King Manor Museum 150-03 Jamaica Ave. La Casina 90-33 160th St. The finest 19th century manor house The Firehouse HiSTORiC remaining in New York City, King Built in 1934, the former 89-56 162nd St. FUTURE Manor was the home of Rufus King — La Casina is a rare Queens Valencia Theatre The Jamaica Firehouse, completed a signer of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. example of the streamlined 165-11 Jamaica Ave. in 1925, is a fine example of Senator, and outspoken opponent of Moderne Style. Its ziggurat Classical Revival architecture. Its Designed by John Eberson and constructed slavery. Today, it is a museum dedicated façade and projecting neon JAmAiCA Grace three bays once accommodated in 1929, the Valencia was one of the several JAmAiCA to Rufus King. In Federalist tradition, sign once called attention one hook and ladder and three atmospheric “Wonder Theatres” built across decoration is modest and proportions Episcopal Church to its use as a night club and engine companies. The Firehouse the country. The interior, with its star-lit Jamaica is a growing Downtown with a are solid. A pedimented window on the 155-15 Jamaica Ave. restaurant. Restored in closed in the 1960’s when more ceiling, pools, niches, and exotic decoration, We hope that you will take a walk second floor and a handsome columned 1993, it is today the home unique blend of historic buildings that both Built in 1862, Grace Episcopal Title Guarantee modern replacement facilities creates the impression of a stunning Spanish portico give the Manor’s entrance of the Jamaica Business preserve its rich past and provide the through Jamaica’s history and Church is an outstanding were built. In 1990, this unique plaza. The Theatre is now the Tabernacle an elegant character. Resource Center. 90-04 161st St. example of English Gothic historic structure was renovated of Prayer. context for new development and growth. discover our architectural treasures. Completed in 1928, the Title Revival architecture. Although for commercial re-use. This rendering shows the former Queens Jamaica is a community that is comparatively small in size, it Guarantee Building is characteristic is strikingly bold in appearance. of many small Art Deco office Family Court building, with its ornate Italian proud of its past, and excited about The broached spire, making the buildings constructed in New Renaissance-style façade, being integrated York City during the Jazz Age. It its future — a vibrant downtown transition from its square into a new mixed-use project currently buttressed base to an octagon, at once gives the impression of characterized by the energy, has great nobility and dignity. soaring vertically at the top, and at under development by the Dermot Company diversity, and entrepreneurship of The Church contains several the base, strength and durability. that will feature new housing and high- Rene Paul Chambellan, one of WPA murals painted during the quality retail space. Restoring such historic its residents, workers, businesses, Great Depression. The open Art Deco’s greatest sculptors landmarks to productive use creates new and leaders. church-yard forms a pleasant whose work includes the Daily contrast to the commercial News Building and Radio City focal points of community and civic Music Hall, designed the exterior character of Jamaica Avenue. activity, and significantly adds to the ornamental reliefs. 1 2 3 4 5 6 renewed sense of energy and quality of life that is driving sustainable growth and revitalization in Downtown Jamaica. 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 HILLSIDE AV E HILLSIDE AV E F 88th AV E 88th AV E E MERRICK BL 89th AV 165th ST 164th ST 163r 89th AV E 162nd ST 16 1st d ST ST 90th AV Prospect Cemetery SUTPHIN SUTPHIN E VD 148th 148th 90th AV E 160th ST 150th ST PA Long Island Rail Road 153r Beaver Rd./159th St. 4 Former Sidewalk Clock Russell Design NYC Jamaica Station King Park RSONS BL d ST Established in 1668, Prospect Union Hall St. Archer Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard ST Register Building Former Kurtz Store 6 Cemetery is the oldest cemetery 161-04 Jamaica Ave. Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is a community- BL 3 5 First Reformed Church Originally erected in 1900 and 162-24 Jamaica Ave. The LIRR Jamaica Station was constructed in in Queens County and served Former Jamaica building organization that plans, promotes, coordinates VD ST 146th 146th E as the burial ground for many 153-16 Jamaica Ave. Built in 1898, the Register served located at 161-11 Jamaica 1913, and currently serves as the general offices 1 VD Savings Bank JAMAICA 2 JAMAICA AV Avenue, this is a fine example This former furniture store is a and advances responsible development to revitalize Jamaica UNION HALL ST prominent families living in for 76 years as the County Registry of the Long Island Rail Road. The station is five AV E JAMAICA Built in 1859, the church was 161-02 Jamaica Ave. fine example of Art Deco Style. and strengthen the region. AV E 9 7 GUY R BREWER BL of a virtually extinct street stories tall and has a rectangular form. It is faced 10 Jamaica. The Chapel was designed and constructed by for title deeds in Queens. Its The material and forms give the Built in 1898, this landmarked amenity, and was designated with stone on its lower two floors, painted white, 11 recently renovated and dedicated Jamaica master carpenter Sidney Neo-Italian Renaissance façade building a smooth, streamlined 8 structure is the finest Beaux Arts a New York City landmark in Marshalling the resources of the public, private, and not-for- with red brick above. Each façade features large ARCHER AV E to Illinois Jacquet, a world- J. Young, with assistance from makes a unique contribution to appearance. They suggest a 13 building in Queens. The sensual 1981. It is double-faced with a profit sectors, the Corporation’s work expands economic bays of windows with metal enframements and ARCHER AV E famous jazz musician. It will be master mason Anders Peterson. the Jamaica Avenue streetscape. futuristic vision of the twentieth E J Z E J Z E decoration and delicate iron work cast-iron paneled base, fluted opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and panels, some featuring a central diamond pattern. re-used for community events, It is among the finest examples of The imposing rusticated masonry century: a positive view of the ARCHER AV are a pleasant contrast to the stern column post, and splendid economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region, The stunning AirTrain Terminal, completed in meetings, and educational Early Romanesque Revival Style. work on the ground level contrasts technology, speed, light, and but elegant Register Building acroteria motif crowning the which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable 2003, is next door. purposes in conjunction with The City recently completed a strongly with the smooth surfaces, space which was prevalent in 160th ST metropolitan growth. VD next door. The façade is united clock face. It was restored and 159th restrained moldings, and large E York College. Restoration work $22 million restoration of the the 1930’s. 94th AV 150th ST moved to its present location 12 to the Cemetery is expected to now landmarked building, which by two architectural devices — arched windows on the second VER RD 158th ST York begin in 2009. symmetrical pilasters rising two level. Now a New York City on Union Hall Street in 1989. ST will be operated by the Jamaica Greater Jamaica Development Corporation BEA College floors, supporting a defined Center for Arts and Learning as a landmark, it is today home to 90-04 161st Street New York City Designated Landmark cornice and pediment, and two premier performing arts center the Jamaica Center for Arts and Jamaica, New York 11432 = SUBWAY ornamental balconies focusing National Register of Historic Places and multipurpose venue. Learning. 718-291-0282 AV E attention on the entrance. Landmark Quality LIBERTY www.gjdc.org 0509 In the years following the Civil War, Jamaica Romanesque Revival A Brief History grew rapidly. The 1875 population of 780 jumped Circa 1860-1890. Building forms ViSiT to 3,922 five years later. By 1898, the year Architectural are usually massive, with an emphasis on the depth and HistoriC of Jamaica Queens was incorporated into New York City, expanse of solid surfaces. 6,500 people lived in Jamaica. By 1910, that Styles Rounded open arches are used JAmAiCA number topped 58,000. Business and residential to dramatize entrances or important interior spaces. development accelerated in the 20th century, with Ornamentation is derived from JAmAica Jamaica, Queens is a dynamic urban the 1918 extension of the elevated transit lines Byzantine, Coptic and Celtic center and regional transportation (with a nickel fare!), which enabled people who Here is a quick guide to architectural architecture. Mythological WALKiNG tour AND GUiDE hub characterized by the energy and worked in Manhattan to live in Jamaica. The figures and symbols are styles that you can find in historic sometimes incorporated into entrepreneurship of its people – a Long Island Rail Road Station was completed in amaica Avenue was an ancient trail for Native Downtown Jamaica. the decoration. downtown on the way up. Jamaica has American tribes from as far away as the Ohio 1913. By the 1940’s, Jamaica’s commercial district numerous government and institutional JRiver and the Great Lakes, coming to trade included fine department stores, the first modern Examples: First Reformed Church, Jamaica, NY Jefferson market Courthouse, manhattan, NY anchors serving the New York City skins and furs for wampum. In 1655, early settlers supermarket, and a Spanish Baroque movie palace region.