Corona Queens

Dorie Miller Residential Cooperative, built in 1952, consists of six buildings with 300 apartments and a total of 1,300 rooms. The cooperative is named after Doris “Dorie” Miller, a U.S. Naval hero at Pearl Harbor and the first African-American recipient of the Navy Cross. Notable original residents included jazz greats Nat Adderley and Jimmy Heath, publishers Kenneth and Corien Drew of Queens’ first African-American newspaper, The Corona East Elmhurst News, Thelma E. Harris, founder of Aburi Press, and prominent Queens Judge Henry A. Slaughter. Corona was also the childhood home of Marie Maynard Daly, the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry.

The Louis Armstrong House, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, attracts visitors to the neighborhood and preserves the legacy of musician Louis Armstrong, one of Corona’s most prominent historical residents.

The Lemon Ice King of Corona, an iconic ices shop, is located at 52nd Avenue, Corona Avenue, and 108th Street. Founded in 1944 by Peter Benfaremo, it is a neighborhood landmark featured in the opening credits of the TV show The King of Queens and attracts international tourists.

Corona once had three kettle ponds. Linden Pond, located a block south of the 103rd Street–Corona Plaza station, was the centerpiece of the Park of the Americas. It became a public health hazard by the early 20th century, was renovated in 1912, and was removed altogether when the park was renovated in 1947. Shady Lake, at the intersection of 53rd Avenue, Corona Avenue, and 108th Street, was originally used to harvest ice but was drained in the 20th century. The Lemon Ice King of Corona and William F. Moore Park are now near its site. Backus Lake, at 98th Street and 31st Avenue, was considered a nuisance by the 1900s and was drained in 1917.

Corona Plaza

Corona Plaza, located at Roosevelt Avenue and National Street, was once an underutilized lot and truck route that evolved into a pedestrian plaza, fostering community programming and inclusive living. In the latter half of the 20th century, the area that is now Corona Plaza served as a connector between the street and a row of primarily immigrant-owned businesses. Due to an overflow of immigrants struggling to find employment, illegal trading was prevalent, often facilitated by trucks parked in this unofficial lot. By the early 21st century, the plaza began to receive more attention and gradually transformed into a community space for Corona’s ethnically diverse population.

In 2005, the nearby Queens Museum started applying for permits to temporarily close off streets allowing vehicle access to the plaza, hosting public events, typically art-based, that community residents could attend. Recognizing the lot’s potential, the Queens Museum partnered with the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) to develop plans for the space. This partnership aimed for grassroots, art-led engagement to unite residents. The QEDC focused on developing local businesses, while the Queens Museum sought a stronger neighborhood presence for its arts programs.

The transformation began in 2012 when the space was temporarily converted into a plaza with chairs and tables, prohibiting through traffic. Later, the Department of Design and Construction made it permanent by filling in the lot with concrete, adding built-in seating, a performance space, new pedestrian lighting, and plants to enhance its liveliness. Additional features included a drinking fountain, WalkNYC wayfinding signs, bike racks for commuters, an automatic pay toilet, and more furniture.

Maintenance and technical assistance, including daily cleaning services for the plaza, are funded by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), which also partnered with the Queens Museum to bring programming to the newly transformed space. Fully implemented in early 2018 at a cost of around $5.6 million, Corona Plaza is now recognized by urban planning circles as a successful project that created a vibrant community space.