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71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015

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This question is for those familiar with the streets of Queens which I am not. The IND Station on Queens Boulevard at Forest Hills has been variously known as:

71st Avenue, 71st-Continental Avenues, 71st-Continental Avenues-Forest Hills or simply Forest Hills.

Forest Hills is of course the section of Queens where it is located. 71st Avenue appears to be the cross street. Is this a major road? What is Continental Avenue? Was this the name of 71st Avenue before the Queens grid system was introduced? And when was the street grid system introduced in Queens?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Larry, RedbirdR33

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 13:45:37 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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71st Ave. is a major avenue. South of Queens Blvd., it is jointly named as Continental Avenue, which was its original name at that location. Within Forest Hills Gardens, the private community to the southeast, it is solely known as Continental Ave.

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(1342311)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 13:47:10 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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71st ave is a residential street until it joins with 108th street and crosses Queens Blvd. It continues across Queens Blvd as 71st Ave (a larger commercial strip)running towards Forest Hills Gardens, and the LIRR Station. Traditionally, it was Continental Ave after Station Plaza through Forest Hills Gardens (private community. I am not sure of the other info you are looking for.

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(1342314)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 14:05:45 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 13:45:37 2015.

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The 2 blocks between Queens Blvd and the LIRR are very busy, and to the right or left on Austin Street there is also a great deal going on in that area. The other side, where it spurs off 108th is predominantly medium density residential. There was a BeefSteak Charlies (blast from the past) off the circle where it enters Forest Hills Gardens.

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(1342322)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by SLRT on Wed Mar 4 14:25:19 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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71st Avenue is the same thing as Continental Avenue, though the signage on the avenue itself varies by location.

It is one of the familiar street names not totally expunged by the Queens borough decision to rename many of their streets (even some of their already numbered streets) to numbers with various "types" (Avenue, Street, Drive, etc.).

I think it was the same timeframe when a number of named Avenues inappropriately became "Boulevards" like Ditmars Avenue and Lefferts Avenue.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 14:25:40 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 14:05:45 2015.

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There was a BeefSteak Charlies (blast from the past) off the circle where it enters Forest Hills Gardens.

I thank you for the information. I've heard reference to Austin Street before. The fact that there is a Beefsteak Charlies still standing is really interesting.

Larry, RedbirdR33


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(1342326)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Wed Mar 4 14:26:37 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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Was this the name of 71st Avenue before the Queens grid system was introduced?

Yes.

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(1342327)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 14:27:48 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 13:45:37 2015.

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Thank you for the information. I ridden the subway through Forest Hills countless times but have never got off and looked around. One of the things that I am doing now is walking the subway lines above ground. It gives one a totally different perspective.

Larry, RedbirdR33

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 14:30:22 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 13:47:10 2015.

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71st ave is a residential street until it joins with 108th street and crosses Queens Blvd. It continues across Queens Blvd as 71st Ave (a larger commercial strip)running towards Forest Hills Gardens, and the LIRR Station. Traditionally, it was Continental Ave after Station Plaza through Forest Hills Gardens (private community. I am not sure of the other info you are looking for.

This is exactly what I was looking for. The IND almost always referred to their stations by street and area or line; Queens-Forest Hills, Concourse-205 Street etc. It was then Continental Avenue part that was confusing. Its nice to hear from someone with a fund of local knowledge.

Lary, RedbirdR33

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(1342334)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by TERRApin Station on Wed Mar 4 14:39:32 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 14:27:48 2015.

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One of the things that I am doing now is walking the subway lines above ground. It gives one a totally different perspective.
My hero. Take pics.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 14:42:16 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 14:25:40 2015.

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I don't think it is still there.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Wed Mar 4 15:09:37 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 14:05:45 2015.

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The 2 blocks between Queens Blvd and the LIRR are very busy, and to the right or left on Austin Street there is also a great deal going on in that area. The other side, where it spurs off 108th is predominantly medium density residential.

Continental Avenue is 71st Avenue south of Queens Boulevard and 108th Street north of Queens Boulevard. 71st Avenue north of Queens Boulevard was Gown Street, one of a series of alphabetical street names from Atom (75th Avenue) to Zuni (63rd Drive).

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by VictorM on Wed Mar 4 15:21:29 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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The numbered grid system was introduced in Queens in 1917, although for many years after that, street signs had both the old name as well as the new number on them.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by randyo on Wed Mar 4 15:41:41 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Wed Mar 4 15:09:37 2015.

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According to Google maps, 71 Av N/O Queens Blvd and 108 St are 2 different streets. 71 Av bears slightly east and 108 St bears west towards Jewel Av..

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(1342356)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by TERRApin Station on Wed Mar 4 15:48:12 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by randyo on Wed Mar 4 15:41:41 2015.

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Reread his post.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by FormerVanWyckBlvdUser on Wed Mar 4 15:49:06 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 14:30:22 2015.

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In my youth, I went to an orthodontist who had his office on Continental Ave. A block or so south of the LIRR overpass. All the parking was supposed to be residents only, so when my mom drove me over there, she had to leave a business card from the orthodontist's office on the windshield when parked.

The area also had the Forest Hills Tennis Club, where the US Open was played, in the years prior to the move to Flushing Meadow on the old World's Fair grounds.

Yeah, I'm kinda giving away my age here.

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(1342427)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by X-Astorian on Wed Mar 4 18:13:05 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by VictorM on Wed Mar 4 15:21:29 2015.

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"The numbered grid system was introduced in Queens in 1917, although for many years after that, street signs had both the old name as well as the new number on them."

Although planning began in 1911 it was implemented gradually (see below). In Astoria and Long Island City street numbers overtook most street names in 1925 but it took decades to be fully accepted. As a kid in the 50s and 60s I learned to refer to 30th and 31st Avenues as Grand and Jamaica although those names were 30-40 years out of date.

The following paragraph appeared in "The American City" in February 1928:

The present system of numbering streets throughout Queens Borough was given official recognition in 1915, when the Richmond Hill map was approved by the Board of Aldermen. This was followed by the Flushing and Far Rockaway maps in 1916; the Bayside map in 1917; Jamaica and Queens Village in 1919; and by the approval of new street names for Rockaway Beach in 1920; Corona and Hollis in 1921 and 1922; Ridgewood, Maspeth and Long Island City in 1925; and Springfield and the southerly portion of the borough in 1926.

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(1342527)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 19:25:17 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by randyo on Wed Mar 4 15:41:41 2015.

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He said 71st south of QB and 108 north of QB were once one street called Continental.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 21:11:28 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by TERRApin Station on Wed Mar 4 15:48:12 2015.

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On the North side of QB 108th st continues towards the LIE (and beyond) 71st ave breaks back off and continues for a few blocks towards the GCP end at 113th st. This happens across from the Ridgewood Savings Bank Building. They cross QB as one, and 71/Continental continues on the other side. If you were on QB, the signs for the turn would be 71st ave.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 21:14:00 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 14:42:16 2015.

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No, I apologize if my post led you to believe it's still there. when I said (blast from the past) I was just waxing historically.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by G1Ravage on Wed Mar 4 21:41:14 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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Continental Avenue still exists. The block of 71st Avenue west (south?) of Queens Boulevard is jointly named, and businesses hold both its original single or double-digit address, as well as a modern Queens hyphenated address.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 22:23:37 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by G1Ravage on Wed Mar 4 21:41:14 2015.

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Growing up in a "no car" family, most of my travel was Q65A (now Q64) to that station to catch the E 0r F. Once in a while we would get out on the other side to visit cousins that owned a bakery. T-Bone Diner is still there on QB. Recently installed an elevator over there. To go to Alexander's you could take the local, or the Q60 bus. The Q88 didn't exist yet.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by randyo on Thu Mar 5 01:00:30 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 22:23:37 2015.

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The T Bone has been there a long time. I remember it when I was going to Queens College 1962-66.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Wallyhorse on Thu Mar 5 05:09:26 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 21:14:00 2015.

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That makes sense, the last Beefsteak Charlie's was on 45th Street and 8th Avenue and closed in 2000 and became a themed restaurant of Joe Franklin's (RIP) I believe.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Mar 5 07:27:27 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Wallyhorse on Thu Mar 5 05:09:26 2015.

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Some of the other ones got pretty bad before they closed, The Forest Hills Gardens Location was usually pretty good, but I'm pretty sure it was gone way before 2000. After HS when I bought a car (my parents didn't have one) I used to take them there once in a while, they loved the salad bar, and seemed to ignore the fact that I loved the unlimited Beer, Wine, or Sangria - always had to remember not to park on a FHG street, lest I be towed!

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Mar 5 07:32:07 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by randyo on Thu Mar 5 01:00:30 2015.

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Known for good French Fries. I started at QC in 74, but I lived on Parsons so I hoofed it. Used to go up that way all the time for movies.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Thu Mar 5 11:57:32 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Wed Mar 4 21:11:28 2015.

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On the North side of QB 108th st continues towards the LIE (and beyond)

This is the continuation of Continental Avenue.

71st ave breaks back off and continues for a few blocks towards the GCP end at 113th st.

This is Gown Street.

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(1342625)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Mar 5 13:08:12 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Thu Mar 5 11:57:32 2015.

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Historically, absolutely yes, but the current street signs and maps use the new names. On the other side, the streets running in and out of the Gardens kept most of the original "alphabetical" designations.

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(1342632)

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Thu Mar 5 14:23:18 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Thu Mar 5 13:08:12 2015.

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Historically, absolutely yes, but the current street signs and maps use the new names.

Yes; I was just clarifying my original post which Randy didn't seem to get.

On the other side, the streets running in and out of the Gardens kept most of the original "alphabetical" designations.

True, but that's a different series of streets (G is for Groton).


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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Mar 5 15:16:59 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Thu Mar 5 14:23:18 2015.

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Funny that comes up, I had cousins on Groton. Coming from an apartment house development visiting over there was like a trip out of town! They start with A at Austin over there. Did those streets get named by the people who developed FHG, or were they laid out by the city but not really built up until the Gardens?

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by northshore on Thu Mar 5 15:35:25 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by pragmatist on Thu Mar 5 15:16:59 2015.

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It was a planned community (including the streets) by a developer.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by GIS Man on Fri Mar 6 10:06:49 2015, in response to 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Wed Mar 4 13:32:13 2015.

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Continental Ave. is the old name of the portion of 71st Ave. running southwest from Queens Blvd. to the original Forest Hills development. The last time I was there several years ago, the stores actually had dual addresses. Running southwest from Queens Blvd. the addresses decreased from 107-99 (71st Ave.) and increased from 1 (Continental Ave.).

Bob

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri Mar 6 11:30:40 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by VictorM on Wed Mar 4 15:21:29 2015.

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This is why the Jamaica Ave line's stations contained only numbers (111th St) and the Liberty Ave line originally contained only street names (Greenwood Ave). The former opened in 1918, the latter in 1915.

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Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station

Posted by italianstallion on Fri Mar 6 16:29:14 2015, in response to Re: 71 Avenue - Forest Hills Station, posted by X-Astorian on Wed Mar 4 18:13:05 2015.

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" As a kid in the 50s and 60s I learned to refer to 30th and 31st Avenues as Grand and Jamaica although those names were 30-40 years out of date."

Me too! And 23rd was Potter Ave; 24th was Woolsey.


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