The destruction of Bronx history to make way for “progress” is quite fatiguing.
This time we’re losing a historic treasure in West Farms which once housed elderly and poor women.
You’ve seen the structure countless times at 2064 Boston Road and E 179th Street whether walking or driving by or like me, above from the 2 and 5 line as the train snakes across the Bronx River to and from the E 180th Street station.
As a child heading to school, the building always reminded me of some sort of glamorous mansion but little did I know then that this edifice had a more humble purpose when it was completed in 1902.
Now Communilife has filed plans for its demolition to make way for a 78 units of housing.
That’s it.
It’s not even being demolished for hundreds of units but we’re losing this historic, although not landmarked, structure for just 78 units of housing.
Is that the price of our history these days?
We’re not saying no to progress but simply why must we continue to sacrifice it all to move forward? We’ve lost so much in the past, not to mention the beloved PS 31 aka Castle on the Concourse to greedy developers who build in the name of “affordable” housing yet it’s never affordable to the most vulnerable in the communities they build.
Elements of the building will be incorporated into the new structure that will take its place according to The Bronx Times.
But hey, at least we’re getting “affordable” housing no?
