By Patrick Donachie
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli called Jamaica “an evolving neighborhood” that has seen robust growth in recent years, according to an economic snapshot of the Greater Jamaica Area prepared by his office.
DiNapoli presented the report at Queens Central Library at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., accompanied by Queens Library CEO Dennis Walcott, Borough President Melinda Katz and other elected officials.
“It helps to build on successes, and to create an agenda to move forward,” DiNapoli said during the press conference. “We’re seeing diversity of employment and business growth in many areas.”
The rates of population growth, business growth and increases in the median household income all exceeded the citywide rate. DiNapoli said Jamaica was the second most-populated neighborhood in the city, and immigrants now made up 41 percent of the population, compared to 18 percent in 1980.
The number of businesses in the area increased by 39 percent over 20 years, with particular strength in social assistance, business services, food services and hotels. Most of the 69 businesses with 100 or more employees were in the health care, retail or transportation fields.
DiNapoli acknowledged Jamaica had been particularly hard hit by the recession, losing 2.5 percent of its jobs in 2009. Employment levels improved by 2012 but dipped again in 2013, with the area losing three times as many jobs as were lost in the recession. However, the comptroller said employment had neared the pre-recession level by the end of 2015.
Household income increased by 11 percent in 2011, although state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) noted that households may have four or more incomes contributing to the total. According to the report, 12.5 percent of Jamaica households were in apartments with more than one person per room, a higher rate than the borough and the city.
City Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) said while Jamaica was a transportation hub with six Long Island Rail Road lines passing through the Jamaica station, the price of a ticket was often cost-prohibitive for residents in southeast Queens. He said everyone needed to work to help longtime residents stay in the area despite increasing rental prices.
“We want to ensure that those who have endured, who have been here three, four or five decades… that they are here to enjoy this growth,” he said.
The housing crisis continues to plague Jamaica, according to the report. Home prices in 2014 were 20 percent lower than in 2008, and a previous report by DiNapoli found that more than half of the mortgages that had been issued in 2006 were subprime.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced Wednesday that the state would invest $69.5 million into the Jamaica LIRR station, including the construction of new platforms and tracks The new platform would include heated waiting areas, Wi-Fi and USB charging stations.
As a surprise at the end of the presentation, DiNapoli presented Earl Simons, the director of community relations for York College, with a check for $6,805 that came from unclaimed funds the college had not retrieved.
A full copy of the Jamaica report can be found on the comptroller’s website at www.osc.state.ny.us/
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
