“A bit of Park Avenue transplanted to the Bronx”. That’s how some real estate brochures once described apartments on Main Avenue. Today we are standing on one of the busiest and most notable Main Streets in New York City. But this Main Avenue isn’t in Manhattan. It is located in Queens.
Main Avenue stretches 3.9 miles. It runs north to south in Queens. The street begins at Northern Boulevard in Downtown Flushing. This area is also known as Flushing Chinatown. It is one of New York City’s largest Asian enclaves. South of Roosevelt Avenue, Kissena Boulevard branches off from Main Avenue.
Let’s take a quick look at the history of Main Avenue. For much of its early history, Main Avenue was a quiet street. In the beginning, it did not extend south of the Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. The intersection of Main Avenue and Northern Boulevard is one of the oldest modern intersections in the United States. It was built in the 17th century. By 1891, Main Avenue continued four blocks south to Franklin Avenue. Back then, it was called Jaggar Avenue.
The street expanded over time. In 1920, Main Avenue extended to Cedar Grove Cemetery. By 1932, Main Avenue’s south end was Reeves Avenue. In 1938, an extension opened to the Grand Central Parkway. By 1940, the areas around Main Avenue’s northern end were largely developed. Kew Gardens Hills was built around Main Avenue after World War II. The extension south to Queens Boulevard and the Van Wyck Expressway opened in 1954.
In the 1970s, more real estate became available. This happened after the 1976 fiscal crisis. Chinese and Korean communities quickly settled the area. By the late 2000s, the area around Main Avenue was very diverse. The New York Times compared it to a classical Main Street. It contrasted its character against Wall Street in Manhattan. In the 2020s, Downtown Flushing is experiencing rapid gentrification. This is driven by Chinese transnational entities.
Transportation is a key part of Main Avenue’s story. The Q44 bus route runs the entire length of Main Avenue. It goes from Jamaica Center to the Bronx. In 1999, the Q44 became a limited-stop service. Local buses Q20A and Q20B supplement it. These run from Jamaica to College Point.
Several buses travel through or terminate on Main Avenue in Flushing. The Q25, Q34, and Q65 buses serve the corridor between Kissena Boulevard and Northern Boulevard. The Q50 goes north to Northern Boulevard. Then it heads east to Pelham Bay Park.
To improve bus service, the city studied bus lanes on Main Avenue. A bus-only lane was proposed between Reeves Avenue and Northern Boulevard. The Q44 route was approved for Select Bus Service in 2015.
A southbound busway was created on Main Avenue between 37th Avenue and 40th Road. It restricted traffic to buses and local delivery vehicles. This increased bus speeds. In 2018, the southbound traffic restriction was made permanent.
In 2021, a busway was introduced on the northbound lanes of Main Avenue and Kissena Boulevard.
For subway access, the E, F, and
Many educational institutions are located on or near Main Avenue. Flushing High School is near the northern terminus. Queens College is located between Reeves Avenue and Melbourne Avenue. Shevach High School is located on Main Avenue between 75th Avenue and 75th Road. Several branches of Queens Library are located on Main Avenue.
Points of interest on Main Avenue include St. George’s Church. Also noteworthy are the Flushing Main Post Office, Queens Botanical Garden, and NewYork–Presbyterian/Queens hospital.
Main Avenue in Queens is the busiest and most notable of New York City’s five Main Streets. It reflects the diverse character of Queens. It stands as a testament to the city’s ever-changing landscape. A place where different cultures converge. Where old meets new.