History
Through observation some of things that can be gleaned about the history of Kew Gardens are the old neighborhoods characterized by old buildings. The first apartment that was built in the Kew Gardens was in Kew Bolmer followed by clubhouse and private schools. Later on larger apartments were built in Kew Gardens between 1915 and 1918 and they include: high-rise and Kent Manor buildings which are allocated along Queens Boulevard. Some old Roads and railroads were built in neo-Tudor and English styles which are still in use till today in the southern parts of Kew Gardens.
In 1910, Kew Gardens went through major development which included extension of streets, installation of sewer and water pipes. Later on, multi-family homes and complex apartments were built in Kew Gardens which brought demographic change in the city. I have lived in Kew Gardens for 8 years now and the area has indeed changed. There are finer buildings, the roads have become better and the environment is cool with green environment.
Demographics
Kew Gardens is a densely populated community with Lefferts Boulevard as its commercial center. There are different ethnic groups living in Kew Gardens with the majority being the whites (66.2%) followed by Latino (20%), Asians (13.0%), there are also Black Americans (7.0%) and lastly Alaska Native and American Indian make 0.3% of the population (Hart 2009). Kew Gardens have experienced a change in demographics of its neighborhoods over the past years; the Asian and Hispanic population have tremendously grown. The total population size of Kew Gardens is estimated to be more than 25,769.
The population consists of both aged and young female and male people. Most people living in Kew Gardens have family and this is evident by the large number of schools available in the area. Despite the fact that the residents enjoy diversity, most people do not own homes in Kew Gardens which have led to division of the people creating disharmony. There are homeless people in the area. The whites are more apparent in the area since they occupy fine apartments and multi-family homes in the region.
Ethnicity
There are many indicators of diverse ethnic groups in Kew Gardens. There are synagogues which show that there are Jewish people in Kew Gardens. Korean population increased in Kew Gardens which led to rededication and renovation of First Church in Kew Gardens. The church mainly offers their services in Korean language. The local cuisine prepared in Kew Garden restaurants reflects diversity in ethnic groups.
Many religious groups like the Hindus, Jews and the Muslims usually shop at the bazaars and local markets in Kew Gardens and they also get to buy religious foods sold in these areas. The predominant language spoken in Kew Gardens is English since the white people form the majority of the population (Krawitz 2008). However due to ethnic diversity, other languages such as Chinese are also heard in Kew Gardens.
Religion, Values and Beliefs
There are many religious groups in Kew Gardens. There are Muslims who worship in the mosques, Jews have built synagogues where they go to worship, Christians have built churches where they worship their God and Hindus have built temples where they carry out their worship services. The churches, mosques and temples are respected places hence are only used for religious purposes. There is no evidence of worship places being used for other purposes apart from regular religious/holy days.
Boundaries
There are no landmark protections in Kew Gardens (Rimer 2007). There are however signs that show where neighborhood begins and ends. Natural boundaries such as rivers and hills/mountains are present but they are not many. However physical boundaries such as railroads, highways are what is mainly used in Kew Gardens to show the beginning and the end of a neighborhood. There are also real estates and industries in the area that can be used to differentiate where a neighborhood begins and ends.
Commercial units and residential houses can also be used as landmarks. All the neighborhoods in Kew Gardens have an identity which is usually displayed at specific points with the name on it. There are however some people who refer to some neighborhood with unofficial names but when it comes to displaying of the names, they do not usually consider using unofficial names.
Physical Environment
Most residents in Kew Gardens are surrounded by Forest Park. The region is greenery and quiet enabling the residents to enjoy their stay. The green spaces around Kew Garden residents are of high quality and are well preserved and maintained. There are private roads in Kew Gardens where residents of the area can walk or jog all the year round. There are also some paths which are reserved mainly for horseback riding and hiking for those who reside in the area.
There is Long Island Railroad which is convenient and E and F trains on Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard which make Kew Gardens an excellent choice of place to reside in. The streams, rivers and ponds present in Kew Gardens bring out the natural beauty of the area. The size of 6bedroomed house in Kew Gardens with 2 baths is 4,510 Sq Ft 4,510 Sq Ft Lot while 3bedroomed house with 4baths is 4,848 Sq Ft Lot and 2bedroomed house with 1bath being 900 sqft (Hart 2009).
Housing
Kew Gardens has many apartment buildings which are four to ten stories high. Most of these apartments are for rental while others are for co-op. There are family homes and single family homes in Kew Gardens. There are however no apartment complexes in the region. Most houses are detached or connected. Some building such as Silver Towers in Kew Gardens was finished in 1800s and this shows how old some builds are in the region (Bortolot 2008).
The materials used to build the houses in Kew Gardens are mainly bricks which are dated. The interior parts of the apartments have been well maintained and updated. This means that there are no signs of disrepair such as locks missing and broken doors and windows. The surrounding is clean with no trash around the homes. Since most of the houses are updated, some have air conditioning while others have modern plumbing. There are lawns, flowers and gardens around some apartments in Kew Gardens.
Economy
Kew Gardens is a thriving community with locally-owned restaurants and businesses mainly on Austin St., Lefferts Blvd., Kew Gardens Rd and metropolitan Ave. There are many stores, office buildings, banks and industries that bring money to the region. There are restaurants, fast food places and bars in Kew Gardens that also have an impact on its economy. Most people shops in convenience stores and also in the supermarkets (Barry 1999).
There are markets where people shop for other necessities such as appliances and clothing. These goods can also be found in boutiques and supermarkets. There are signs that food stamps are used in Kew Gardens. Most people living in Kew Gardens have median income. The unemployment rate in Kew Gardens is 8.90%.
Transportation and Safety
There are major international airports in Kew Gardens and quite a number of municipal airports and trains which can help people get in and out of the neighborhood. There are also taxi services but they are costly which can enable someone to reach Kew Gardens. The taxi services and buses act as public transport in Kew Gardens.
Most people use cars or bicycles for private transport. There are sidewalks and bike paths in the region which means that the elderly or disabled people can get around the community. There are fire services and police stations that protect the entire neighborhood in Kew Gardens. People living in Kew Gardens do not feel much safe due to the high number of robbery in the region. Most people are also at high risk of murder, burglary and assault.
Education
There are hundreds of schools in Kew Gardens. There are several public schools, private schools and traditional education in the region. There are colleges, schools and pre-schools in Kew Gardens. The buildings are in good condition since some are new while the old ones are normally repaired and updated. There are many libraries in the region. The local board of education is responsible for activities taking place in schools and colleges in Kew Gardens. Most schools in Kew Gardens have good reputation.
Some of the major educational issues affecting schools are disciple, theft and bullying. School dropout rate is 4.2%. Extracurricular activities available in schools are: sports, camping and drama festival which are normally carried out every term. Every school has health service and school nurses to take care of the students in case of emergency.
References
Barry, L. (1999). Kew Gardens: Urban Village in the Big City. New Jersey: Arron’s Educational Series.
Bortolot, L. (2008). Kew Gardens, Queens. New York: Free Press.
Hart, G. (2009). Kew Gardens of Today: A Far Cry from 50 years ago. New York: Community News.
Krawitz, A. (2008). Kew Gardens: Quiet and Leafy Location. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston Publishers.
Rimer, S. (2007). Queens Streets: City Hall Seems Very Distant. New York: The New York Times.