Electchester, Queens : NYC Tourist Guide

Electchester

Electchester is a cooperative housing unit which is located in Fresh Meadows, Queens and established by Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. and Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Queens, New York.

Electchester was established in 1949, when Harry Van Arsdale Jr., worked with the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry to purchase 103 acres of a former country club and build apartment buildings. 5,550 people live in about 2,500 units in 38 buildings, many of which are six-story brick structures. It is adjacent to Pomonok and is a fairly safe neighborhood. It is served by Public School 200, which is on land donated by Electchester. The union provided the majority of the mortgage. New York state offered tax abatements. Electchester was classified as a "limited dividend nonprofit", subject to state regulations. The first families paid $475 per room for equity shares, and carrying charges of $26 per month per room, on apartments ranging from three and a half to five and a half rooms.