Black and White Flight in Corona

Between the bodegas, Latin restaurants, markets, and food carts selling tacos and empanadas, it’s hard to walk down the street in Corona these days without hearing mothers speaking Spanish to their young children or the sounds of Latin beats emanating from the music stores along Roosevelt Avenue.

Since the 1950s this community – less than six miles from Manhattan – was home to sizable Italian and African-American populations.

But in recent decades, the face of Corona has changed dramatically as Hispanic immigrants have settled in the neighborhood in increasing numbers, while white and African-American members of the community have moved out.

Click on the graphic to see how the neighborhood has changed.

Buildings go up and come crashing down in Elmhurst, Queens

Overbuilding and over-development run rife in Elmhurst, NY. The map illustrates two lists of buildings in transition.

The red balloon icon represents new building permits and proposals to the Department of Buildings since 2006. The triangular icon represents demolition proposals since 2006.

This information was derived from the Buildings Information System, the Department of Buildings' database.


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I Can Hear Music

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The culture and music of Corona, Queens, has changed along with its population. As large numbers of Hispanic immigrants have come into the neighborhood, restaurants, shops, and music stores have changed accordingly. With very few exceptions, most of the music stores in Corona have Spanish names and cater to a Spanish-speaking public.