CLEARVIEW GARDENS CORPORATION is a self-managed cooperative residential housing development located in northeastern Queens, NYC. It was built in the 1950’s to help fill the need for affordable housing. A housing cooperative – or home-ownership cooperative – is a group of residences owned and operated by the families who live there. In a housing cooperative, owners, members and occupants are, and must be, the same families. The entire property, or community, is owned by the non-profit cooperative Corporation, Clearview Gardens Corporation 1 through 6, the shareholders of which are solely residents. The “shareholders” are thus their own landlords! The cooperative Corporation holds title to the property and executes a blanket mortgage.

Each shareholder-occupant family of Clearview Gardens has one vote in all its corporate affairs. The shareholders elect a Board of Directors (shareholders themselves), whose duties and powers are generally the same as those of corporate boards. Two Directors are elected from each Corporation, who are bound to work for the good of all Clearview shareholders, no matter which Corporation they actually live in.

Each shareholder-occupant family of Clearview Gardens has one vote in all its corporate affairs. The shareholders elect a Board of Directors (shareholders themselves), whose duties and powers are generally the same as those of corporate boards. Two Directors are elected from each Corporation, who are bound to work for the good of all Clearview shareholders, no matter which Corporation they actually live in.

The Board of Directors hires a Manager and holds him responsible for the maintenance and operation of the property. The Manager conducts the day-to-day business affairs of the housing Corporation, but all basic decisions are made either directly or through the elected Board of Directors.

Clearview Gardens is spread out over 88 acres and consists of 1788 garden- style apartments. There are four different sized apartments – 3½ rooms (1 bedroom), 4½ rooms (two bedrooms), 5 rooms (two bedrooms) and 5½ rooms (3 bedrooms). There are garages and outdoor parking spots available on the premises. There are laundry room facilities, storage rooms and children’s play areas situated throughout the community.

Clearview Gardens is located within School District 25, which is consistently rated one of the best in NYC year after year. Public Schools 184 and 209 are the local elementary schools, located within walking distance of many apartments. If safety is a concern you can be at ease as Clearview Gardens is located within a low crime area and has private security patrolling the property 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Clearview Gardens is ideally situated nearby major highways (the Clearview and Long Island Expressways and the Cross Island Parkway), and the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges connect the area to the Bronx and northern NY. For those who prefer public transportation, commuting to Manhattan is a pleasure via the LIRR and the QM1 and QM2 express buses. Two city bus lines connect the area to downtown Flushing, which has become a major shopping destination, and the Flushing #7 subway then continues the trip into Manhattan. Other nearby shopping areas include the Bay Terrace and Whitestone shopping centers; the busy Bell Boulevard restaurant scene is also minutes away.

Clearview Gardens is one of the largest cooperative housing developments in the country. We are a self-managed co-op, which means its employees work for the cooperative Corporation. It is the responsibility of the Board to supervise operation of the development to insure a sound financial situation in accordance with the By-Laws, and to establish Rules & Regulations with the best interests of all in mind. Shareholders are encouraged to attend Board meetings in the Kweller Board Room on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month (except July and August). Perhaps you would even consider volunteering your time and running for office; Clearview needs intelligent shareholders with good ideas to be part of running our co-op. The Board periodically issues a newsletter and the Management Office distributes information bulletins to keep shareholders informed on all pertinent matters.

If you are thinking of purchasing an apartment in Clearview Gardens, all nearby real estate sales offices and agents serve the community. Apartment sales are done by the individual shareholders, not by the Corporation.

C.A.P. (Clearview Assistance Program) is a volunteer-run program, created by Clearview residents, with one aim: to help Clearview Gardens residents, particularly senior citizens. Clearview Gardens is a NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community), but any shareholder with a need can request assistance. Residents reach out to other residents as “phone buddies;” teen volunteers from local schools assist with shopping; the professional social workers try to help shareholders obtain government services they are entitled to. Also available are in-home nurse visits, buses to local shopping areas and doctor’s offices, and informative ongoing programs which include speakers, exercise classes, and more. With government grants and assistance from the Samuel Field YM-YWHA, and support from the Clearview Gardens Board of Directors, volunteers have “home-grown” a wonderful asset to the community.

Garbage, refuse and recycling are removed by Clearview’s private sanitation crew. Keeping the grounds adjacent to your building in good condition, proper supervision of the activities of children and consideration for the rights of your neighbors are all a necessary part of cooperative living, and help to make life in Clearview a pleasant experience. Life in Clearview Gardens can be beautiful if we all cooperate, as co-operators should!