LeFrak City facts for kids
LeFrak City is a huge apartment complex in Queens, a part of New York City. It has 4,605 apartments! You can find it in the neighborhoods of Corona and Elmhurst. It's located between Junction Boulevard, 57th Avenue, 99th Street, and the Long Island Expressway.
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About LeFrak City
This large group of twenty 17-story apartment buildings covers about 40 acres. More than 14,000 people live here in 4,605 apartments. Each building's top floor is called 18, and there is no 13th floor.
Building Names and Themes
The buildings are all named after cities or countries around the world. They are grouped into sets of four, based on their theme. This naming idea came about during the 1964 New York World's Fair. That big event was held nearby in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.
What You Can Find Here
LeFrak City has many cool features for its residents. There are places to sit and play, including two sports fields. You can also find sports courts and a swimming pool. The complex has a branch of the Queens Borough Public Library and a post office. There are also two large office buildings and many shops. Over 3,500 parking spaces are available for cars.
Recent Upgrades and New Technology
A big renovation project finished in 2017. It cost $70 million! They added solar panels to the roofs. They also updated the outside of the buildings and the boiler rooms. The inside of the buildings, the swimming pool, and the roofs were also improved. New play areas were built, and wheelchair access was added. The grounds were also made more beautiful. LeFrak City even has New York City's first robotic security guard! The Queens Center Mall and Rego Center are just a few blocks away. You can also find the New York City Subway's E M R trains at the Woodhaven Boulevard station nearby.
History of LeFrak City
LeFrak City is named after its developer, the LeFrak Organization. Samuel J. LeFrak founded this company. The complex was built between 1962 and 1971. It was mainly for working and middle-class families. These families wanted modern homes but might not have wanted to live in Manhattan.
From Marshland to Modern Homes
Before LeFrak City was built, this land was undeveloped marshland. A small stream called Horse Brook used to flow through this area. The large blocks of LeFrak City show how undeveloped the land was before construction.
A Diverse Community Today
Over time, LeFrak City has changed with New York City's housing trends. After some changes in who lived there, it became home to a very diverse population. It is still a popular place to live, with 98% of its apartments full. This is because of its fair rents and large apartments.
Famous People Who Lived Here
Many interesting people have lived in LeFrak City. Here are a few:
- Akinyele (born 1970), a rapper.
- Kenny Anderson (born 1970), a former basketball player for the New Jersey Nets.
- Telfar Clemens (born 1985), a fashion designer.
- Bryant Dunston (born 1986), a professional basketball player.
- Ehinomen Ehikhamenor (born 1980), a professional boxer.
- Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, songwriters who wrote many famous songs.
- Kaz Hirai (born 1960), a Japanese businessman who was the CEO of Sony Corporation.
- Simon Nabatov (born 1959), a pianist.
- Noreaga (born 1977, also known as N.O.R.E.), a rapper.
- Nneka Onuorah (born 1988), a director and producer.
- Prodigy (1974–2017), a rapper, actor, and author.
- Kool G Rap (born 1968), a rapper.
- Kenny Smith (born 1965), a sports commentator and former professional basketball player.
- Jermaine Turner (born 1974), a former professional basketball player.
- Mark White (born 1962), the bass player for the Spin Doctors.
