Introductory Paragraph

Richmond Hill is a little neighborhood that has been transformed and developed over the last fifty year. With many different ethnic backgrounds migrating into Richmond Hill, the community has become more diverse. More religion and traditional events have occurred because of an uprise of new cultures. Also, old obsolete homes are now being demolished and new construction are being built. Throughout the last twenty years, Richmond Hill has developed a new way of life through structural developments, culture and various types of ethnic backgrounds. Richmond Hill is not really known for anything, it's just a little town with significant meaning.

Interview Questions & Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement: Throughout the last twenty years Richmond Hill has transformed a new way of living through new structural developments, culture and different types of ethnic backgrounds.

1. How long have you lived here? I've been living here for twenty-seven years in Richmond Hill.
2. Does Richmond Hill have any significant meaning to Queens? Yes, theres a lot of history. THe famous Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor has been open for over 100 years and my parents n grandparents went there numerous times.
3. Has Richmond Hill changed over the last 20 years? Yes, "certainly." We have more different ethnic groups and we are more diverse.
4. Has there been any dramatic race domination? "I'm guessing certain areas have become more diverse." I have seen a lot of Guyanese and Trinidadians in Richmond Hill.
5. Are there any historical landmarks that mean anything to the neighborhood? We have the Ice Cream Parlor, Kew Gardens Cemetary, Phil Rizzuto (Hall of Famer) played for the Yankees and at Richmond Hill High School on the baseball team.
6. Why did you settle here, in this community? I was born and raised here because of my family generations.
7. What attracted you to the neighborhood or what motivated you towards Richmond Hill? Grandfather mover here, so it was family ritual.
8. Was the economy worth a lot when you first settled in Richmond Hill? The economy wasn't great but stable. Work was available and my grandfather and father were carpentars.
9. Were there as much businesses open today as there was 20 years ago? No, actually Richmond Hill has more development with businesses. Areas have grown tremendous for the economy.
10. Where do you see Richmond Hill in the next 25 years from now? I'm assuming ther will be more diverse communities, growing rapidly with new constructions and developed more private businesses like family owned.

Sources Component 2

N.Y. Queens Historical Society. Victorian Richmond Hill. Flushing, 1980.



There is only twenty four pages of the Victorian Richmond Hill book that illustrates maps, houses, and photos during the 1950's. The maps show how the roads and streets use to be. Most of the houses are like the one shown in my previous blog. Those are considered to be the real "Victorian" houses with the oval shaped windows, shaped with castle tops and huge rooms.
There are also maps of old neighborhoods that had different names back then. Today, those places are renamed and have been developed throughly. Photos display historical accounts and places in New York. Everything back then looked old fashioned.

Sources Component 1

Trager, Cara S. "Small Business: Guyanese merchants give Richmond Hill new flavor; Sari shops, halal meat stores thrive on once-vacant strip; youngsters defect." Crain's New York Business 17 (April 30, 2001): 30.

Richmond Hill is known as "Little Guyana" in Queens, New York. During the early 1990's a mass migration of Guyanese and Trinidadians have moved into the one and two family houses of those today in Richmond Hill. Liberty avenue most commonly known for West Indians has a wide varieties of businesses. Liberty avenue consists of sari shops, roti restaurants, halal meat stores, insurance as well as real estate and travel agencies such as Guyana Airways. With all of these businesses up, there is no vacant spaces available.
As Hindu being Guyanese religion, Phagwah is celebrated on the streets of Liberty Avenue. This brings a new culture and elevates the diversity of the old neighborhood. What was once a quiet little town is now developed into an economic market. Since, investors are trying to put up new businesses, it is much harder to put new and different types of businesses because of the tight real estate market. Richmond Hill is fulfilled with many types of diversities which makes my little neighborhood our STRENGTH.

Before 1950's

Here is what you call an old "Victorian" house. Many of these homes are located between 89 avenue and 85 avenue through a wide range of blocks. Many of these homes seem to have the castle looking type of style. Today, houses being built are no more one family houses, contractors are building three family houses or even multiple sets of two family homes. Majority of the houses around my neighborhood in Richmond Hill are like the one in the image. Houses are built by wood and have enormous amount of rooms. Usually the houses consists of five bedrooms and three bathrooms. They also have access to their basements, however the yard space and driveways are pretty small sizes. Few houses have a veranda in the front. Homeowners usually have chairs outside so they can enjoy the nice weather on the porch.
You can spot an old Victorian house also called Queensmark from a distance. Homes have a cylinder shape on at least two sides of the house. What I find really interesting about these obsolete houses are the windows. The windows have many different variety of shapes. There are the oval shaped looking windows that stands out the most that I like. The windows are shaped in different ways such as rectangular, oval, square and even circular believe it or not. Old Victorian houses are huge. The homes contain tremendous amounts of living space with two floors and an attic. I strongly believe the color of the houses are terrible. Victorian homes have colors like burgundy, light blue, all types of greenish colors and maroon.

Sources

http://www.richmondhillhistory.org/quickinfo.html
Looking at this website made me realize how old Richmond Hill is. During the 1800's Richmond Hill was being developed. Even though not a lot of imperative buildings were being built during that time, the neighborhood still established historical places such as a cemetary, post office, schools and parks.

Around the Way

Around the streets of Richmond Hill Queens is formed into a triangular shaped neighborhood. Since I live next door to Richmond Hill High School the neighborhood seems to be filled with laughter, shouting, cursing, and music. There is always parking on the streets unless, the homeowners don't use their driveways. Richmond Hill borders Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Jamaica. Where Jamaica Ave. and Myrtle Ave. meet is Richmond Hill's birth place.

When I hear the word "Richmond Hill" or even begin to think and imagine about my neighborhood my mind is fast to react to Richmond Hill High School. Since I'm an alumni there and live on the same block I always keep my eye out. I witness all the students approaching my block shouting and screaming and jumping all around. As they pass my house garbage is deposited on my property. My temper rages and these young adolescents better hope I didn't see a thing!

On the other hand, my neighborhood has numerous amount of mini markets and pizzeria stores. Around my way are a lot of West Indian people ethnicity wise. However, over the last two years there are a tremendous amount of Punjabi's and Indians moving into the areas of Richmond Hill. Ive lived in Richmond Hill for at least thirteen years so I always feel calm and relax as I walk around the areas of Richmond Hill.