Richmond Hill Condominiums
In the last quarter of the 19th Century a number of factories, of the type that abounds in New England, were built in Queens. A hundred years later almost all traces of these buildings have disappeared. But in Richmond Hill, one extremely good example of the type survived long enough to become part of the residential condominium boom of the l980’s. This former briarwood pipe factory has been converted into a handsome four-story brick structure of 87 apartments, boasting thick walls and high ceilings. Parking is available and plentiful on the site's central mall.
The building is situated at 84-10 101st Street, across the street from the 538-acre Forest Park. The park is wooded and sits o atop the terminal moraine deposited here 10,000 years ago by a glacier. The park has an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, bicycle paths, a carousel, sport fields, bridle paths for horseback riding, and playgrounds. A playground is one block away.
Immediately to the east of the condominium, especially along 86th Avenue between l04th and 116th Streets, are many architecturally interesting residences dating from the turn of the century. At, or near, 117th Street, in the vicinity of Hillside Avenue and about a 15-minute walk from 101st Street, are a 1905 Carnegie library, the Landmark Tavern Building, and Frank Jahn’s 1890 ice cream parlor.
While adequate convenience shopping is nearby, a car easily brings more varied shopping opportunities and all of the other attractions of neighboring Kew Gardens, service to Manhattan is a short walk away. The ride on the J/Z line elevated subway to Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan takes 36 minutes. The ride to Rockefeller Center takes 50 minutes.
Transportation
HIGHWAYS: Woodhaven Boulevard, a nearby, major Queens thoroughfare, pro-ides access within l0 minutes to the Long Island Expressway and the Jackie Robinson Parkway to the north, and the Belt Parkway to the south. Manhattan is less than a half-hour away. Nassau County is less than 25 minutes away, and IFK Airport and LaGuardia Airport are each about 15 minutes away.
SUBWAYS: The 104-102 Street I train station is within easy walking distance. From this station, it is about 36 minutes to Brooklyn Bridge-Chambers Street, 39 minutes to Broad Street, 42 minutes to Lexington Avenue-53rd Street, and 50 minutes to Rockefeller Center.
EXPRESS BUSES: While there are no express buses immediately nearby if you are willing to walk 10 to 15 minutes, you can reach the QM18 on Lefferts Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue, or the QM15, QM16, QMI7, and QM23 on Woodhaven Boulevard at either Jamaica Avenue or at Forest Park Drive. While it takes about an hour on any of these buses to get to 3rd Avenue and 57th Street, the QM23 will take you to Penn Station in about 40 minutes, barring traffic delays.
Education
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: PS 66, grades K-6, about 400 pupils. Located at 85-11 l02nd Street. Its reading scores place it in the top 30 percent of all public elementary schools in New York City.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL: Junior High School 210, E. Blackwell Junior High School, grades 7-8, is located at 93-11 101st Street. It has about 2,100 pupils. Its reading scores place it near the top 40 percent of all middle schools in New York City.
HIGH SCHOOL: Richmond Hill High School is located at 89-30 114th Street. It has about 3,200 students. Nearly one-fourth of the students are recent immigrants; Spanish and Russian are the two largest language groups of students with limited English proficiency. Approximately 20 percent of students take and pass advanced placement (college credit) courses, a percentage much higher than the average for all high schools in New York City. The School has a Business Institute magnet program that is only open to Queens residents.
Shopping
The local shopping street is Jamaica Avenue, between 99th Street and 93rd Street (Woodhaven Boulevard). A bank, a bakery, a delicatessen, dry cleaners, several groceries, a hardware store, several laundromats, a liquor store, a meat market, a nail salon, a tiny Thai and small Peruvian restaurant, a pizza parlor, a shoe repair store, a video store, a supermarket, and assorted other stores take care of most everyday needs. Approximately a mile away at Woodhaven Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue is a large shopping center that provides additional stores and variety.
Recreation
Forest Park: This 538-acre gem is across the street.
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is about 15 minutes away by car.