Queensbridge
- This article should be merged with Queensbridge Houses
The Queensbridge Housing Projects Complex, built in 1940 by the American government, is the country?s largest such housing project containing 3,101 apartments located in Long Island City, Queens, New York.
Long Island City is located in the southwestern part of Queens, which is one of New York City's five boroughs. The Queensbridge Houses, the largest of Queens' twenty-two developments, is located between Vernon Boulevard and 21st street. It is to the immediate south of Keyspan energy's Ravenswood power plant. And Queensbridge gets its name from the Queens Borough or 59th Street Bridge, which is just south of the complex. It is separated into two complexes, the North Houses on 40th Avenue and the South Houses on 41st Avenue.
Physically, the buildings of Queensbridge are very similar to most government-built housing projects of their time. They are a worn grayish brown with a large amount of attrition and weathering noticeable. Also an eyesore, slight amounts of graffiti can be spotted on just about every building in the complex. Each building is painted red to about four feet up from the ground. This gives a untied feel to the entire complex because a uniform red "layer" is close, no matter where one is located in the complex. On each of the corners in Queensbridge, the New York City Housing Authority has posted signs indicting the projects name and management?"Queensbridge North (or South) Houses NYCHA." These signs come in several varieties depending on their age. The oldest signs, erected in the early nineties, are simply orange and blue. Newer signs feature graphics, like those of many other projects. However, Queensbridge?s signs have a unique touch?their graphic features an illustration of the Queens Borough Bridge. A large (about four feet high) black metal fence surrounds the entire complex and its walking paths. Another set of chain-link and barbed wire fences separates the housing complex from an area sheltered by an onramp to the Queens Borough Bridge. That area is historically home to many homeless folks. The buildings in the complex are divided by a series of paths and small lawns. Also in the complex are several basketball courts. Like most parks, benches line the courts and play-areas in the Queensbridge housing complex. There are no unique residential buildings in the Queensbridge housing complex. All buildings are the same height and have the identical "X" shape to match. The roof-tops, a popular hangout spot, generally have more graffiti than other parts of the complex. To gain access to any building in the complex one must use a key or be allowed in by a new intercom system. Recent additions also include heavy metal doors to protect residents from break-ins. The halls of Queensbridge?s buildings are comparable to most municipal buildings. They are dilapidated and lined with worn light blue tiles. Apartments are painted white and are fairly small, even by New York City standards. Across Vernon Boulevard lies Queensbridge Park, which has a fully lit baseball diamond, running paths, lawns, and areas for picnicking. That park, home the Queensbridge little league, is the primary place of recreation for tenants of the projects.
Subway commuters would recognize the complex's name from its stop along the F train?s route. Queensbridge is the only building complex, let alone housing project, to have a subway station named after it. The stop?s official name reads "21st Street Queensbridge." As its name would suggest, the station, which is only marked by a sign and a tarnished metal staircase, is located on 21st street. The station, located on the western side of 21st street, is indeed inside the Queensbridge complex.
