Richmond Hill, Queens

From the city to the country

By Denisa R. Superville | Special to amNewYork

August 10, 2006

Faced with rising rents in Williamsburg, Eileen Raab packed up four years ago and moved to Richmond Hill.

Initially attracted by the lower cost -- $1,100 for a one-bedroom in a private house in Queens compared to $1,400 for a one-bedroom in Brooklyn -- Raab quickly fell in love with the rambling Victorians, tree-lined streets and the relative quiet of her new neighborhood.

Front lawns are dotted with toys, children of all ethnicities tool around on bicycles and neighbors wave hello from their front porches.

"You're coming from the city to the country, basically," said Raab, a project manager at a construction company.

For longtime residents and newcomers, Richmond Hill offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Yet it's close to major highways and minutes away from Manhattan on the J/Z or A trains.

"It's so beautiful to go out and hear the birds and listen to the chirping and the butterflies flying around," said Nancy Cataldi, a resident since 1963. "And again you're saying, 'I'm in Queens?'"

Find it
Richmond Hill is bordered by Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Woodhaven and Ozone Park. The boundaries are roughly around Metropolitan Avenue to the north, Van Wyck Expressway to the east, Liberty Avenue to the south and Woodhaven Boulevard to the west, according to local historian Carl Ballenas.

Q&A with Lou Gazzale
Twenty-five years ago, Lou Gazzale, 66, co-owner of Wise Drugs Inc. on Jamaica Avenue, left Bellmore, Long Island, to return to Queens. His family settled into an early 20th century Victorian in north Richmond Hill.

Why did you move to Richmond Hill?
I had my business here for many, many years. My children were getting older and my wife was helping us in the pharmacy We didn't want them to be alone So we decided to come back and we never regretted it ... I love the big, big trees.

What do you like best about it?
I personally feel connected to it as a small town because of my role as a health provider and as a pharmacist. I know hundreds of people by their first names and that's a unique, interesting experience to have.

What's the biggest concern for residents?
To see these beautiful houses torn down to put in something garish, almost. It's sad. Everyone is united to try and stop that.

How has the neighborhood changed since you've been here?
It changed like most of New York City. We're a wonderful magnet for people from all over the world. They all want to come.

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