Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens has the misfortune of being known for a famous murder that happened in 1964 – clearly this reputation should have been lost in the ensuing decades, but its inclusion in everything from musicals to psychology texts books has kept the memory alive. But never fear, crime rates in the neighborhood today are comparable to those of upscale, safe neighborhoods in Manhattan. Residents from all over Asia, South America, and the Middle East inhabit Kew Gardens. The area has a significant Jewish community from various countries of origin. Manhattan professionals are drawn to the neighborhood because of the speedy E express train service into the city. The F train and the Long Island Rail Road also stop in Kew Gardens and the neighborhood is close to multiple freeways for car owners. For residents on foot, there are many walking-distance conveniences. Lefferts Blvd. and Metropolitan Avenue are frequently crowded with pedestrians patronizing the array of cultural specialty markets, take out joints, and general retail stores that reflect the diversity of the neighborhood’s residents. Russian cuisine coexists with coffee and donuts. Kew Gardens is slightly taller and more urban than its neighbors, just also with charming tudor & detached houses. While mammoth apartment buildings with castle spires can be found along the larger avenues, the smaller tree lined side streets contain stately homes decked out with ornate detailing and sizable yards. The housing density of Kew Gardens means that most of the real estate for sale is in the form of co-ops or condos. The median sales price is about $400K, but there are many apartment sales listings in the $200-300K range as well. For renters, the median price for a studio is $1100/mo and $1240/mo for a 1Br.