Forest Hills, Queens

Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the central part of the New York City borough of Queens. It is bordered to the north by Rego Park, to the east by Flushing Meadows Park, the Grand Central Parkway and Kew Gardens, to the west by Middle Village and to the south by Forest Park. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 6. [ [http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_queens.shtml Queens Community Boards] , New York City. Accessed September 3, 2007.] The neighborhood is conterminous with zip code 11375.

Neighborhood

Forest Hills has historically had a very large Jewish population with more than 10 synagogues located in the area. The community was founded in 1906, but before that it was known as Whiteport. In 1909, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, who founded the Russell Sage Foundation, bought 142 acres (0.6 km²) of land from the Cord Meyer Development Company.

Grosvenor Atterbury, a renowned architect, was given the commission to design Forest Hills Gardens.

The neighborhood contains areas of private houses with little commerce, such as the Gardens area; dense commercial districts full of stores and large apartment complexes; and streets with the six-story brick apartment buildings common throughout Queens. The main thoroughfare is the 12-lane-wide Queens Boulevard, while Metropolitan Avenue is known for its antique shops. The commercial heart of Forest Hills is a mile-long stretch of Austin Street, which contains many restaurants, boutiques, and chain stores. The north side of Forest Hills is home to the Cord Meyer community. On 62nd Drive, the last block before 108th Street ventures north into Corona, Queens, is a NYCHA low-income housing project that caused controversy [cite book |title= Forest Hills Diary: The Crisis of Low-Income Housing|last= Cuomo|first= Mario Matthew|year= 1983|publisher= Knopf Publishing Group|isbn= 039472173X] among the residents in the more prestigious areas in Forest Hills when constructed in the early 1970s.

Forest Hills was once the home of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, played at the West Side Tennis Club before it moved to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park. When the Open was played at the tennis stadium, the tournament was commonly referred to merely as "Forest Hills" just as The Championships, Wimbledon are referred to as Wimbledon. In the 2001 motion picture "The Royal Tenenbaums", Luke Wilson's character plays a tennis match at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. Gene Hackman's character is also shown cruising on the premises.

Forest Hills is also home to the main offices of JetBlue Airways Corp., a US low-cost carrier. [ [http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=jblu JBLU: Profile for JETBLUE AIRWAYS CP] , "Yahoo! Finance", accessed February 4, 2007]

Two monuments are erected in Forest Hills Gardens:
*A tribute to the victims of World War I, the "Great War".
*The mast of "Columbia", the winner of the America's Cup in both 1899 and 1901 tournaments.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 70,204 people residing in Forest Hills. The population density was 29,252 people per square mile (11,143/km²). The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 71.3% White, 20.1% Asian and Pacific Islander, 2.46% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.71% from other races, and 3.31% from two or more races. 10.18% of the population were Hispanic of any race. 47.69% of the population was foreign born. [ [http://www.brainyzip.com/zipcodes/11/11375.html 11375 Zip Code: Forest Hills ] ] It is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Queens. [http://www.foresthillschamber.org/]

Statistics

*Area Code: 718/347
*ZIP Code: 11375
*Time Zone: Eastern (Standard Time: GMT -5 hours, DST: GMT -4 hours)
*Global Coordinates: Latitude 40.72 & Longitude -73.85The Forest Hills Housing Co-ops are located on 62nd Drive and 108th Street.

Education

Forest Hills, like all areas of New York City, is served by the New York City Department of Education.

K-12 Schools

Forest Hills pupils attend several different elementary Schools, including:
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q101/default.htm?searchType=school P.S. 101 School In The Gardens]
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q144/default.htm?searchType=school P.S. 144 Col. Jeromus Remsen School]
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q175/default.htm?searchType=school P.S. 175 Lynn Gross Discovery School]
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q196/default.htm?searchType=school P.S. 196 Grand Central Parkway]
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q220/default.htm?searchType=school P.S. 220 Edward Mandel]

Junior High students in Forest Hills pupils attend either [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q157/default.htm?searchType=school J.H.S. 157 Stephen A. Halsey] (commonly referred to as "Halsey") in Rego Park or [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q190/default.htm?searchType=school J.H.S. 190 Russell Sage] (known as "Sage") in Forest Hills.

Recently, New York City high school students have begun applying to the high schools of their choice, as there is no longer a zoning policy for Forest Hills High School. Famous graduates of Forest Hills High School include Jerry Springer and the founding members of the Ramones, as well as singers Simon and Garfunkel. Students from all over New York City may apply to high schools in other parts of the city. In addition to Forest Hills High School, a large percentage of students from both J.H.S. 157 and J.H.S. 190 gain admission to other high schools in New York City. Many J.H.S. 157 students also attend the Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn Technical High School. [ [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q157/AboutUs/Statistics/default.htm NYC Dept. of Ed. Statistics] , accessed February 23, 2007] Traditionally many more students from J.H.S. 190 choose to study at Stuyvesant High School and Townsend Harris High School, in addition to the Bronx High School of Science. [ [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q190/AboutUs/Statistics/default.htm NYC Dept. of Ed. Statistics] , accessed February 23, 2007] Numerous students from Forest Hills also choose to attend middle and high school at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education, a public school in Astoria, NY, which teaches grades 7 - 12 and follows the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Many of the students from outside the district accepted to attend Forest Hills High School are those who applied to either the school's Law & Humanities program, or the Carl Sagan program in accelerated math and science. FHHS has also began admitting students by audition to their Academy of Instructional Music and Performing Arts in 2005. [ [http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/StudentEnroll/HSAdmissions/HSDirectory/Book/?sid=610 FOREST HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, Q440, Borough of QUEENS, Zip Code 11375] , accessed February 23, 2007]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Forest Hills include:
* Hank Azaria (born 1964), actor and voice artist. [Schillinger, Liesl. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/fashion/24books.html "Be It a Cabin, High-Rise or Ranch, There’s No Place Like It"] , "The New York Times", December 24, 2006. Accessed October 24, 2007. "For the actor Hank Azaria, home was a three-bedroom apartment on the 14th floor of a towering complex in Forest Hills."]
* Burt Bacharach (born 1928), composer, pianist and singer
* Walter Becker (born 1950), musician best known as a member of Steely Dan
* Art Buchwald (1925-2007), political humorist
* Michael A. Burstein (born 1970), award-winning science fiction author
* Dale Carnegie, author and teacher of public speaking
* David Caruso, Actor in "CSI Miami", and "NYPD Blue". [ [http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_03-06-2005/in_step_with_0 In Step With David Caruso (TV and film actor)] , "Parade (magazine)", March 6, 2005]
* Carol Channing, actress (in the 1950s during her time on Broadway)
* Earl Douglas, aka Black Earl, former Opie & Anthony flunkie and current executive producer of the Ron and Fez show on XM Satellite Radio.
* Geraldine Ferraro, politician. [Clines, Francis X. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E5D61E3FF93AA25751C0A961958260 "In Training for a Run on the Political Stage"] , "The New York Times", February 19, 1997. Accessed October 31, 2007. "She commutes here on alternate weeks for five nights of shows, traveling from Forest Hills, Queens, where she lives with her husband, John A. Zaccaro."]
* Art Garfunkel, singer-songwriter. [ [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Art_Garfunkel.html Jewish Virtual Library: Art Garfunkel] , accessed December 11, 2006]
* Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve Chairman
* Ernie Grunfeld, former NBA Player, Current GM of the Washington Wizards
* Alan Hevesi, former Comptroller of New York State. [Navarro, Mireya. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DF103BF936A25754C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 " A Comptroller Candidate Fights for Recognition"] , "The New York Times", July 15, 1993. Accessed October 8, 2007. "A native New Yorker, Mr. Hevesi lives in Forest Hills with his wife, Carol."]
* High Pitch Eric, member of Howard Stern's Wack Pack
*Steve Hofstetter - Comedian/Radio Personality. [Silverberg, Alex. [http://www.stevehofstetter.com/reviewstemplate.cfm?ID=239 "Comic Thanks His Queens Upbringing"] , copy of article from "The Queens Tribune", July 6, 2007. Accessed October 18, 2007. "Hofstetter has been all around Queens. He spent his younger years in Briarwood before moving on to Forest Hills, and finally settling down in Rego Park for the duration of his teen years."]
* Malthe Hasselriis, Renowned portrait (JFK, Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Duke and Duchess of Windsor) and miniatures artist.
* David Horowitz, American conservative writer and activist.
* Donna Karan, fashion designer
* Melinda Katz, the New York City Councilwoman who represents Forest Hills
*Helen Keller, the American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to graduate from college.
* Michael Landon, actor and director
* Stan Lee, Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Comics, and creator of Spider-Man and other comic book icons.
* David Leonard, guitarist, singer-songwriter
*Anne Sullivan Macy, Helen Keller's teacher
* Shoista Mullodzhanova, Famous legendary Bukharian Shashmakon singer "People's Artist of the USSR"
* Carroll O'Connor, actor, best known for his role as Archie Bunker on "All in the Family". [Severo, Richard. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E1DF1430F931A15755C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 "Carroll O'Connor, Embodiment of Social Tumult as Archie Bunker, Dies at 76"] , "The New York Times", June 22, 2001. Accessed November 18, 2007. "The O'Connors lived well, at first in the Bronx, later in a larger apartment in Elmhurst, Queens, and finally in a nice single-family home in Forest Hills, Queens, then an enclave for people of means."]
* Susan Polgar, First Woman Grandmaster and former Women's World Chess Champion
* The Ramones, punk rock group
* Wilhelm Reich, psychiatrist known for his ideas about "Orgone"
* Ray Romano, actor-comedian, best known for "Everybody Loves Raymond". [Strickland, Carol. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00EFDC1F3DF932A35751C1A960958260 "Can Sitcom Make It With L.I. Setting?"] , "The New York Times", December 1, 1996. Accessed November 12, 2007. "For "Everybody Loves Raymond," the route to Hollywood Hills began in Forest Hills, where Ray Romano, a standup comedian and the star of the show, grew up."]
* Paul Simon, singer-songwriter
* Jerry Springer, talk show host
* Anthony D. Weiner, Democratic congressman for New York's 9th congressional district, which contains Forest Hills.
*Leslie West (1945-), of the hard rock group Mountain. [Fischler, Marcelle S. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7DC1030F936A25753C1A9609C8B63 "Nascent Hall of Fame to Welcome First Honorees"] ., "The New York Times" , October 15, 2006. Accessed November 26, 2007. "Dee Snider of Stony Brook, the shock-rocker from the 1980's heavy metal band Twisted Sister, known for his defiant metal anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It," and Leslie West of the band Mountain, who grew up in East Meadow, Lawrence and Forest Hills, are also being inducted..."]

References

External links

* [http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2005/snapshots/49151.html CNN Money: Best Places to Live: Forest Hills, NY]
* [http://queens.about.com/od/neighborhoods/p/foresthills.htm Forest Hills Neighborhood Profile - About.com]