QUEENS — The future of Jamaica is in your hands.
A development organization in the neighborhood is conducting its first-ever survey to determine residents' vision to improve the area.
The Downtown Jamaica survey, from the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, is asking people what changes would make the area more appealing. It also asks their preferences for new shops, restaurants and types of new housing they would like to see in the area.
Many residential and commercial projects have been undertaken in recent years and several others are on the way in the neighborhood, which has seen a development spark.
Residents, local business owners, shoppers and travelers who use the LIRR or AirTrain station in Jamaica are encouraged to participate.
The survey will be also mailed to a number of area residents and the neighborhood’s largest employers will be asked to e-mail questionnaires to their employees.
The online survey is expected to be up until mid-April, the organization said.
The survey, done with the help of a Brownfield Opportunity Areas grant from the New York State Department of State, takes about 12 minutes to complete.
Many of the areas considered for development were previously used for industrial purposes and are considered brownfields, requiring some cleanup before they can be used again, the organization said.
The area near the Jamaica LIRR station has some 70 brownfield sites in a 40-acre area alone, the state said.
Once the results are tallied later this year, they will be used in future negotiations with investors and developers to guide development, according to the organization website.
