By Kathianne Boniello
The area between Douglas Manor and Northern Boulevard was officially named to the National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 31, said Kathy Howe of the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Howe said the area received a listing on the state register on June 9.
It seems the only historical designation Douglaston Hill has yet to receive is one from the city, which named neighboring Douglas Manor a landmark district in 1998.
“It's official now,” said Howe of state and national listings for Douglaston Hill.
Howe said since Douglaston Hill had met its goals of state and national recognition, which protects areas from disruptive or destructive state and federal projects, the agency would try to pursue a state designation for Douglas Manor.
“Hopefully, we can move forward with that,” she said.
At a March meeting of the Douglaston Little Neck Historical Society, its first public gathering in several years, the group reviewed the history of “the hill” and explained the benefits of the state and national designation.
The 134 residences and businesses within the historic area would benefit from the state and federal historic listings because each one offers the potential to provide homeowners with the option of taking a 20 percent federal income tax credit for the costs of rehabilitating their homes.
The irregularly shaped borders of the proposed historical district stretch from a small portion of Depew Avenue in the north to Northern Boulevard in the south. It is bordered by Douglaston Parkway on the west and partially bordered by 244th Street to the east.
The oldest property in the district is the Zion Episcopal Church built in 1830.
Howe said the important historical aspects of the area included its importance as an example of the evolution of the early commuter suburb and the diversity of its architecture.
Several architectural styles can be seen in the area, including Queen Anne, Craftsman, Bungalow, American Foursquare, Tudor Revival, and Colonial Revival.
The extension of the Long Island Rail Road through Douglaston Hill in the late 1860s distinguished the area, which was home to a population of mixed class and race at the time.
During the last century “the hill” was occupied by a variety of people, including summer residents, local tradesmen and women, and free blacks who worked in the oyster industry.
In the early 20th century, most homes were built in anticipation of the completion of the railroad tunnel under the East River to create a direct route to Manhattan. The tunnel opened in 1909.
