LeFrak City, Queens
Encyclopedia
LeFrak City is a very large apartment development in the southernmost region of Corona
, a neighborhood of the New York City
borough
of Queens
, located between Junction Boulevard, 57th Avenue, 99th Street and the Long Island Expressway
. The complex of twenty eighteen-story (technically sixteen-story, since the lobbies are the 2nd floors and there are no 13th floors
) apartment towers covers 40 acres (162,000 m²) and currently houses over 14,000 people. The development is part of Queens Community Board 4
.
Named for its developer, the LeFrak Organization (founded by Samuel J. LeFrak
), LeFrak City was built 1960-1969 primarily for working- and middle-class families who were interested in modern facilities but could not afford or did not desire to live in Manhattan. The fortunes of the buildings have been closely tied to housing and social trends in New York in general, and today the complex is home to a very diverse population. The development remains popular (i.e. has low vacancy) due to its reasonable rents, and large apartments.
The site includes sitting and play areas, sports courts, a swimming pool, a branch of the Queens Borough Public Library
, a post office, two large office buildings, shops, and over 3,500 parking spaces. Recent retail developments such as Queens Center Mall and Rego Park Center are a short walk away.
New York City°N date=July 2009°W
Corona, Queens
Corona is a densely-populated neighborhood in the former Township of Newtown in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States...
, a neighborhood of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, located between Junction Boulevard, 57th Avenue, 99th Street and the Long Island Expressway
Interstate 495 (New York)
Interstate 495 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway on Long Island in New York in the United States. The route extends for from the western portal of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in the New York City borough of Manhattan to County Route 58 in Riverhead, Suffolk County...
. The complex of twenty eighteen-story (technically sixteen-story, since the lobbies are the 2nd floors and there are no 13th floors
Thirteenth floor
Thirteenth floor is a designation of a level of a multi-level building that is often omitted in countries where the number is considered unlucky...
) apartment towers covers 40 acres (162,000 m²) and currently houses over 14,000 people. The development is part of Queens Community Board 4
Queens Community Board 4
The Queens Community Board 4 is a local government in the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Elmhurst, Corona and Roosevelt Avenue, and also includes LeFrak City, Queens Center and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park...
.
Named for its developer, the LeFrak Organization (founded by Samuel J. LeFrak
Samuel J. LeFrak
Samuel J. LeFrak was a noted landlord who chaired a private building firm, the LeFrak Organization. The LeFrak Organization was also ranked 45th on the Forbes list of top 500 private companies. The development firm is best known for major development projects in Battery Park City, LeFrak City in...
), LeFrak City was built 1960-1969 primarily for working- and middle-class families who were interested in modern facilities but could not afford or did not desire to live in Manhattan. The fortunes of the buildings have been closely tied to housing and social trends in New York in general, and today the complex is home to a very diverse population. The development remains popular (i.e. has low vacancy) due to its reasonable rents, and large apartments.
The site includes sitting and play areas, sports courts, a swimming pool, a branch of the Queens Borough Public Library
Queens Borough Public Library
The Queens Library, also known as the Queens Borough Public Library, is the public library for the Borough of Queens and one of three library systems serving New York City. It was the No. 1 library system in the United States by circulation, having loaned 21 million items in the 2007 fiscal year.It...
, a post office, two large office buildings, shops, and over 3,500 parking spaces. Recent retail developments such as Queens Center Mall and Rego Park Center are a short walk away.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of LeFrak City include:- Kenny AndersonKenny AndersonKenneth "Kenny" Anderson is a retired American basketball player. After a college career at Georgia Institute of Technology, he played point guard professionally from 1991 to 2006, mostly in the National Basketball Association....
, former basketball player for the New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and other teams during his ten-year NBA career. - NoreagaN.O.R.E.Victor Santiago, Jr., best known by his stage name N.O.R.E. or Noreaga , is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
(aka N.O.R.E.), rapper. - Kenny SmithKenny SmithKenneth "The Jet" Smith is a retired National Basketball Association player and current TV basketball analyst, primarily for Inside the NBA on TNT.-Early life:...
, former basketball player for the Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
and other teams during his ten-year NBA career. - AkinyeleAkinyeleAkinyele is an American emcee who recorded in the 1990s and early 2000s, known for his sexually explicit lyrics, including his 1996 underground radio hit "Put it in Your Mouth"...
, rapper - Mark'que, (formally Joel Mark'que), rapper
- Big Mato, reggaeton/hip-hop musician.
- Emerson BoozerEmerson BoozerEmerson Boozer is a former running back in the American Football League and in the NFL. In the last year of separate drafts by the AFL and the NFL, Boozer signed with the AFL's New York Jets, rather than with an NFL team. He played his entire professional career with the Jets...
, NY Jets football player - Erick Scarecrow, Esc-Toy founder
- Mark White, bass player for the Spin DoctorsSpin DoctorsSpin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively....
- E-Moneybags, rapper
- Harlem Knightz, rapper
- Russell BradleyRussell BradleyRussell Bradley is an English former footballer who played as a centre back in the Football League for Hereford United, Halifax Town, Scunthorpe United and Hartlepool United....
, musician and record producer - Frankie ManningFrankie ManningFrankie Manning was an American dancer, instructor and choreographer. Manning is considered one of the founding fathers of the Lindy Hop.-Early years:...
, One of the founding fathers of the Lindy HopLindy HopThe Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based... - Synquis, rapper, of Finesse and Synquis Uptown Records/MCA Records
- Robert Pagen, model, International Businessman
- Ron Adkins, Music Video Director, G-Unit
- Dee Ince, Real Estate Mogul
- Dee-Tweez, rapper
- Yung-Reallie, TRU rapper
- Tyshawn Bierria, Suny Delhi Former Basketball Player (deceased)
- Judah Johnson A.K.A Johnny Hansum,, L.O.L 57 Blood Gang Lefrak City Legend (deceased)
- Tug McgrawTug McGrawFrank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
, Pitcher for the New York Mets in the late 60's and early 70's. - AL Joseph, rapper
External links
- "LeFrak City: One of (the) Largest Housing Complexes in Queens" from About.comAbout.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
- A Developer's 30: LeFrak's Queens
- LeFrak Organization, developer's website
- Queens Times Ledger LeFrak City Library still closed after two months, article about flood damage
New York City°N date=July 2009°W