Header image  
Working One Partnership at a Time
  

     

Directions to Cultural Collaborative Jamaica (CCJ)

90- 25 161st Ste.505
Jamaica, New York 11432

Jamaica , <>Queens <> hosts the transportation hub providing transportation to and from all of <>Long Island , < >New York City and beyond. Using the Air tran from JFK Airport travel from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Nagasaki or Nigeria you are only minutes away from our doorway. Begin your trip using the MTA Trip Planner

By Subway Take E, J or Z to Jamaica Center (last stop). Exit station via furthermost left to the 153rd Street. Walk to the end of block turn left on Jamaica Avenue. Proceed four blocks North to Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, 161rd Street make left at corner of North Fork Bank to 90-25

By LIRR Take Long Island Railroad to Jamaica Station at Sutphin Blvd. and Archer Ave. Walk 1 block North on Sutphin Blvd. to Jamaica Ave., then walk six blocks east to Jamaica Ave. or take E, J or Z trains one stop to Jamaica Center and follow subway directions.

By Bus Take any of the following lines to Jamaica Avenue and 153rd Street: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q8, Q9, ,Q9A, Q21, Q24, Q25, Q31, Q34, Q36, Q41, Q42, Q43, Q44, Q54, Q56, Q65, Q83, Q84, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, N1, N2, N3,N6, N22,N22A,N24, N26, X32

Driving Directions

Map Quest

Yahoo Maps

Google Maps


View Larger Map 

Parking Available, avg. $5 -$15
 

Copyright © 2008 Cultural Collaborative Jamaica
 

home

 

Church Project

 

JAMAICA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Architects: Wank Adams Slavin Associates LLP (WASA)
Projected opening - 11/06.
CCJ co-manages, along with the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning and the Black Spectrum Theatre Company, the planning and implementation of the renovation and restoration of the historic former First Reformed Church, in downtown Jamaica. The landmark church is being developed into the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, a state of the art multi-purpose performing arts, community and tourism center. The multi-million construction project has been completely supported and funded through the efforts of local and state government partnerships.

Project Description
The former First Reformed Church in downtown Jamaica is a Romanesque Revival style building built in 1858. With brownstone trim, with its striking gabled front, arched entryway and other amenities, the site is listed as a NYC Landmark in the National and NYC Registers of Historic Places.  Vacant since the 1980s, the building is structurally sound and in good condition.  In 1984 the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development invested $200,000 to repair the roof and stabilize the structure, and would subsequently spend another $500,000 to transform the grounds into an attractive park known as Jamaica Green.
The adaptive reuse will transform the church into a flexible theater space, with about 325 seats on the main level of the theater and 75 seats in the balcony. The renovation includes all support spaces that will transform the historic building into a complete performing arts center. The main level is designed as a totally flexible theater able to house a variety of seating and stage configurations, as well as being able to accommodate banquet facilities. The third floor will feature a state-of-the-art conference center for community use, featuring a direct line of sight to the stage. WASA also has included an outdoor performance space on the grounds of the church facing Jamaica Avenue.
WASA's design will restore the building facade and windows, including three stained-glass windows facing Jamaica Avenue, while salvaging other deteriorated stained glass panels so that all windows in the main lobby will be historic stained glass. The church's other windows will be returned to their original design - a diamond pattern outlined by slender lead cames. The building is designed as a city, state and national landmark.
The City of New York's Department of Design and Construction and Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned the project on behalf of three local cultural groups - Jamaica Center for Arts and Learn, Cultural Collaborative Jamica and the Black Spectrum Theater.
CCJ will be permanently housed at the site. The facility will serve as a hub for professional theatrical performances, dance, and music, as well as film presentations. It will also provide emerging performing arts organizations and individual artists with a supportive venue for exhibits, rehearsals and performances. Seminars, meetings, conferences, special events and public and private celebrations could also be held, as the facility is slated for advance Tele-Communications and Video Conferencing capabilities.
Once transformed the center will earn income by marketing rehearsal and performance space to artists, as well as business and community organizations.  Its presence will enhance the cultural infrastructure of Jamaica Avenue, the primary transportation and shopping center in central Queens, making it more attractive to tourists and providing employment and training opportunities for local residents.
Jamaica is clearly the main transportation hub for Southeast Queens offering excellent accessibility to public transportation, including the (nearing completion) JFK AirTrain link.  The Jamaica Center subway station, Archer Avenue Bus Terminal hub, and Long Island Railroad station are adjacent to the church on Archer Avenue.The center is located in the Jamaica Center Office Development District on the corner of 153rd Street between Jamaica and Archer Avenues where public transportation and parking facilities are within easy walk of the site.
also see feature article -
'A Performing Arts Space Southeast Queens Can Call Home'
Southeast Queens Press, March 2004

 

Additional Links  

http://www.nycago.org/organs/qns/html/firstrefjamaica.html

 

Copyright © 2008 Cultural Collaborative Jamaica