District Profile

Queens Community Board 13 is located in East/Southeast Queens with the Grand Central Parkway as its northern border, Francis Lewis Boulevard going to Springfield Boulevard as its western border, JFK Airport as its southern border and the Nassau County line as its eastern border. It is made up primarily of one- and two-family homes, with three large clusters of garden coop apartments and a scattering of apartment buildings. The district encompasses sixteen distinct communities, which includes: Bellaire, Bellerose, Brookville, Cambria Heights, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Laurelton, Meadowmere, New Hyde Park, North Shore Towers, Parkside Terrace, Queens Village, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Warnerville and Wayanda. There is a strong sense of neighborhood identification in each of these communities. One community may fight for a long awaited library, while another struggles with clean streets and an influx of renters due to illegal conversions. Many of our neighborhoods have a desperate need for street resurfacing, or more accurately street reconstruction; yet, often this is delayed because of sub-surface DEP projects that are planned for upcoming fiscal years. Other communities suffer from regular flooding or chronic illegal dumping.

Other issues affect the entire board such as a proliferation of group homes and day programs significantly beyond the fair share due our communities. There are many dead trees and tree branch complaints, and residential yards and driveways being used as auto repair facilities. The many beautiful parks and playgrounds in the district need more staff and equipment for the tremendous maintenance demands.

This district has a large senior population, growing larger as people tend more to stay in the area as opposed to migrating to the south. The district's overall population is increasing. The transition in many communities involves immigrants and young families with children moving into the community and requiring services. Developers look for open lots to build with variances, or to demolished viable one and two family homes to build larger multi-family buildings. While these buildings add to the amount of available housing, often they do not in appearance complement the surrounding houses. Many young families are moving in adding to the diversity and vibrancy of our district. However, these younger couples create need for more classrooms and additional after-school activities. The growing youth population trend indicates a critical need for programming to provide activities for youth.

View Queens Community Board 13's District Profile