By The Times/Ledger
The land along Queens Blvd. between Elmhurst and Forest Hills was developed as Rego Park, its promoters deriving the name from “Real Good,” as in Real Good Construction Company, the folks which put it on the map in the 1920s. Previous to that it was a territory of farms and one road, Remsen's Lane. Chinese farmers, who then kept strictly to themselves, grew vegetables on land they owned and sold them in Chinatown. After construction of houses and apartments began, a chain reaction was created: a railroad station opened in 1928, the expressway was extended to Queens in 1935, and a subway line to Union Turnpike began service in 1936.
Today, Rego Park has a diverse mix of apartment buildings and private housing, including Lefrak City, a huge housing complex astride the Long Island Expressway that at first was predominantly Irish, German, and Italian. Then, beginning in 1970 the area attracted many immigrants from the Soviet Union and Asia. Included in the mix are Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union, Iran and Israel, as well as enclaves of Indians, Colombians, Koreans and Romanians. Shopping and restaurants can be found along Queens Blvd. from the Long Island Expressway to 67th Ave.
More info: Community Board 6, 263-9250.
