"In 1927, the zoning restrictions had been lifted in Kew Gardens and large apartments began to lift their heads, and during the 1940's a great number of medium-rise apartments were built in the Kew Gardens area. The need for these apartments was caused, in part, by the large influx of refugees from war torn Europe. The Jewish population swelled throughout the Kew Gardens and Forest Hills area by those who were able to make their escape before the axe fell in Europe. These were not the penniless immigrants of by-gone years. Many of these new immigrants had money to invest and professions to pursue."