trend won’t be changing anytime soon.