Initially, this area was developed in 1906 by the Rickert-Finlay Realty Company, a major real estate development firm who also developed Bellcourt (1904) in Bayside, Douglas Manor (1906) and Westmoreland (1907) in Little Neck. Prior to its development as a residential area, the land north of Northern Boulevard (formerly known as Broadway) was the site of several farms and large landholdings, including the Walter Bowne estate.
Houses in Broadway–Flushing reflect many classic Revival styles from the Eclectic Period, most commonly Colonial and Tudor, as well as Arts and Crafts, American Foursquare and Art Deco, on relatively large properties. In order to preserve the park-like character of the neighborhood, the developer placed restrictive covenants on the properties that ban front yard fences, front-yard garages and flat roofs among other restrictions. In 1964, the Broadway–Flushing Homeowners Association was incorporated in New York State as a Not-For-Profit Corporation. This association of homeowners remains actively involved in the affairs of this community and has regular meetings between homeowners, business owners and government officials. The association continues to enforce the Rickert-Finlay restrictive covenants in order to protect their community from development that is not covered under New York City zoning or building ordinances. In large measure, the area is an excellent example of early to mid-20th Century development of a suburban enclave within an urban setting, or "rus en urbe" as described by urban planners of the period. As this neighborhood enters its second century, a small number of houses within the original Rickert-Finlay tract have been sold and redeveloped. Despite these changes, the neighborhood maintains its architectural integrity and a stately, suburban character.
Since 1961, almost all of Broadway–Flushing enjoyed R1-2 and R-2 zoning designations from the City of New York, two of the most restrictive zoning categories at that time. The R1-2 designation required minimum lot sizes of 60' by 100' while the R2 designation required minimum lot sizes of 40' by 100'. In 2005, in an effort to promote lower density development in this area, the Department of City Planning rezoned 11 blocks between Northern Boulevard/Crocheron Avenue and 35th Avenue from 156th to 167th streets in order to expand the size of the R1-2 zone in Broadway–Flushing, thereby removing the danger of subdivision for most properties in that area.
Broadway–Flushing was designated a Historic District by the New York State Historic Preservation Office on March 18, 2006. The Broadway–Flushing Historic District is a National and State Register historic district comprising 1,330 properties that include 1,790 contributing buildings and one contributing site, Bowne Park. It mostly consists of middle to upper middle class single family homes with a few two-family houses and several small apartment complexes and is representative of early to mid-20th century American architectural styles.
In 2009, the NYC Department of City Planning again revised the zoning for North Flushing, including Broadway–Flushing, and replaced the existing R1-2 nd R2 zoning designations to new, lower density zoning designations, R1-2A and R2A, which are described as "anti-MacMansion" zones designed to limit the bulk, height and lot area of new development in order to better match the existing built environment. Contemporaneously, this new zoning designation was coupled with a decision from the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to deny an application by the Broadway–Flushing Homeowners Association to designate Broadway–Flushing as a New York City Landmark Historic District. The decision to deny this application for designation as an Historic District was received with widespread disappointment within Broadway–Flushing among homeowners who have continued to agitate for this additional protection of their early to mid-20th century period homes. Additional requests have been made by elected officials and the Broadway–Flushing Homeowners Association through 2011. It is considered one of the finest residential neighborhoods in New York City.
Bowne Park, a popular 11-acre (45,000 m2) park in western Broadway–Flushing, features a pond and dozens of 100+ year-old oak trees. The park is located on what was part of the former site of the summer residence of New York City Mayor Walter Bowne (1828–1832).
The Broadway Station of the Long Island Rail Road's Port Washington Branch is within walking distance from most homes in this neighborhood. In 2009, after several years of construction, a complete renovation of the LIRR Broadway Station was concluded.