WHERE:Howard Beach is bordered by the Belt Parkway and Conduit Avenue to the north, Jamaica Bay to the south, 102nd Street east and 78th street to the west. To the north is Lindenwood and Ozone Park, Brooklyn is due west, and South Ozone Park to the east.
COMMUTE:Close to the Belt Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway, and Nassau Expressway, Howard Beach also enables residents to get to the city easily using the A train subway stop, Howard Beach-JFK, in Howard Beach. It also provides a connection to the AirTrain, a quick trip to either Jamaica or nearby JFK Airport.
HOUSING:This residential area is comprised of one- and two-family colonial cookie-cutter homes built in the 1960's. The single family homes are mainly in the price range of $600,000 to $900,000 while the two families start out at $700,000 and can be as expensive as $950,000. Condominium buildings have also sprouted up recently on the west side, selling for anywhere between $200,000 and $350,000.
NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE:The main commercial attraction in Howard Beach is Cross Bay Boulevard, which eventually becomes Woodhaven Boulevard after Ozone Park. In the 1970's and 80's, it was made up of mom and pop shops and restaurants. But over the years, it has been transformed into a heavy commercial strip of franchise-owned chain stores and restaurants.
Just nine blocks long and 25 blocks wide, Howard Beach is a very popular destination for families, said Alex Guiseppone, the head real estate broker of Guiseppone Realty. “It's more suburban than other places in the city,” he said. “It's more spread out. You're close to the beach, close to the water, which is nice. There are waterfront properties, people take out their boats on the water.”
A popular attraction is Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, just a short drive away. Youngsters play baseball in the Ozone-Howard Little League, one of the top youth organizations in the borough. The area is also home to churches Our Lady of Grace, Saint Helen Roman Catholic Church, Saint Barnabas Lutheran Church, Howard Beach Assembly of God, Howard Beach Judea Center and Rockwood Park Jewish Center.
SCHOOLS:Popular public school choices in the area are P.S. 146 Howard Beach School, P.S. 207 Rockwood Park School, and P.S. 232 Lindenwood School. Private schools include Our Lady of Grace and St. Helen School. John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Beach Channel High School in Rockaway Point and Far Rockaway High School are the academic destinations for 9-12 graders.
