Like so many neighborhoods in Queens, College Point is a community rich in tradition. With beautiful waterfront homes, booming industries and spacious parks in the area, it is no wonder residents have established life-long roots there.
Located in the northern region of Queens, College Point is a community that maintains its timeless identity due to its unique location. As one of the most secluded neighborhoods in the borough, College Point is bordered by Flushing Bay to the west and the East River to the north. To the east, the Whitestone Expressway separates College Point from Whitestone, its closest neighbor, while the remnants of Flushing Airport act as a barrier to Flushing in the south.
Ironically, there is no college in College Point. The neighborhood was named after St. Paul’s College, a seminary founded in 1835 by Reverend Augustus Muhlenberg. Although St. Paul’s closed its doors in 1850, the name remained. Previous names of the area included Lawrence’s Neck, Tew’s Neck, Flammersberg and Strattonsport.
Founded by Conrad Poppenhusen, a German American industrialist, College Point was intended to facilitate Poppenhusen’s business ventures. Having made his fortune manufacturing hard rubber combs, Poppenhusen envisioned College Point to be a housing ground for his workers. That vision quickly changed as churches and libraries developed in the neighborhood. As the area became more of a social community than he expected, Poppenhusen was proud to contribute to the development of the Poppenhusen Institute in 1868, which became an extraordinary educational symbol in the community.
“The community is continuing to develop,” said Pat Stavile of Pat Stavile Real Estate. “So much has changed in the last 25 years, there are more people, newer homes and industry is booming,” she said.
Originally a heavily populated German neighborhood, College Point features a very diverse demographic today. “There was a time when you could not get into this neighborhood if you were not German or Italian, now it’s like a melting pot,” said Barbara Fusco, a real estate broker familiar with College Point. Stavile echoed the sentiment as she too noticed an influx of residents of various cultural backgrounds. “There are a lot of Asians, Koreans in particular, moving into the neighborhood,” she said. “It’s nice to see the community opening up to other cultures, it’s a nice mix of nationalities,” Stavile added.
Predominantly a residential community, College Point is comprised of one- and two-family homes.
Most recently, however, there has been a rise in the construction of condominiums and multi-family homes. Condominiums will run from $300,000 to $450,000; one- and two-family homes will range from $500,000 to $800,000; and the always-attractive waterfront homes start at $840,000.
While the new developments may seem like a step in the right direction for College Point, many of the community’s older residents would disagree with that notion. “It is an old town, and the people who live there want to preserve that classic feel the community has,” said Fusco.
Aside from the beautiful houses in the area and the great schools, industry is booming in the neighborhood as well.
Empire Market on College Point Boulevard is owned by a third generation German family and has been a major distributor of German meats and groceries since 1920. Another long-time family business is College Meat Center, which has been in operation since 1963.
The newer additions to the community include the shopping center on 20th Avenue, which features retail stores such as Target, TJ Max, BJ’s, Circuit City, Old Navy, Babies R’ Us and Waldbaum’s. Another popular attraction is the College Point Multiplex Cinema, which offers 12 screens and a mini-arcade.
“College Point offers a little bit of everything; it’s a great place to start a family,” Fusco said. “There are a lot of starter homes in the area, and rent is relatively cheaper than other places in Queens,” she said.
“College Point is becoming a lot like Whitestone, and it is in a great location,” Stavile said. “It’s just a few minutes away from LaGuardia airport and very central to all Queens has to offer. It’s really the perfect place to live.”
