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Downtown Jamaica Is Rising Like A Phoenix But Southeast Queens Will Also Not Be Denied
Is there a war on the horizon? Will there be an epic battle for the economic resources and development of The Southern Queens Area between Downtown Jamaica and Southeast Queens? While some might find this article divisive does it nevertheless posit a real fear when looking at other gentrified NYC neighborhoods?
Taking a paradigm from the great Dr. WEB Dubois, a one time Southeast Queens, legendary intellectual and Black thought leader, in his seminal work -- the Souls of Black folk, there is also an analogous two souls of Southern Queens. There is one soul that is cosmopolitan, looking for "the come up" of corporate national retailers, international tourism, and well known restaurant chains and there is the other soul yearning for the empowerment of grassroots organic community, rich diverse cultural elements appreciated and explored like hip hop, gospel, and jazz expressed in neighborhood hangout spots and eateries.
One is following a similar playbook of gentrification in Harlem and Brooklyn in Downtown Jamaica, the other is looking to upscale and empower the outlining residential neighborhoods of Southeast Queens. One is financed by big government and business interests and the other by determined community activists and social entrepreneurs with cultural aplomb.
Moreover, one is being planned out with billions from big government and big business while the other with boundless creative resources and community attachment is looking to enhance the main streets of Southeast Queens. In short, there are two very determined contrasting and diametrically opposed forces in one local area - threatening to irreparably tear apart a rift within this social community.
It is no secret that Queens is becoming one of the best tourist attractions in New York City because of its diverse cultures (the most diverse in the US and possibly the world). New York City, is one of the world's top tourist destinations and Queens once behind Manhattan and Brooklyn and is emerging as a great tourist attraction due in part to the two airports in JFK International and LaGuardia Airport.
Taking a paradigm from the great Dr. WEB Dubois, a one time Southeast Queens, legendary intellectual and Black thought leader, in his seminal work -- the Souls of Black folk, there is also an analogous two souls of Southern Queens. There is one soul that is cosmopolitan, looking for "the come up" of corporate national retailers, international tourism, and well known restaurant chains and there is the other soul yearning for the empowerment of grassroots organic community, rich diverse cultural elements appreciated and explored like hip hop, gospel, and jazz expressed in neighborhood hangout spots and eateries.
One is following a similar playbook of gentrification in Harlem and Brooklyn in Downtown Jamaica, the other is looking to upscale and empower the outlining residential neighborhoods of Southeast Queens. One is financed by big government and business interests and the other by determined community activists and social entrepreneurs with cultural aplomb.
Moreover, one is being planned out with billions from big government and big business while the other with boundless creative resources and community attachment is looking to enhance the main streets of Southeast Queens. In short, there are two very determined contrasting and diametrically opposed forces in one local area - threatening to irreparably tear apart a rift within this social community.
It is no secret that Queens is becoming one of the best tourist attractions in New York City because of its diverse cultures (the most diverse in the US and possibly the world). New York City, is one of the world's top tourist destinations and Queens once behind Manhattan and Brooklyn and is emerging as a great tourist attraction due in part to the two airports in JFK International and LaGuardia Airport.
