Comments on: The Slummification of Kissena Boulevard

By: Citizen of the Month » Signs of the Times

Citizen of the Month » Signs of the Times — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:00:39 +0000

[...] up the Pelcorp Management Company again. On my last trip back to my old Queens neighborhood, I reported on how Kissena Boulevard, the street down the block, looked like a slum because 75% of the stores were shuttered, with [...]

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:21:30 +0000

Interesting article. I live two blocks from Kissena Blvd.for the last 34 years. It’s been a slow process with the closing stores. I’ve wondered about that Bakery forever. Until your article I didn’t realize just how many stores were closing. You can now add the liquor store to your list. They reopened across the street. I enjoyed reading the comments, it took me back to my childhood. I never thought of Kissena Blvd. as a slum, but I guess all these closing stores don’t make a pretty picture.

By: Citizen of the Month » Saturday Night’s Alright for Writing

Citizen of the Month » Saturday Night’s Alright for Writing — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:27:23 +0000

[...] your laptop and write your screenplay. This isn’t Starbucks country. I already showed you last time I was home how half of the stores on the street have been shut down by some greedy [...]

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:02:56 +0000

God! I was devastated when I saw how Kissena Blvd looked. I grew up there. It’s dirty and disgusting. I loved your site, it brought back great memories but also alot of tears. Even the pizzeria is not the same anymore. No more wendy’s either. Thank you for showing my neighborhood

By: Fantasy Dee

Fantasy Dee — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:50:37 +0000

Wow i never thought it would have turned out like this. When i was young i used ta Bomb the Neigborhood From Parsons jhs to P.s. 165 to Pomonok break dancin and other things. Alot of good times and friends Valentinos pizza, Wainrites,comic store, olinskys

By: Ruben Sutton

Ruben Sutton — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:00:47 +0000

I was born at Hillcrest Hospital, I grew up on 72nd avenue and 160 street. I went to PS 154 briefly, attended IS 237 in Flushing, went to Jamaica HS and then went tot he State University of new York at Albany, although I attended classes at Queens College one summer. I had paper route at age 12 that covered a wide area, worked for Colony’s Card Shop from age 13 until I turned 16. I then worked for Wainrite’s until I graduated from HS. Although I came back to work for Wainrite’s 2 additional summers before their closing. Growing up there was like growing up in small Norman Rockwell-esque town with great ethnic diversity.
I had a wonderful childhood and I often return to visit my parents and friends that are still there. I now live on Long Island, I am married and have two children.

By: Monique

Monique — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:56:08 +0000

I grew up in that neighborhood too. My heart is broken…Loved the article though.

By: Russ

Russ — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:48:05 +0000

Wow,
I have not been back home for a few years. I lived right across from Parson’s Junior High my old school. Now I live in Florida.
This is very disappointing. Very good article though.

By: michael Graber

michael Graber — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:52:17 +0000

I can’t believe how down trotten it all looks even on a sunny day. I remember walking to any or all the stores, they were local they we good and reliable and it was easy on the pocket and easy on the feet. What a shame all local business’ have to go the way of the dinosauors. It breaks my heart to realize that the times they have a changed but not for the better. Neighborhoods are too important not to have the local businessmen and women included in its makeup and diversity. Have we as a society really alienated ourselves from each other so much that we can be over run without a shoot simply because we have no sense of who and what we are anymore. We are all little islands floating, and drifting in a sea of selfish and alturistic behavior, how sad for a generation that wanted to make a difference in the world and now we die with a whimper.

By: Holy Monster Freakin’ Hell!

Holy Monster Freakin’ Hell! — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:40:47 +0000

[...] perfect post this month; this time over at Citizen of the Month. The post I nominated is called The Slumification of Kissena Boulevard in which Neil takes us on a tour of his old neighbourhood lamenting it’s demise (with some [...]