Forest Hills Gardens • Queens, NY • 4/23/23
Spring has definitely sprung and I thought it would be a good time to document the beautiful neighborhood of Forest Hills Gardens in the Forest Hills section of Queens, NY. This is a private neighborhood packed with unique, amazing houses and beautiful landscaping as well. There’s a community architectural committee that homeowners have to consult with when doing any exterior renovations, since the aim is to keep the old world charm and historical character value. It’s definitely working, because every detail is maintained in this cool enclave of homes. Old unique iron street lamps and street signs, brick archways on the east side of the neighborhood, winding narrow streets, a few hidden walkways and a few mini parks to relax in. But what really catches your attention is the variety of styles in the houses themselves. All totally unique and interesting. This being a private neighborhood, there’s hardly any traffic and very few parked cars, since it’s limited to the residents. So that adds to the serenity and peaceful vibe.
A brief history: The development of adjacent Forest Park, a park on the southern end of Forest Hills, began in 1895. Starting in 1896, the landscape architecture firm of Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot was contracted to provide a plan for the park.[4]: 469
In 1906, the Cord Meyer Development Company, headed by Brooklyn attorney Cord Meyer, bought abutting land made up of six farms (those of Ascan Bakus, Casper Joost-Springsteen, Horatio N. Squire, Abram V. S. Lott, Sarah V. Bolmer, and James Van Siclen). The company then renamed the aggregate 600 acres (240 ha) "Forest Hills", after Forest Park. Single-family homes, designed by architects such as Robert Tappan and William Patterson, were constructed on these 600 acres.[4]: 469 The roads of Forest Hills were laid out by 1910.[4]: 470 The present-day Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills is named after Ascan Bakus.
Margaret Sage, the founder of the Russell Sage Foundation, bought 142 acres of land from the Cord Meyer Development Company in 1908. This land was to be used for "Forest Hills Gardens", a development on the southern side of Forest Hills. Grosvenor Atterbury, a renowned architect, was given the commission to design Forest Hills Gardens. The neighborhood was planned on the model of the garden communities of England, with its own inn, garage, and post office. It also included narrow, winding roads to limit through traffic. As a result, there are many Tudor-style homes in Forest Hills. The more sprawling ones are located in Forest Hills Gardens, but most are located in the section loosely bounded by 68th Avenue on the north; 72nd Road on the south; 108th Street on the west; and Grand Central Parkway on the east. The construction of this area used a prefabricated building technique. Each house was built from approximately 170 standardized precast concrete panels, fabricated off-site and positioned by crane. The houses were mostly constructed between 1910 and 1917.
The Long Island Rail Road opened a station in Forest Hills in 1911 and the Queens Boulevard trolley line opened two years later. The LIRR station was built with a brick courtyard, a clock tower, and arch-filled underpasses, fitting in with the Forest Hills Gardens section of the neighborhood. Since the railroad and trolley both connected to Manhattan, the presence of these two transportation options spurred development in Forest Hills. You can see Station Square and more in my Forest Hills Part 2 video.
Forest Hills is bigger than the area I covered here, but to me it’s the most visually interesting vicinity. Walking further west towards the LIRR train station and Forest Hills Stadium is very nice to see also, but I stayed in the main Gardens part, which is surrounded on the north by the LIRR tracks (Queens Boulevard a few blocks over from that) on the east by Union Turnpike (Jackie Robinson Parkway next to that) on the west by Ascan Avenue and on the south by Kessel Street.
This was one of the first planned communities in the United States and I’m glad that they kept the original look and feel intact just the way it looked when development started out back in 1909. A true hidden gem of a neighborhood and one of the nicest in all of NYC!
** I APOLOGIZE FOR THE RANDOM STATIC IN THE AUDIO. NOT SURE IF ITS MY CAMERA SETTINGS, A DEFECT OR A KZread THING. IT NEVER DID IT IN THE PAST. I’M WORKING ON FIXING THE ISSUE. **
Пікірлер: 474
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@RPRsChannel
10 ай бұрын
*_I had no idea Queens NY had such a beautiful neighborhood?!_*
@ErikaSalazar-ew7mo
9 ай бұрын
😮😮😂😮 de esta bonitp
@dogluvr3445
8 ай бұрын
We have homes just like these in Fort Worth Texas, Even Bigger !
@paulsportal1720
8 ай бұрын
@@dogluvr3445 In Texas? I definitely believe you! LOL
I would live in any one of these house's. Quiet, clean, safe looking. Jogging, dog walking. Normal things. No one hanging out on the corners, no trash everywhere. No blasting music. Yes to this place. Thanks for sharing.
@MrBraviy
11 ай бұрын
Quiet? :D Train...
@user-lo6ur1qz3i
11 ай бұрын
@@MrBraviy пение птиц и редкие машины не в счёт. сравнение идёт с городом, где всегда шумно и часто грязно на улицах.
@MrBraviy
11 ай бұрын
@@user-lo6ur1qz3i Тут идет какое то сравнение? По моему просто обзор красивой локации. Красивой, но никак не тихой.
@howardgoldberg5318
11 ай бұрын
Wait till dark when the animals come out. Walking and I mean, the 2 legged animals.
@dinky19810
11 ай бұрын
But parking sucks
The place is dreamy.Lots of greenary, beautiful flowers,streets are clean and tidy.Truly like a heaven
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Thanks for viewing!
FOREST HILLS GARDEN IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD I HAVE EVER SEEN IN QUEENS, NYC I WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED THAT THESE HOMES ARE THERE!!!
My late mother's old auntie lived in Astoria , Queens ,for decades and i visited one Summer back in the 90's . Not too shabby ...Then on to Upstate for some amazing golf courses ! Fantastic memories .
It is prime and beautiful I visit Forest Hills Gardens all the time. It is modeled after Europe. Streets are private and used only for the community.
@roddymarcellus9739
11 ай бұрын
Nope it's not model after Europe. Your continent have a hole bunch of little house.
Take a good look this is the future of our country the rich on one side and the poor on the other side. l know Queens, N.Y. very well l had many friends from there. No matter what side of the street you lived on they were beautiful and well kept every building and house was kept clean. It's the people moving into these areas that care very little or not at all on how they live. You can be poor, but you don't have to live like one!
@carolinesmith8024
11 ай бұрын
Maybe but remember when we leave this earth we go in the same ground mud can't take nothing with us
@cristelelizabethjohn1661
10 ай бұрын
population control is key!
@stj971
5 ай бұрын
All houses are the same, mostly. I've seen better.
The look of $ophistication. Old world detail. Impeccable landscaping. Aged like the finest wine. Classic lines of architectural “provenance”. As Bugs Bunny might say: “classy joints” !
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Yes indeed. Love that people take such care of their properties. It's rare to even see any litter!
grew up there; wish we had never left.
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Cool you got to experience that!
Прекрасный уголок земли, красота, уют, замечательно
Beautiful Queens ❤
@paulsportal1720
10 ай бұрын
I agree!
Great to see my neighborhood
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! Love walking around there. It reminds me of Greenwich CT and Newton MA, except the NYC version.
looks like a place where spirits wander
@franklinstephen3268
11 ай бұрын
Hello 👋 erlyn...
A little like Disney Land 😊
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Ha! In a way yes! LOL 😄
Ah.....the splendor of Forest hills, clean, quiet, elegant,......A beautiful area indeed.
I went to P.S. 101 in this neighborhood many years ago. It's still as beautiful & whimsical as ever! The quiet charm! The respect and care for all that "green oxygen"! It's a dreamy place. A true, well-preserved Queens,NY gem!💜
@lamijabajrektarevic9863
8 ай бұрын
I went to PS 139, Russell Sage, and then Forest Hills High School! Very dreamy place indeed! Wonderful place to grow up in and has such a positive energy to it. Super safe and friendly. Not many negatives can be said about the place, it’s often the habits people unfortunately keep and people they associate themselves with that could bring any negatives to such a magical place. Although I moved a few years ago as an early adult accompanying my parents with their move to Jersey, I dream to once return, have my own family, and perhaps have a home in this quaint neighborhood.
So beautiful and I love the sidewalks, trails, greenery, one of a kind homes, well kept yards!!! I live in a small south west Texas town the exact opposite of this beautiful place. I would only imagine walking at a place like this and be amazed! ❤
@cristelelizabethjohn1661
10 ай бұрын
Texas doesn’t have the right climate/weather for this sort of vegetation and flora
Feel the energy of wealth through this wonderful and magical place 🙌❤ Thank you ❤ I wish the whole world was like this 💎
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Very historical too!
@cristelelizabethjohn1661
10 ай бұрын
Sadly, it never will be..
Very charming houses, picturesque.
Just Stunning! No doubt, it's one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the country.
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
I agree. I like that everyone here keeps it that way by maintaining everything, especially the landscaping. There's next to no litter also. It's great to see.
@ried1284
Жыл бұрын
@@paulsportal1720 That's wonderful🙂
@respectlife216
Жыл бұрын
Very nice but pales in comparison to Shaker Heights Ohio where I'm from
@jaspervonbach3621
11 ай бұрын
It looks like our neighborhood in Snyder, New York but the prices do not exceed 2 million. Is it a safe neighborhood? Can you sleep at night with the air, train and highway traffic?
@ampa4989
11 ай бұрын
Places like this abound in suburban America everywhere. The suburbs get a bum rap, but they are fantastic if you're not addicted to city living. Sadly, food options usually pale in comparison to NYC, LA, SF, though queens is good.
Beautiful ❤️. Old money keeping the integrity of this wonderful neighborhood.
You wouldn't know this was in Queens, it looks like a country village in England, it's beautiful, hi from UK xx
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Hello! Thank you for tuning in 🙂
@colors6692
11 ай бұрын
I looks nothing like the housing estates in UK!! Most of England is council flats and housing overrun with tracksuit wearing teens!!
@suzannehughes8697
11 ай бұрын
@@colors6692 you obviously live in a bad area of UK, or maybe your knowledge of Britain's countryside is limited, but Britain's countryside is some of the most beatiful in the world, all countries have areas like the ones you describe, but they don't define a whole country, have a nice day!
@williamf4544
11 ай бұрын
@@colors6692 I agree - same here in Scotland - even the nicest of towns and villages come no where near that - the trash on the streets and the couldnt careless attitude of the residents - and as you say the people
@misst.e.a.187
11 ай бұрын
Yes, but the houses are much bigger.
Stunning homes and impeccable yards, azaleas, rhodies, red buds, cherry and even a dogwood tree. Such beauty. The architects of the period sure knew how to build class. Definitely not so today. A gorgeous walk, thank you.
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
I fully agree. It’s a NYC hidden gem. Thanks for commenting. Enjoy your summer!
@melg6834
Жыл бұрын
@@paulsportal1720 Just yesterday afternoon, I came across some video ( this walking around kind of...) of Charlotte NC. Surprisingly the houses ( and the streets ) were way bigger & prettier than those in Queens. Someone told us that the area is called, *Heydon Hall* ( Charlotte, NC )
@mattcarsnmusic
11 ай бұрын
I used to walk dogs in this neighborhood when I lived in Queens. I always found Forest Hills to be such a nostalgic and peaceful area of the Burroughs. Thanks for the memories! 🌞
@JohnTronto
11 ай бұрын
@@mattcarsnmusicHow much these houses worth?
@smc130
10 ай бұрын
Any water restrictions in place in Queens? That has a very real effect on south Texas where we live.
Beautiful landscapiing & homes..
Thank you so much for sharing. I can breathe and clean my thoughts. 💕✨
Just Stunning!
@paulsportal1720
9 ай бұрын
I fully agree!
I had no idea Queen's is so serene and beautiful. Of course you can hear the traffic noise in the background
@caterinalopez5297
11 ай бұрын
That is what you got out of this? The traffic noise in the background? 🙄
Beautiful place, I don’t think i can afford , this .. sigh sigh!!!!! Lucy People
Beautiful ! My dream homes exist there :) thank you for sharing
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
I would love to do the census in the first group of exquisite homes and meet all the owners :)
@franklinstephen3268
11 ай бұрын
Hello 👋 Jeanne...
@jeanne819
11 ай бұрын
@@franklinstephen3268 hi !
Absolutely stunning homes
♥️♥️♥️
Thank you for this video. It's hard to believe this beautiful town is in the middle of Queens, NY. I grew up not far from here in Elmhurst and went to New Town HS. I'd love to find out when these beautiful home were built. Such amazing architecture and design. Every home is unique. Just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
@Mahalakshmi-Khan
11 ай бұрын
Wiki says in the early 1910s..
Love the neighborhood, love the video. Blessed.
Wow
If only I could live there❤️❤️❤️
Gorgeous old homes....I miss up north and this kind of vintage architecture...It looks like they were built about 1927....I would gladly take any one of them!
@paulsportal1720
5 ай бұрын
It really is an incredible area. Very peaceful too.
Hope I am living there soon ,Maybe,so so so beautiful.Beautiful place is from beautiful people.love you USA
@queens6583
11 ай бұрын
You can if you have millions of dollars which is what these houses sell for.
@cristelelizabethjohn1661
10 ай бұрын
These houses rarely become available to ‚outsiders ‘, they stay in the same families for decades ..,
Very interesting thank you for showing us this amazing video well done 👍
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just beautiful. So serene.
The trees r so well cared and desighned so nicely..The streets are neat and clean..I keep look the village always..It relax The mind
This is awesome. I had no idea a neighborhood like this existed in NY.
@hewitc
11 ай бұрын
Also in Riverdale, The Bronx. Kew Gardens, Queens. Both Gardens were planned communities
@Equaliser9955
11 ай бұрын
I was just going to write that
@hewitc
11 ай бұрын
@@Equaliser9955 I can delete mine if you want!
@Equaliser9955
11 ай бұрын
@@hewitc 😂 😂
@cg-gh8hd
11 ай бұрын
There are lots of beautiful neighborhoods in New York!
Thank you for showing my family home ❤ on Markwood Dr. ❤
You can find neighborhood like tis in every borough in NYC, in there's a lot like this one in Queens. Jamaica Estate, Hollis Hills, Hollis Wood, Bellerose, Floral Park, Parts of Laurelton, parts of Rosedale, parts of Cambria Heights, Bayside, Q Gardens. Not even mention the vast area of Flushing
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
I definitely agree. There's so many areas throughout NYC that are packed with amazing houses. All those Queens neighborhoods you mentioned are exactly that. When I lived in Manhattan I used to always walk around UWS and check out the huge mansions and landmarks on Riverside Drive.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful city.
Reminds me of Shaker Heights!
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
I've been to a few places in Ohio, but never there. Just searched for some pictures and you weren't kidding. Some seriously beautiful properties there. Seems to be Clevelands version of Forest Hills!
SUPER.
Очень красивые дома, все ухоженно, тишина,
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Beautiful place I would live peacefully in an area like this
schmancy indeed, the definition of such things!
So beautiful and peaceful. It seems so perfect! ❤🎉❤
So good 🥰
Greetings from Naples, Florida. Wow, that is a very nice area, indeed. A great day for a walk. We enjoyed the sights, sounds and scenery. Thanks so much for sharing, have a great week. 👍💯
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
My pleasure! Thank you for viewing and commenting. Stop by any time. Enjoy your week and the rest of your summer. Although where you are it's probably nice all year round! 🙂
Wow, beautiful walk videos in Forest Hills Gardens.
Beautiful ❤
This is magical.
Kind of reminds me of some neighborhoods in the Bay Area, Berkeley, Hillsborough etc.
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
I've been to Berkeley a few times. Love that amazing view from Grizzly Peak!
How calm, serene and peaceful... I loved the houses so beautiful, thanks.
@paulsportal1720
4 ай бұрын
You're welcome! I made a snow version of this neighborhood also if you're interested.
Thanks for sharing a beautiful, beautiful neighborhood. Beautiful gardens beautiful architecture. Every home is different beautifully put together hugs and kisses from grandma, Sandy, and Debbie watch the video from the beginning to the end. Thanks so much my dear friend for Sharon.
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
You're welcome. Come back any time! 🙂
Hey Paul; Please don’t forget “Jamaica Estates.”
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Yes indeed! That's actually on my To Do list! 😎
@eyeballington718
6 ай бұрын
He did a video of it. Have you seen it?
Que lugar lindo, maravilhoso, isso é um paraíso 👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌💫💫❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nice tour
@paulsportal1720
9 ай бұрын
Thank you!
Obrigada por esse vídeo lindo!
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
De nada! 😊
🌹
Thank you for taking a walk in this neighborhood. It has been some years that I have been there. Some of my friends have moved down to Florida to get a change of the weather a few years ago.
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
You're welcome! Thank you for viewing 🙂
@LMays-cu2hp
11 ай бұрын
@@paulsportal1720 You are welcome.
@smc130
10 ай бұрын
This seems a safer and more relaxing location than Florida.
@LMays-cu2hp
10 ай бұрын
@@smc130 I hear you. Smile ☺
Simply beautiful
Buenas tardes que belleza de lugar hermosas casas buen diseño y mucha naturaleza amo ese lugar hermoso country felicito al arquitecto por su trabajo,desde Argentina,gracias por tanta belleza.
Great to see part of heaven from pakistan ❤❤❤❤❤
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching! 😊
Glad to see some pretty neighborhood, thanks for posting
@paulsportal1720
10 ай бұрын
You're welcome!
마을이 매우 아름답게 잘 조성되어 있군요.
Your adored neighborhood is magical. I love Victorian unique homes. Reminds me of my once lovely hometown of Old Del Mar, Calif before the insanity took over. Thanks so much for this video. It cheered me up
Forest HIlls Gardens is beautiful and unique but everyone is required to keep up their homes and lawns. And yes, it is expensive.
@cherylsmith4826
Жыл бұрын
Can only be nice if everyone does their part
@justpde
11 ай бұрын
I notice no American flags. Must be because the residents know where they live already!!
@kwacou4279
11 ай бұрын
@@justpde Come on a national holiday. I lived nearby in Jamaica Estates, equally amazing, just not as private. Jamaica Estates has a golf course and country club as well as a horse riding estate (English saddle). As a kid I used to ride there as well as in Jamaica Bay and Pelham in the Bronx. New York is much richer now but less classy. Now just filled with obnoxious SJW and hypersensitive gender confused idiots who grew up on South Park.
@ragejinraver
11 ай бұрын
I want there a few times multi million dollar homes but I would love to live there
Beautiful neighborhood. The most encouraging thing I can state about it is if folks would adopt a few of these standards, even the lowliest of neighborhoods could be enjoyable. I was always raised to clean up, paint up, fix up, and I come from working class stock. Taking pride is key.
@paulsportal1720
9 ай бұрын
Agreed!
What a beautiful neighborhood
Gorgeous Place. Thank You for sharing. :)
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
You're welcome! 🙂
Dream place of everyone
Сказочное место,хотелось бы пожить в таком доме!Только замечательные люди могли создать такую красоту!
@user-up4gf6gk9r
11 ай бұрын
на Рублевке тоже красиво и люди замечательные))
@user-im5ul5bg6e
11 ай бұрын
@@user-up4gf6gk9r Между прочим,этот район большой и считается не благополучным! И живу одни мигранты.
❤ Добрый вечер и спасибо.Вам за прогулку, Всё очень красиво и природа и дома,❤ 😂 560
It looks like a dream! Funny you don't see anyone outside enjoying it. Perhaps they have secret gardens.
@marycollins7058
Жыл бұрын
There are those who enjoy their privacy and have no desire to sit in the front for everyone to see!
@dianele608
Жыл бұрын
@@marycollins7058 I'll agree with that...but remember sitting on the front porch looking at the moon with my family in our humble neighborhood.
Interesting to see several of my childhood friends’ houses still looking beautiful like back in the day. Mostly English Tudors with some French Chateau and Normandy styles sprinkled here and there. Love how you filmed the trees and through them. Most of those have been residents there for decades and the Cherry Blossoms are so delightful when in bloom. Really enjoyed this.
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Wow, so you've been inside a few of these, that's awesome! I really love passing through this area, not just because of the homes, but also the serenity and beautiful landscaping. Hence, me getting close to all the flowers, plants and trees :) There really is an incredible vibe around there.
@brigittebeltran6701
11 ай бұрын
What type of careers did the inhabitants of this beautiful neighborhood have? Did they work in Manhattan? Thank you so much for sharing. The trees and foliage are beyond beautiful! 👌🌹🙏
Lovely
@franklinstephen3268
11 ай бұрын
Hello 👋
Lovely❤
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE I CANT EVEN IMAGINE THE PROPERTY TAX A YEAR FOR A HOUSE LIKE THAT GORGEOUS JUST GORGEOUS 🏡 👍✌️
@paulsportal1720
10 ай бұрын
I know! Taxes, upkeep, insurance, etc. Serious money. But definitely gorgeous!
Watching again ❤❤
Never knew about this section of Forest Hills until seeing your video. Incredibly beautiful wow!
Amazing place 💕
WOW BEAUTIFUL GOD BLESS YOU🤝👍👍👍👍🏡⛰😍😍😗😗💖💖
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Thank you! You too!
Lugar de gente feliz
Beautiful place!
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
It really is!
ENGLAND IN NEW YORK. 2023. 🇺🇸🗽🇺🇸👌🇬🇧
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
✌️😎
@ginogennaroalonso1067
11 ай бұрын
@@paulsportal1720 👌👀🗽thanks.🇺🇸
So beautiful.
@paulsportal1720
9 ай бұрын
Agreed!
Wow ~There are so many unique houses and beautiful old trees ~ I'm looking for which one is my favorite. I want to refer to it when building my house ~ I don't like spring but this village makes me love spring ~ ^ ^
@paulsportal1720
10 ай бұрын
Yeah, it's really an amazing area. I want to film it again in the fall time with all the colored leaves.
It is so beautiful!
Que lugarzinho lindo,uma paz ! 🙏
beautiful town and nice video
@paulsportal1720
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! More to come.
What a great and nice surprise....I had the privilege to Live in this beautiful and pleasant venue back in the seventies. Exactly at 31 Markwood Rd....thanks for posting!🎉🎉🎉
@paulsportal1720
11 ай бұрын
Bet that was a nice experience. The whole area is very well kept. Thank you for viewing!
@eriscarmodossantosdefranca5528
11 ай бұрын
@@paulsportal1720 very nice indeed!
Thank God I have interten and i can at least travel online... Great video
Как красиво!❤
Those houses are so cute