Flatbush and Elmhurst Neighborhood Comparison 1st Version

Flatbush - Zip code: 11210

Flatbush, 11210, is a predominately Black neighborhood. Inline with most other predominately Black neighborhoods, the area has little diversity in terms of race, with most of the diversity seen on the sidewalk being commuters coming to and from the college campus. However, there are a few notable small businesses owned by Asians such as the local tailor, grocery store owner, and restaurant. Unfortunately, this bodes poorly for the health statistics of the area, which generally finds Black populations to be suffering from higher rates of morbidities, related to chronic diseases, cancer, and obesity.

Speaking of businesses, most of the stores in the area line up along Flatbush and Nostrand Avenue. These businesses range from the Jamaican Fisherman’s Cove to Footlocker. The Triangle Junction in particular has most of the name brand stores like Subway, Target, Applebees, and T-Mobile. There are also two major gyms, Blink and Retro Fitness, within blocks of each other indicating a high demand by the population to get fit. However, there is a significant small business presence with barbershops, salons, $0.99 stores, and pawnshops. These small businesses cater towards life necessities: food, clothing (hair counts as a part of clothing), and housing. They also demonstrate the more bare necessities required in the area highlighting the population’s general demand.

The small businesses are able to thrive because of the area’s availability to mass transit, both by bus and by train. Right at the Triangle Junction is the last stop for the B41 and B11. The train station is also the last stop for the Brooklyn bound the 2 and 5 trains. In addition, there are secret lines of dollar vans that can be accessed on Flatbush Avenue (Secret NYC knowledge). All these transportation services make sure that foot traffic is quite high throughout the day. All that walking back and forth contributes to some light exercise by the local residents though the choice of food selection appears to counteract that.

Food in the area is provided by local to mid size grocers such as Met Foods and Key Foods. Their design is one that openly displays food out in front of the store (especially items on sale). On the inside the isles are not as polished as one would find in a major retail store. However, the lower prices are more than adequate to make up for that. They also usually have access to some sort of butcher that provides the poultry and fish. On the flip side, there are the fast food joints that take up significant space in the area. McDonalds and Burger King are just right across the street from each other. The Popeye’s store right next to the bus stand is a popular spot for lunch and dinner. This selection of food tends to lean towards fast food, contributes to the high BMIs in the area.

In terms of health services, the area is primarily supplied by primary care physicians and specialists that own clinics next to the transportation hub. For more secondary and tertiary healthcare services, there are three hospitals: Mount Sinai Brooklyn, NY Community Hospital, and Kings County Hospital (Kings County Hospital is not within the borders of 11210, but is relatively close, 15 minutes by bike). Kings County Hospital remains one of the largest county hospitals within the Brooklyn area and serves a multitude of patients as an outpatient facility and emergency room. All these hospitals provide a significant amount of service to Medicaid and Medicare patients as many times private clinics will not accept Medicaid and Medicare due to onerous paperwork that accompanies such insurances.

Elmhurst - Zip code: 11373

Elmhurst is an extremely diverse neighborhood with Asians, Hispanics, and White communities within its borders. Major roadways border the neighborhood with Roosevelt Avenue to the north, the Long Island Expressway (495) to the south, Junction Boulevard to the east, and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (278) to the west. The neighborhood is split right down the middle from left to right by Queens Boulevard.

The neighborhood changes depending on which part of the neighborhood you are in. If you are more to the north along Roosevelt Avenue you will find Indians and Middle Easterners. If you are in the east along Junction Boulevard you will find more Hispanics. In the middle along Broadway all you will find are Asians. To the south you will find Whites, predominately Irish or Italian. More diversity supposedly comes along with benefits health wise, but the research is unclear exactly what these benefits are.

Most major businesses with name brands are along Queens Boulevard. There is an AT&T, White Castle, McDonalds, Macy’s, JCPenny and Target. However, there are also small businesses along the Boulevard in the form of car dealers, car washes, and motels. Further small business specifically catering to ethnic needs can be found on Broadway, Junction Boulevard, and Roosevelt Avenue. These include Chinese grocery stores, Spanish restaurants, and Indian grocers. Some stores do not even have English-speaking staff on hand. This indicates the self-sufficient strength of these ethnic enclaves or the relative isolation by the rest of the population.

The area is easily accessible by mass transit. On the upper west tip of the neighborhood is the Jackson Height-Roosevelt Avenue station, a major transportation hub for express and local trains as well as MTA buses. All trains running through Queens, E, F, M, R, and 7, have a stop here. The buses here, Q70 and Q72, lead directly to La Guardia airport. Other local and express buses cut right through the neighborhood on Grand Avenue, Broadway, Corona Avenue, and Queens Boulevard. The second major transit hub is Queens Center Mall, which serves as a last stop for the Q88. There are lines of dollar vans here that go directly from Elmhurst to Chinatown. Foot traffic along Broadway, Roosevelt Avenue, and Junction Boulevard is quite consistent throughout the day until evening. With such easy access to the transit system, most locals use the trains and buses to travel to and from work. This provides a somewhat light exercise for the population though like Flatbush the health benefits are perhaps counteracted by the food selection.

Food in the area is as diverse as the population. All along Broadway is a restaurant after restaurant of some sort of Asian cuisine. You have the Chinese Bakery right on Queens Boulevard. Further down the road are Sushi Island and Shanghai Soup dumplings. Then on Corona and Roosevelt Avenue, you have the Spanish restaurants. Bolivian, Columbian, Venezuelan, Mexican restaurants cater to the Spanish taste of empanadas, pollo en mole, papas fritas, and other such goodies. Roosevelt Avenue also has its own fair share of Middle Eastern foods. Curry goat and lamb with nam as well as kebabs leave a delicious aroma in the air. For those looking for a more standardize fast food fill there are McDonalds, Subway, and Dunkin’ Donut stores. While the traditional ethnic restaurants boost health with balanced meals, the major fast food brands in the area also contribute to obesity.

Health services are provided mostly by the specialists and primary care practices within walking distance of the Elmhurst’s main roads. Group health practices can also be found next to Queens Boulevard in the form of Advantage Care Physicians. The hospital within the neighborhood is Elmhurst Hospital as operated by the New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation (NYC HHC). This main hospital services most of the indigent care of central Queens and walk in patients without insurance are quite common, somewhat boosting health outcomes for immigrants in the area.

Similarities

Though both neighborhoods appear extremely different at first glance, Elmhurst and Flatbush do share remarkable similarities. Transportation via mass transit in both neighborhoods is central to both small and major businesses within the area. The Jackson-Heights Roosevelt Avenue hub and Flatbush Avenue station bring hundreds of local residents to and from work everyday. Daily foot traffic through the area allows small businesses catering to specific populations to thrive. Although, this also makes main streets in both neighborhoods a major source of traffic jams. Interestingly, the presence of dollar vans also indicates a side of thriftiness, culture, and poverty in both areas. Instead of relying on major taxis or app sponsored livery cabs, the dollar vans cater to a more group sharing culture. This in turn leads to less major traffic accidents due to the decreased in the number of privately owned cars.

Culture itself is strong in both neighborhoods. Local grocers routinely stock up on ethnic foods such as Grass Jelly for Asians and Ginger Beer for Caribbeans. Restaurants along Broadway and Flatbush Avenue cater to Asians and Caribbeans with local specialties. These diets are both a health benefit and a detriment. Skipping out on fast food means that the populace is eating less processed junk. However, at the same time cultural food has its own health-associated deficiencies. Indians has many desserts in their diets leading to an overwhelming amount of diabetes among the population. Asians over consume rice in their diets leading to elevated levels of triglycerides in their blood. Hispanic food is often flooded with salt causing higher incidents of hypertension. These factors provide an alternative to fast food, and buoy the health statistics in the area. Much better to get a Jamaican Jerk Chicken or Chinese fried lo mein than cheeseburgers. Although, a subset of the population still does consume McDonalds and Popeye’s.

Healthcare access in both neighborhoods is surprisingly similar as well. Primary care offices are located close to the transport hubs, usually about 15-30 minutes away. Doctors that set up their practices in Elmhurst are usually of the same ethnicity as their surrounding population. Likewise, a similar situation is present in Flatbush. Tertiary care is provided by large NYC HHC hospitals that cater to the less fortunate in the population. These large hospitals are well known landmarks, known to all locals that tower over the surrounding area. They provide a place of emergency health in a pinch and are open 24/7, contributing to improved health outcomes in the area. 

Although similar in many aspects, Flatbush and Elmhurst are two neighborhoods with distinct atmospheres. Their unique environmental factors mix with the demographic to create a special society. Higher access to fast food leads to an obesity epidemic, while local culture food has its own assortment of problems as well. These health problems differ depending on the diet of the culture. Healthcare in both neighborhoods are provided by major hospitals that help to reduce morbidity among the locals. However, access to healthcare in Queens is easier owing to the larger main roads that ease vehicle traffic. Those with cars are able to drive further out to other hospitals such as New York Presbyterian Queens and ambulance crews can respond quicker to calls. Ultimately the health differences chalk up to a complex assortment to of environmental, cultural, social, and economic factors.