Jamaica Center 1987

In 1968, Regional Plan Association identified Jamaica Center as one of the key downtowns in the tri-state New York Urban Region that should grow (see Appendix A). This recommendation ran counter to the trends and economic projections prepared for RPA by a Harvard University team (Metropolis 1985). The Harvard study talked of slowly declining ​“gray areas,” including Jamaica. So, we had no illusions that Jamaica Center was about to become the dynamic center that its location justified and its social condition made highly desirable— unless public policies strongly stimulated its growth.