Is Jamaica the Next Up and Coming Neighborhood?

In mid-February, permits were filed to begin construction of a 24-story apartment building in Jamaica, Queens on 94th Avenue. The building will be walking distance from the Jamaica LIRR train station and Sutphin Boulevard - Archer Avenue JFK subway station which offers access to the E,J, and Z trains. This new site is said to offer 522 apartments, where tenants will have access to: 114 parking spaces, a dog washroom, a screening room, two fitness centers, a library, and outdoor terraces on the 5th and 23rd floors, in addition to the rooftop terrace.

Will this new development be the beginning of gentrification in the neighborhood?

Jamaica, Queens is a predominantly low- to middle- income African-American (with a significant Central American and middle eastern population) neighborhood. The town shopping area, Jamaica Center has a plethora of small local shops, offering clothing at discounted prices, shoes and accessories, and Caribbean and African goods, as well as larger stores like, Old Navy, The Children's Place, and a mini-mall with shops geared towards teenagers. Outside of the center, the rest of the neighborhood is mainly residential, with few food shops, hair and nail salons, and parks.

With the new housing development, incoming residents can potentially bring in more businesses to help the community thrive. It's convenient location near public transportation can make Jamaica the new "cool place to be". But with the new (potential) influx of Chipotles, Starbucks, and vintage boutiques that come along with the Coolest Neighborhood title, puts current residents in a position that might cost them their homes in the event of inflated property prices.