Flatbush and Elmhurst Neighborhood Comparison Essay Mark II

Flatbush - Zip code: 11210

Flatbush, zip code 11210, is a predominately Black neighborhood, with over 50% of the residents classified as Black or African American. The largest minorities in the neighborhood are Whites, about 30%, and Asians about 4% (US Census Bureau, 2016). Being the majority, Blacks can be seen just about anywhere in the neighborhood. On the other hand, Whites are primarily seen along the main roads leading to and from the college such as Bedford Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, and Ocean Avenue. The small percentage of Asians can be found in a few notable small businesses around the area such as the local tailor, grocery store owner, and restaurant. The high percentage of Blacks and the relative lack of diversity in the neighborhood bodes poorly for the health statistics of the area. Studies have continually shown that Black populations disproportionally suffer from higher rates of obesity, neonatal mortality, and diabetes (Grady & Ramírez, 2008; Lim & Harris, 2015). The disparities are reflected not only in the health statistics, but also by the services offered by the businesses offered in the neighborhoods.

Business services along the neighborhoods main avenues cater to a lower socioeconomic class. Along Flatbush and Nostrand Avenue, you can find the 99cents store, laundromat, barber shop, salon, pawnshop, loan creditor, Jamaican restaurant (Fisherman’s Cove), and Porta Bella clothing store. These small businesses cater to life necessities: food, clothing (hair counts as a part of clothing), and housing. They also are reflective of the neighborhoods' population, 14.2% below the poverty level (US Census Bureau, 2016). The Clean Rite Laundromats offer free dry cleaning services (Used to the fullest by anyone within a 5 block radius of the store). Major furniture and appliance sellers advertise that they offer loans without credit checks. Half the small business retail stores place their wares out on top of a plastic table on the sidewalk while others have to unlock their store door through buttons behind the counter. For those that do place their wares on tables outside, there is almost always a lookout on a chair keeping an eye on the merchandise. In contrast to the small businesses, the large companies can be found only on the main avenues. In particular, The Triangle Junction, a mall on Avenue H between Flatbush and Nostrand Avenue, houses the major retail Target store and local Applebees. Away from the main roads of traffic, there is little to no retail stores besides bodegas, convenience stores, and the occasional barbershop. The lack of storefronts highlights the residential segregation of Black communities (Kwate, Loh, White, & Saldana, 2013). However, being next to the main roads of transportation reduces this retail disparity as it allows people to travel to and from the area.

The small businesses thrive because of the area’s availability to mass transit, both by bus and by train. About 55% of the population of workers over the age of 16 years old travel using public transportation (US Census Bureau, 2016). The placement of the bus lines and trains stations is optimal for traveling to work. Right at the Triangle Junction is the last stop for the B41 and B11. The B41 goes from Flatbush to Brooklyn Heights while the B11 goes from Flatbush to the Brooklyn Army Terminal. Both Brooklyn Heights and the Brooklyn Army Terminal contain the major employers and are centers of commerce. The train station is also the last stop for the Brooklyn bound the 2 and 5 trains. Taking either the 2 or 5 train northbound can get you to Atlantic Avenue Barclays center in less than 30 minutes. In addition, there are secret lines of dollar vans that can be accessed on Flatbush Avenue (Secret NYC knowledge utilized by only used by less than 10% of the neighborhood population). All these transportation services make sure that foot traffic is quite high throughout the day and walking back and forth contributes to some light exercise by the local residents, usually about 10 minutes a day. Though this amount of exercise is not much, it is definitely more than when compared to non-transit users (Saelens, Moundon, Kang, Hurvitz, & Zhou, 2014). Other factors that affect the general health of the population are the diets and health resources available to the local populace.

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 also a significant number of fast food restaurants in the area. McDonald's and Burger King are just right across the street from each other. The local Subway franchise is nearby the train station. The Popeye’s store right next to the bus stand is a popular spot for lunch and dinner. The large selection of possible fast food chains in the area might be assumed to lead to the 28% obesity rate (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Community Profile, 2015). However, studies have shown that fast food availability does not equate to fast food consumption (Richardson, Boone-Henonen, Popkin, & Gordon-Larsen, 2011).

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. In 2015, Kings County Hospital had 141,328 ER visits and 518,076 clinical visits (NYC Health+Hospitals Corporation website, 2015).

Elmhurst - Zip code: 11373

Elmhurst is an extremely diverse neighborhood composed of 49.8% Asians, 39.6% Hispanics, and 6.6% Whites within its borders (US Census Bureau, 2016). The large subgroups within each of these general categories further diversify the Elmhurst population. The communities each form their own enclaves with specific streets packed with cultural goods. 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.

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 is possible because the largest employers of the neighborhood are the retail and food industry, both industries that cater the specific needs of the community (US Census, 2016). In addition, 66% of the community is foreign born and 53% have limited English proficiency (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Community Profile, 2015). Overall these ethnic enclaves are able to remain self-sufficient and relatively isolated. 

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, about 71.5%, of the neighborhood population use the trains and buses to travel to and from work (US Census Bureau, 2016). This provides a somewhat light exercise for the population.

Food in the area is as diverse as the population. All along Broadway is a restaurant after restaurant of some sort of Asian cuisine. On Corona and Roosevelt Avenue, you have the Spanish restaurants. Roosevelt Avenue also has its own fair share of Middle Eastern foods. More standardize fast food chains such as McDonald's, Subway, and Dunkin’ Donut stores can also be found throughout the area. Despite the diversity of food options, the obesity rate of Elmhurst stand at 25% of the population, slightly higher than the NYC average of 24% (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Community Profile, 2015). Yet the rate remains lower than Flatbush despite the higher number of fast food chains and major department stores. This validates that findings that the accessibility of fast food is not linked to increased fast food consumption (Richardson, Boone-Henonen, Popkin, & Gordon-Larsen, 2011). Another cultural factor such as shared eating might be at the heart of the difference (Arrendondo, Elder, Ayala, Slymen, & Campbell, 2006).

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 in 2015 served 113,757 ER visits as well as 471,522 clinical visits (NYC Health+Hospitals Corporation website, 2015).

Similarities

Though both neighborhoods appear extremely different at first glance, Elmhurst and Flatbush do share remarkable similarities. Mass transit is the main means of transportation in both neighborhoods with over 50% of residents using the buses and subways (US Census Bureau, 2016). The Jackson-Heights Roosevelt Avenue hub and Flatbush Avenue station bring hundreds of local residents to and from work every day. Daily foot traffic through the area allows small businesses catering to specific populations to thrive.

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. Likewise, a similar situation is present in Flatbush. Tertiary care is provided by a large NYC HHC hospitals that has annual over 100,000 ER visits (NYC Health+Hospitals Corporation website, 2015). They provide a place of emergency health services in a pinch and are open 24/7. 

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. Healthcare in both neighborhoods is provided by major hospitals that serve patients in over 400,000 clinical visits. Ultimately the health differences are to a complex assortment of environmental, cultural, social, and economic factors the require further research.