1. Hasin I. Ahmed
June 9, 2015
Field Visit
Neighborhood: Elmhurst, Queens, NYC
Date: June 7th, 2015
The borough of Queens is the most diverse county of New York state and the
neighborhood of Elmhurst serves as an example of that testament. Elmhurst is located
in the very center of Queens; surrounded by the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights,
Corona, Woodside, and Middle Village. As a result of its central location, the
neighborhood has residents from a wide array of backgrounds. It is not unusual to
notice storefront signs in different languages, such as Spanish, Cantonese, Thai, and
Korean. The central location has become a hub for international economic activities due
to the presence of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) that are owned by the
large immigrant community. From my walk around Elmhurst to Corona, I have
witnessed businesses from several regions around the globe, such as Central America,
South America, South Asia, South-East Asia, East Asia, etc.
Elmhurst houses a small Chinatown, which serves as a satellite for the larger
Chinatown of Queens, which is located further northwest in Flushing. Like any
Chinatown, food serves as the epicenter of the neighborhoods social activities. There
are several grocery stores that sell products imported directly from other Asian
countries, not only China. Moreover, there is a presence of a diverse range of cuisines,
such as Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean and many more
besides the usual Chinese restaurants. Religious institutions also serve as key element
of the social fabric of the neighborhood. For examples, within a two-mile radius, there is
a Hindu temple, a mosque, a Korean church, a Chinese church, and a Buddhist
meditation center.
Elmhurst’s close proximity to Manhattan also puts it at the forefront of
gentrification that has been occurring in other parts of Queens and New York City. For
example, there are many high-rise housing and commercial projects under construction
at the moment. Elmhurst is located in a prime location and it is likely that upon
completion of these projects, property will increase and there might be an influx of new
migrants from within New York City that belong to a higher economic bracket.
Additionally, the neighborhood houses several entertainment/shopping amenities, such
as the Queens Center mall, which already draws in consumers from all over the
borough and it might even serve as complementary factor for the upcoming housing
projects.
Economic growth is part of the development process of any neighborhood. It is
likely that greater growth will surface a changing environment for the established
2. residents. In the case of Elmhurst, it appears that local immigrant business owners have
a strong footing in the day-to-day operational activities. However, with the additional
development, it will be interesting see how the local business community adapts to the
changing external environment. Additional research can potentially reveal whether the
upcoming changes will benefit or harm the local economy. Regardless, it is indeed an
exciting period for the neighborhood. The policy makers will be presented with a
challenging environment and the level of inclusivity of the policies will be contested in
the midst of these changes.
