Middle Village
Middle Village is a quiet, safe neighborhood. Perhaps not
surprisingly, it's part of the so-called "Cemetery Belt" of Queens, a
group of neighborhoods bounded by the vast and beautiful graveyards of
the borough. Tree-lined streets and yards in Middle Village contribute
to a spacious, natural feel, though it isn't exactly a wilderness. The
Metropolitan and Woodhaven Avenue business districts include a wide
range of commerce, from chain donut shops, to various retail, to
multicultural restaurants.
Middle Village is predominantly comprised of long-term Italian
residents, and stability has led it to become a close-knit, involved
community. The outrage over trees being cut down near a school shows
the level of concern residents have for their neighborhood. Worries
about uncontrolled development and various political intrigues have
pitched residents against their councilman, who they fear does not
share their interest in preserving the feel of the neighborhood in the
face of new construction.
In keeping with its suburban feel, Middle Village is mostly for
car-based residents - although it is also served by bus lines and the
Metropolitan Ave.-Middle Village Station on the M train line. The
housing in Middle Village is mostly family homes, so apartments are few
and far between.
