MOTT HAVEN—Applications are now being accepted for 277 brand-new apartments in the tallest building on the Grand Concourse via New York City’s Housing Connect affordable housing lottery website.
425 Grand Concourse is now the tallest building on The Bronx’s most famous boulevard
Located at 425 Grand Concourse, at the site of the tragically demolished landmarked PS 31 aka ‘Castle on the Concourse’, the 26-story building is also currently the largest Passive House in North America which means that not only does the building have superior energy efficiency throughout but also has a greatly reduced carbon footprint when compared to similar buildings of its size, thus lessening its impact on the environment.
Kitchen and living area in a typical unit at 425 Grand Concourse
The $175 million development has studios, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for households making anywhere from 30 to 130% of the Area Median Income making it a very mixed-income project.
On the lower range of household income requirements, you can expect to find studios as low as $362 a month, $465 a month for 1 bedroom apartments, $569 for 2 bedrooms, and $650 for 3 bedroom apartments.
A different kitchen layout at 425 Grand Concourse
Unit breakdown and rents per category are as follows:
30%
$362 a month for studios for households making $15,360-$25,080 (5 units)
$465 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $19,360-$32,220 (9 units)
$569 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $23,966-$38,670 (9 units)
$650 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $27,840-$44,400 (5 units)
40%
$522 a month for studios for households making $20,846-$38,200 (9 units)
$665 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $26,160-$42,960 (18 units)
$809 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $32,195-$51,560 (19 units)
$927 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $37,338-$59,200 (9 units)
Views from the rooftop outdoor deck
70%
$1,003 a month for studios for households making $37,338-$66,850 (9 units)
$1,265 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $46,732-$75,180 (18 units)
$1,530 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $56,915-$90,230 (20 units)
$1,760 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $65,898-$103,600 (8 units)
100%
$1,212 a month for studios for households making $44,503-$95,500 (6 units)
$1,526 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $55,680-$107,400 (14 units)
$1,843 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $67,646-$128,900 (13 units)
$2,121 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $78,275-$148,000 (8 units)
130%
$1,532 a month for studios for households making $55,475-$124,150 (12 units)
$1,926 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $69,395-$139,620 (23 units)
$2,323 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $84,103-$167,570 (23 units)
$2,675 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $97,303-$192,400 (11 units)
Please note, for each unit, there are other requirements such as number of people per household and further income requirements based on household size so refer to the Housing Connect website for further details.
A bedroom at 425 Grand Concourse
As you can see from the above rents and income requirements, this development will be a very mixed-income development.
The building also offers a number of amenities such as a dishwasher in every apartment, a gym for residents, outdoor terrace, community center, a shared laundry room, and not to mention that apartments on the higher floors will have beautiful views of The Bronx and the city.
It’s also located just steps away from the 149th Street Grand Concourse station on the 2, 4, and 5 lines which is one stop from Manhattan and 15 minutes to midtown and the station is currently undergoing elevator installation to make it fully ADA accessible.
Rendering of 425 Grand Concourse
How to Apply
For those interested in applying, you have until April 11, 2022 and you can do so online or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: 1350 Broadway, Suite 1700, New York, NY 10018.
Remember, you can only apply ONCE and you may not apply both online and by mail. Applying more than once can and will disqualify you according to the lottery rules.
5% of units are set aside for individuals with mobility issues and 2% for those with vision and/or hearing impairments. 50% preference for residents of Community Board 1 (to see which community board you live in, click here), and 5% for New York City employees.
Also, please note: We are NOT connected with this or any other real estate developments and cannot assist you in obtaining an apartment so please do not contact us regarding these units.
For decades, the Congressional District representing most of the South Bronx, currently the 15th Congressional District of New York, has been labeled as the poorest such district in the nation where the median income household income is $31,061.
Currently comprised of neighborhoods like Mott Haven, Melrose, Hunts Point, Port Morris, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Fordham, and many others, all of which have some of the lowest median incomes in the city.
With that unfortunate label as the poorest Congressional district in the nation, comes additional necessary funding, given the economic demographics of the district, that is desperately needed for our local schools and critically needed affordable housing developments.
But now the South Bronx stands to lose billions in potential funding over the next decade if the new proposed congressional redistricting is approved which will link the South Bronx’s 15th Congressional District to Riverdale which includes Fieldston, one of the wealthiest areas in New York City with estates on oversized lots occupied by millionaires and billionaires—people who have nothing in common with some of the lowest-earning families of the South Bronx and New York City—and are currently part of the 16th Congressional District which has a median household income more than twice of the 15th at $74,799.
The proposed redistricting of the 15th Congressional District would combine the South Bronx with Riverdale and its surrounding areas / map via Redistricting and You website
Fieldston is one of only a handful of privately owned communities where even the streets are not public but privately owned by the community with private security patroling the neighborhood protecting the families living in their muliti-million dollar homes—a far cry from the housing projects and tenements of the South Bronx.
The South Bronx is one of America’s epicenters in the opioid crisis, Riverdale and its surrounding communities aren’t.
We know that money talks especially in politics and the South Bronx’s Congressional power—traditionally people powered—will now be shifted to an area of the borough that is as world’s apart as Morrisania is to the TriBeCa.
Besides the loss of funding over the next decade, the South Bronx also stands to lose its political power in congress.
A multi-million dollar mansion in Fieldson (left) and Melrose NYCHA Housing Projects in the South Bronx: Miles away but worlds apart.
And no one is fighting for us or even discussing what an issue this is.
In the 70s and 80s when the South Bronx burned as a result of landlords committing arson to collect insurance money, Black, and Latino families, mostly Puerto Rican at the time, were burned out from their homes into homelessness and to flee to other parts of the city or beyond.
During the same time, Riverdale and the surrounding area remained unscathed and comfortably removed from the troubles of the South Bronx
The South Bronx is already fighting for its future as gentrification is here with almost a dozen luxury towers already welcoming residents paying thousands of dollars for luxury apartments in the poorest Congressional district in the nation. Towers that are dotting the southern border of the district along the Harlem River waterfront.
We know that those in higher income brackets, as those who occupy and will occupy these luxury buildings will, combined with Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, and Fieldston, take away the power from those who are most underrepresented in the federal government and that’s Blacks and Latinos of this city, state, and nation.
Further Dilution of Bronx Political Power
Meanwhile, over in the East Bronx, the 14th Congressional District which is currently represented by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is being pushed East and further south into Queens and will split off City Island, Country Club, Edgewater Park, and Silver Beach into Congressional District 3 which is a Long Island-based district, and split Throggs Neck and Schuylerville between District 14 and District 3.
The mega-district will stretch along the northern Long Island encompassing Suffolk and Nassau counties as well as Queens, a sliver of The Bronx, and all of the cities and towns along Westchester’s Long Island Sound coast up to the Connecticut border.
Currently, the East Bronx is mostly in the 14th Congressional District represented by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez / map via Redistricting and You website
The Bronx portion of the proposed district will account for less than 5% of the district and will render the borough essentially powerless and an after thought to anyone who represents that district.
Just like the South Bronx has nothing in common with the northern communities of Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, and Fieldston, City Island and the easternmost Bronx neighborhoods impacted by this redistricting plan have nothing in common with people living 30 miles away in Suffolk County on Long Island.
City Island and other far East Bronx communities will be split into the 3rd Congressional District which is mostly Northern Long Island along with parts of Queens and Westchester / map via Redistricting and You website
The only common factor for these communities are the Long Island Sound and climate change since they are all coastal communities but that alone isn’t enough.
“The fact that the East Bronx will only account for 3% of this new district all but ensures we’re going to be prioritized dead last, ” said Steve Swieciki, a City Island resident who is an activist and an organizer.
He added, “This is a decision that should be subject to the accountability and transparency that comes with open hearings, not rammed through with no public input mere days after we learned of the proposal. This is outrageous and wrong, plain and simple.”
Some residents of the impacted East Bronx communities have written an open letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature urging them to reconsider.
Rep. Torres at Home in Riverdale with Jewish Support
Back in the proposed new District 15 map, many Jewish residents of Riverdale have expressed excitement and support for Congressman Ritchie Torres being their future representative in Washington. This comes to no surprise given Torres staunch support of Israel and consistently attacking those who are critical of the Jewish state and its conflict with Palenstinians where thousands of Palestinans, including children, who have died as a result of Israeli aggression in the area.
Calling Israel an apartheid state, as @amnesty has done, is a lie. The hysterical demonization of Israel will do nothing to alleviate Palestinian suffering. It will only incite hatred for the world’s largest Jewish community amid violent Antisemitism.https://t.co/3ruKu65Qmj
“Despite the somewhat awkward outline of Torres’s new district, which connects to the North Bronx by way of a jaggedly shaped ribbon of land that shoots up from his current territory, Jewish residents of Riverdale suggested that the pairing made sense. Torres, a former New York City councilman who has built a sizable Jewish support base that extends beyond the largely Hispanic 15th District, is no stranger to Riverdale, where he has built strong connections with Jewish community members in the area thanks in large part to his vocal support for Israel.
“Such enthusiasm was on display on a recent Saturday in November, when Torres, 33, filled the Modern Orthodox Riverdale Jewish Center, the largest synagogue in the town, for a local AIPAC event.”
And the feeling is mutual, according to the Jewish Insider:
“I am looking forward to representing a congressional district that serves as a bridge between iconic neighborhoods: the South Bronx and Riverdale,” Torres told Jewish Insider on Monday. “Combating antisemitism and advocating for an abiding American-Israeli relationship have long been passions of mine. To have the opportunity to represent Riverdale, in light of those passions, feels like a marriage made in heaven.”
While we are one Bronx, we do not all have the same needs. Instead of pandering for contributions, Congressman Ritchie Torres should have put up a greater fight for the South Bronx he was elected to represent and defend and not so happily accept what will be a disastrous redistricting of the South Bronx’s 15th Congressional District.
Now, thanks to this redistricting, South Bronx residents and some of the most marginalized and at-risk populations, will have to fight for a piece of the pie against those with far greater financial means.
Who’s interests will Torres or any future representative of the district truly represent? The people’s or those with the money to propel them to office?
This redistricting is criminal, plain and simple. While the New York State plan is an attempt to oust as much as four Republican members of Congress, at what cost is this being done?
Remember that the South Bronx was sacrificed and sold out once this is said and done.
Third at Bankside, a 1,350 unit, seven-building development in the South Bronx
Several years ago, newer developments in the South Bronx, particularly in the Port Morris and Mott Haven area, were renting luxury apartments with rents as high as just over $4,000 for four bedrooms over at the Clocktower expansion along Bruckner Boulevard.
Now, leasing has begun at Bankside, the South Bronx’s largest luxury development and most expensive development of its kind in recent history, with rents above $5,000 for just two-bedroom units with studios starting just under $3,000.
A studio at Bankside / via Bankside website
There’s even a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit with a terrace on the 18th floor renting for a whopping $7,334.
And all of this is happening in one of the lowest income neighborhoods in the poorest congressional district in America.
Located at 2401 Third Avenue at the foot of the Third Avenue Bridge, Third at Bankside, once complete, will be a seven-building, 1,350 unit luxury development on the South Bronx’s Harlem River waterfront.
An apartment at Bankside / Via Bankside website
The luxury development features amenities like an outdoor pool deck with terrace and grilling stations, a co-working lounge, multiple resident lounges, keyless entry, and even pet care.
Apartments come fully equipped with washers and dryers, dishwashers, and an array of high-end finishes.
But is it worth the price tag?
Absolutely not. For the price of these apartments, you can rent and stay in Manhattan and enjoy the local amenities you’d come to expect for such prices.
Outdoor pool at Bankside / via Bankside website
There are hundreds of apartments listed in Manhattan in areas like Chelsea, the West Village, Upper East and Upper West sides for the same price you’ll pay at Bankside and while yes, the development is on the waterfront and everything is brand spanking new, you have to cross under a highway just to get to the nearest subway which isn’t as proximate as the advertisements would like you to believe.
And as mentioned before, the area doesn’t have the local stores and amenities you would expect for that price tag like tons of cafes, restaurants, gyms, etc.
Adding insult to injury, 134 units at the first phase of the development have been set aside as “affordable” and a lottery has been launched for them with rents starting at $1,795 for studios and as high as $2,900 for two-bedroom units, making a mockery of the affordable housing program, especially when the income requirement for the latter apartment starts at $99,429 per year in an area where the median household income is $25,074 and per capita income is just $17,719.
These rents are far from affordable and are not for those who need them the most.
Only time will tell if people will be willing to forsake the safety of their trendy Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island City for the South Bronx and pay the same money in an area that is still struggling with one of the highest crime rates in New York City.
As of 2021, the 40th precinct where the development is located, recorded 17 murders, one of the highest numbers in The Bronx, and over 700 assaults and over 400 robberies, a rate that is almost three times of many Manhattan precincts south of 96th Street.
There’s no denying that residents of the South Bronx deserve better amenities and quality of life but constructing luxury is not the path forward for existing residents.
With winter in full swing and recent brutal temperatures battering the city, many in The Bronx are feeling its impact more than others across the city.
In fact, the situation is so extreme that The Bronx, to date, has registered more heat complaints than any other borough in New York City by a large margin.
According to a new report released by RentHop, The Bronx has 17 out of the top 20 neighborhoods with the most heat-related complaints in the city from October 1st, 2021, when the official “Heat Season” began, up until January 19th which translates to 85% of the list.
Topping the list of the neighborhood with the most complaints is Fordham with 1,158.3 complaints per 10,000 residents logged since October 1st and accounting for a 27.2% increase from the prior year.
While the majority of the 17 Bronx neighborhoods in the top 20 list are in the West Bronx, there are a number of East Bronx neighborhoods like Parkchester, Pelham Parkway, and Williamsbridge.
And it’s not just the top 20 neighborhoods with the most heat complaints dominated by The Bronx as per 311 data but the borough also has the most buildings on the top 20 worst-offenders list.
Leading the list is 2176 Tiebout Avenue in Fordham with 82 unique complaints and a total of 1,403 complaints so far as of January 19, 2022.
Meanwhile, while not on the top 20 list, the Schuylerville, Throggs Neck, and Edgewater Park saw a 66.1% increase in complaints over last year placing it in the 20th spot for neighborhoods that saw the largest year-to-year increase.
All of this comes at the heels of New York City’s deadliest fire which claimed the lives of 17 Bronxites as a result of inadequate heat resulting in tenants being forced to use dangerous space heaters.
During the heating season which begins on October 1st and ends on May 31st, landlords are required to maintain indoor temperatures at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM if the outdoor temperatures drop below 55 degrees and at least 62 degrees between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM regardless of the outdoor temperatures.
Many landlords skirt this requirement by placing sensors in various places around a building but rarely measure temperatures within actual apartments and living spaces.
In low-income neighborhoods, especially predominately occupied by people of color, this often results in colder apartments pushing residents desperate for heat to use dangerous methods such as space heaters.
Landlords must be held accountable and provide adequate heating to each apartment. No one should be left to freeze in the winter due to landlord neglect.
A vital, yet dangerous connection between The Bronx and Westchester County has taken a step closer to remediation of constant flooding and icing during the winter creating hazardous conditions.
For residents of the Northeast Bronx, especially those living on City Island, Shore Road is a vital and direct connection to Lower Westchester, and, in particular, residents of the borough that can only get to their homes by going into Westchester using this road.
An icy and dangerous stretch of Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park / Via James Breen
Two weeks ago, the New York City Department of Design and Construction presented a study to Bronx Community Board 10 that began in 2018 to evaluate existing conditions as well as provide a range of potential solutions in fixing the roadway.
The study was in response to community pressure, including Tommy and James Breen, known as the Breen Brothers, who have extensively documented the conditions and have raised community awareness via their Facebook page on the topic showing how the constant flooding of the road across several points creates dangerous driving conditions throughout the year, especially in the winter when temperatures dip below the freezing point creating slush and ice in these areas.
A man on a scooter commutes along Shore Road / Via The Breen Brothers
According to the presentation, some of the work performed during the study counted traffic including pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles that utilize the roadway; identified where the surface water was coming from; tree count and census; identified fresh and saltwater wetlands areas; and identified the location and condition of existing drainage pipes just to name a few.
This data then allowed the development of several options as well as associated costs with fixing Shore Road which would raise the roadway either 4, 6, or 7ft from existing elevation to mitigate the flooding problems plaguing the roadway.
Estimate cost for the project range from $52 to $60 million (in 2021 dollars) depending on the elevation eventually chosen but there is also an environmental cost as well as anywhere from 80 to 90 trees will have to be removed to accommodate the reconstructed road as well as the disturbance of 2 to 2.5 acres of wetland.
If the city decides to pursue the Multi-Use Path that would provide direct cycling and pedestrian path along Shore Road, the cost would increase by $2.1 million and the removal of 32 additional trees and disturbance of 0.2 acres of wetland. This addition will also require a significant amount of coordination between New York City and Westchester County agencies as currently there is no direct connection on the Westchester side for such a path and would dump cyclists and pedestrians into the road.
Whichever path is chosen, local, state, and federal permits will be required to construct near wetlands which just adds to the red tape.
“First, I want to thank The NYC Departments of Parks & Recreation, Transportation, and Design & Construction for their thorough and comprehensive study on the Shore Road,” said New York City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez who represents the area.
Velázquez added, “Now that we have seen the estimates from the commissioned report, the project appears to be cost prohibitive. While I am committed to safe streets, we also need to consider the burden on the environment and marshlands. It’s not going to be a quick fix, but working with members of the community, I believe we can find a solution.”
Now, the next steps would be for the City and local community officials and representatives of the area to identify funding and potential funding for design and construction, and once that funding is secured then the city can move forward with the bidding process.
While we now have an estimated price tag, what we don’t have is an estimated timeline for construction and completion which is ultimately what residents would like to see.
As for which option should be selected, this is a very delicate one with a number of factors to consider. While the removal of trees is something generally frowned upon, as well as the disturbance of wetlands, given the fact that climate change is indeed impacting the region and the planet, it is only prudent to go with the highest elevation so that we don’t find ourselves back to the drawing board a few decades away.
“For the safety of everyone it is critical that a long-overdue Shore Road Capital Project begin as soon as possible,” said Tommy Breen.
“My brother and I will do everything we can to help secure the funding in the upcoming capital budget,” he added.
The full slide presentation to Community Board 10 can be found here.
Updated January 25, 2022 12:43PM to include a statement from Council Member Marjorie Velázquez.
Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul directed the Metropolitan Transit Authority to move forward with taking a look to see if an Interborough Express line (IBX) connecting Brooklyn and Queens would be feasible.
To that end, Governor Hochul announced yesterday that the MTA has completed the feasibility study and, in fact, such a transportation line is feasible which would connect 17 subway lines and Long Island Railroad stations from Bayridge, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens.
The proposed Interborough Express / via MTA
But there’s a big problem for Bronx residents: The original line as proposed by the Regional Plan Association, known as the Triboro, would have connected not just Brooklyn and Queens but also The Bronx on a 24-mile route that would end at Co-op City instead of Jackson Heights in Queens.
For almost a decade, Welcome2TheBronx has been publishing articles advocating for such a connection that would transform the lives of those living within these three boroughs where the majority of economic growth has been occurring for the past several years.
Combined, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens contain 75% of New York City’s population so why not connect all three boroughs with a direct train route?
The full Triboro Line / via Regional Planning Association
While The Bronx will be getting four new Metro North Stations in the East Bronx that will connect that area to Penn Station as well as points north in Westchester and Connecticut, that is still not enough to truly provide the borough with the public mass transit it deserves.
By cutting out The Bronx from the original 24 mile planned route of the Triboro, Governor Hochul continues to solidify the message that The Bronx doesn’t matter when it comes to such transformative transportation initiatives.
Rendering of a station at Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens where the line would terminate
It continues to perpetuate structural and systemic policies that ultimately impact lower-income households and households of color that would greatly benefit from reduced commutes, as well as access to employment opportunities that connecting the three boroughs, would open up to residents.
One of the claims why The Bronx isn’t included in this initiative is that the Hell’s Gate Bridge, which already carries Amtrak trains and will soon carry Metro North trains once the four new East Bronx stations are opened, is already congested and would probably require a new bridge alongside the existing bridge.
Rendering of an Interborough Express station / Via MTA
We say that’s simply an excuse and lack of vision by not looking at the big picture beyond our own lifetimes and seeing the potential impact this would have for decades to come.
We implore Governor Hochul to reconsider and bring back The Bronx into the fold to fully realize the Triboro connecting The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn with 24 stations along 24 miles and not just the Interborough Line as recently proposed.
Belcalis Marlenis Almánza, born in Washington Heights and raised in The Bronx and best known as Hip-Hop megastar Cardi B, has announced that she will cover the funeral and burial costs for the victims of the tragic Bronx fire on Sunday, January 9th in Fordham which claimed the lives of 17 residents at 333 E 181st Street.
Cardi B announced in a statement, “I’m extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help.”
Cardi on the Jimmy Fallon Show in 2017/Screenshot via The Tonight Show
The Hip Hop star, who still occasionally visits the borough, added, “I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal. I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.”
While city officials have blamed a space heater for the fire and an apartment door left open, many have pointed out that these are simply excuses for blaming the victims for what are systemic issues.
Many have pointed out that there wouldn’t be a need for space heaters had the landlords provided sufficient heat and had the doors closed automatically as required by law, both issues which were filed as complaints, we wouldn’t be mourning the loss of so many lives in what is now NYC’s deadliest fire in decades.
Cardi B’s financial assistance is one but many who have contributed to the families since that dark day that took so many lives. Thousands have donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up to benefit the Gambian Youth Organization located just a block away from 333 E 181st street, where many of the families had connections, and to date have raised over $1 million.
Most of the victims were from Gambia or of Gambian decent at the building known as one of the epicenters of immigrants in The Bronx from that country.
Many organizations and individuals also got together and donated many needed items such as coats, clothing, and toiletries, as well, for the victims.
This is a tragedy that could have been prevented and now it’s upon us and our elected officials to make sure that it will never happen again.
Another affordable housing lottery has been launched in The Bronx, this time in the Fordham neighborhood of the borough.
Cyrus Place Apartments, located at 4697 Third Avenue at Cyrus Place just south of E 188th Street, the 8-story development contains 53 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom units.
Rendering of 4697 Third Avenue / via Housing Connect
Income requirements for the available units range from 30, 40, 50, 70, and 80% of the Area Median Income with rents as low as $410 for a studio unit for those who qualify at 30% of the AMI.
Unit breakdown and rents per category are as follows:
30%
$410 a month for studios for households making $16,560-$28,650
$521 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $20,709-$32,220
$615 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $24,823-$38,670
$701 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $28,698-$44,400
Rendering of a standard kitchen at 4697 Third Avenue / Via Housing Connect
40%
$589 a month for studios for households making $22,698-$38,200
$745 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $28,389-$42,960
$884 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $34.046-$51,560
$1,011 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $39,326-$59,200
50%
$768 a month for studios for households making $28,835-$47,750
$969 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $36,069-$53,700
$1,152 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $43,235-$64,450
$1,322 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $49,989-$74,000
70%
$1,002 a month for studios for households making $36,858-$66,850
$1,265 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $46,218-$75,180
$1,529 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $56,160-$90,230
$1,759 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $64,972-$103,600
80%
$1,163 a month for studios for households making $42,378-$76,400
$1,465 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $53,075-$85,920
$1,770 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $64,423-$103,120
$2,037 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $74,503-$118,400
Please note, for each unit, there are other requirements such as number of people per household and further income requirements based on household size so refer to the Housing Connect website for further details.
Typical 3 bedroom floorplan / via Housing Connect
This development is also a smoke-free building like several other newly constructed affordable housing buildings in The Bronx and includes amenities like bike storage lockers, a gym, outdoor terrace, shared laundry room, and air conditioning.
Probably the best feature of the building’s location is its walking distance of just a few short blocks to Arthur Avenue, home to NYC’s real Little Italy. Also in close proximity, you’ll find the New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx Zoo, and Fordham University as well as shopping along Fordham Road.
How to apply
Lotter ends on March 16, 2022, and you can apply either online through Housing Connect’s website or you can request an application to be mailed to you. To request a paper application, send a self-addressed envelope to Cyrus Place Apartments c/o Bronx Pro Group, 1605 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Bronx, NY 10453.
Remember, you can only apply once and may not apply by both mail and online as you can and will be disqualified as per Housing Connect’s lottery guidelines.
Also, please note: We are NOT connected with this or any other real estate developments and cannot assist you in obtaining an apartment so please do not contact us regarding these units.
MELROSE—When it opened in the summer of 2017, Porto Salvo quickly became a neighborhood favorite and gathering place for both locals and those who work in the neighborhood.
While the South Bronx had its share of Italian restaurants that have been around for decades, Porto Salvo quickly stood out with its menu not so much focusing on Italian American cuisine but on continental Italian food as you would have if you were in Italy.
Grilled octopus (below) and bruschetta funghi e fontina are some of the perfect appetizers to get you started.
Couple that with an excellent wine bar and a slate of tasty cocktails and you quickly understand why this is such a popular place to gather.
The menu is heavily influenced by owner and chef, Luigi Ghidetti’s hometown of Terracina, Italy nestled on the coast between Rome and Naples. Growing up on the coast, you soon understand why the restaurant has a nautical feel to it including its menu.
The whole branzino is a classic at Porto Salvo and a must-have.
From favorites like the branzino al vino bianco or the whole branzino roasted for those hungry enough to eat an entire fish to the caciucco, a Tuscan-inspired seafood stew, there are enough tasty dishes that you’ll want to try them all.
Classic steak and eggs with rosemary roasted potatoes is also a big hit
And even better, they’re open on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch where you can snag five different types of Italian-inspired omelets, steak and eggs, waffles and fresh fruits, chocolate pancakes, or a bunch of other tasty brunch classics.
The meatballs are a must have and are a family recipe of Chef Luigi Ghidetti’s grandmother
Check out the excellent video below and if you haven’t checked them out, head over to Porto Salvo at 424 E 161st Street between Melrose and Elton Avenues.
Applications are now being accepted for 119 brand-new apartments located at 980 Westchester Avenue in the Foxhurst neighborhood of The Bronx.
This is another affordable housing development where the units are actually affordable for local residents.
980 Westchester Avenue aka Tiffany Court Plaza
Known as Tiffany Court Plaza, the 7-story building has units for households making 30, 50, 60, and 70% of the Area Median Income with rents as follow for each category:
30%
$362 a month for studios for households making $14,915-$28,650
$465 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $18,789-$32,220
$569 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $23,246-$38,670
$650 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $26,949-$44,400
Typical kitchen and layout / Via Housing Connect
50%
$683 a month for studios for households making $25,920-$47,750
$865 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $32,503-$53,700
$1,050 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $39,738-$64,450
$1,205 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $45,978-$74,000
60%
$843 a month for studios for households making $31,406-$57,300
$1,065 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $39,360-$64,440
$1,290 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $47,966-$77,340
$1,482 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $55,475-$88,880
Typical bathroom / Via Housing Connect
70%
$1,003 a month for studios for households making $36,892-$66,850
$1,265 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $46,218-$75,180
$1,530 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $56,195-$90,230
$1,760 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $65,006-$103,600
Please note, for each unit, there are further income requirements depending on household size so please refer to the website and application for further details.
Amenities are minimal with a shared laundry room and bike storage listed as well as outdoor and outdoor terrace listed in shared amenities. This building is also listed as smoke-free.
The development is located just a few blocks from the 2 and 5 subway at Simpson Street and a short walk to the 6 train at Hunts Point Ave. Also located within close proximity is shopping along Westchester Avenue and Southern Boulevard.
Lottery ends on February 10, 2022, so you have a little less than a month to apply. You can apply either online or by mailing in an application but not both. If you apply more than once, you may be disqualified.
To request an application by mail, send a self-addressed envelope to 980 Westchester Apartments c/o Wavecrest Consulting LLC, 87-14 116th Street, Richmond Hill, NY 11418.
As with this and any other real estate development, please do not contact us as we cannot help you as we are not affiliated with this or any real estate development. We are simply sharing the news on its availability.
When Salim Drammeh set out to raise funds for the Gambian Youth Organization for the victims of Sunday’s deadly fire at Twin Parks North West in the Fordham area of The Bronx, he set out with a $200,000 goal.
In less than 24 hours, that $200,000 goal was surpassed on GoFundMe and within less than 48 hours it has reached over $800,000 thanks in part to over 16,000 donors.
According to Drammeh, all donated funds will be distributed to the victims and will be distributed by the Gambian Youth Organization which is located just a few blocks away and serves many families impacted by this tragic event.
Over 50 donors have contributed $1,000 or more including $3,000 from Ghetto Gastro and $1,000 from Webster Locksmith, two local Bronx institutions.
An anonymous donor generously contributed $8,000 to the fund pushing it over the $800,000 mark earlier this morning.
And help is pouring from all corners of The Bronx.
Lynne Corry, founder of Giving Friends, stayed up all night on Sunday bagging toiletries, brand new coats, hats, and clothing for the victims of the fire. Monday morning she went straight to work and during her lunch break, she went over to Council Member Oswald Feliz’ office to drop off the donations.
Lynne Corry of Giving Friends
Bronx Dems, in partnership with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and Congressman Ritchie Torres, is accepting donations at various locations for new and unworn clothes, coats, underwear, and socks along with other items.
The Arches, a luxury development in Port Morris is also asking residents for donations for those impacted by the fires.
Meanwhile, Chocobar Cortés, a recently opened Puerto Rican restaurant in Port Morris, is donating all proceeds of sales of their hot chocolate this week to The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City set up to help those impacted by the fire.
“We may be new to the Bronx community, but we are heartbroken over the tragic loss of lives and the pain and suffering of the families who have lost loved ones and who have been displaced by the fire,” said Carlos Cortés, Executive Director of Chocobar Cortés. “We hope our small gesture of compassion will help them.”
The restaurant will also have a donation jar for those who just simply want to make a donation.
Another Port Morris business, Beatstro, the hip-hop-themed restaurant on Alexander Avenue, partnered with World Central Kitchen to provide hundreds of hot meals and will continue to do so in the coming days for the families of 333 E 181st Street.
Orthodox Jewish volunteers on the scene helping feed victims of the fire / via Chaskel Bennet on Twitter
Even folks in Brooklyn have come to the aid of these families. Orthodox Jewish volunteers were at the scene feeding and providing supplies for those in need.
In the midst of enormous tragedy, the heart of NY'ers shines through. Orthodox Jewish volunteers from Shomrim organizations across NYC, Masbia & others are in the Bronx tonight helping shattered families pick up the pieces. G-d bless the FDNY & today's victims. #WhoWeArepic.twitter.com/mFMEI02Y82
For those that want to drop off needed items, you can do so at the below drop-off locations listed in the images below.
The Bronx spirit is strong and is not easily broken nor will it ever be as long as we continue to live to help and protect our neighbors and that’s something we do very well even when our communities may not have sufficient resources, we’re masters at pooling what we have together for the greater good.
Claudia Irizarry Aponte and Greg B. Smith, THE CITY
This article was originally published on Jan 10 at 9:15pm EST by THE CITYFatma Barow lost her 19-year-old cousin in a Bronx residential building fire that killed more than a dozen people, Jan. 10, 2022. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
In 2018, a year after a fire in a residential building killed 12 in his district, then-Bronx City Council member Ritchie Torres co-sponsored a bill mandating that all residential buildings must have self-closing doors by mid-2021.
Now a congressman, Torres announced on Monday a federal, state and local task force to examine residential building fire safety standards — including enforcement of the local law mandating self-closing doors he championed in the Council — after a deadly fire killed 17 people in the Twin Parks tower in Fordham Heights.
“We have to ensure that the housing stock is brought to the 21st century when it comes to fire safety — and The Bronx is no stranger to deadly fire,” said Torres, noting that the borough has seen New York City’s four deadliest blazes in the past 30 years.
A Twin Parks tenant reported as recently as last month that their self-closing entry door did not shut: Tenants in unit 6K submitted a complaint to the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development about their door on Dec. 6.
And another tenant told THE CITY that her apartment had door trouble for years.
“That door has never closed by itself,” Twin Parks tenant Yamina Rodríguez, who lived in unit 12J, said in Spanish. “I’ve lived here since 2004 and I’ve always had to close that door myself.” A spokesperson for the property owner, Bronx Park Phase III Preservation LLC, said they had not received any reports of issues with that door.
Kelly Magee, the spokesperson on behalf of the joint venture that owns the building, said the problem reported Dec. 6 was fixed within 24 hours. The city housing code website reports that inspectors contacted the tenant, who told them the problem was fixed.
On Monday, city officials revised their figure for the number of deaths from 19 to 17, confirming some double-counting initially. But the scope of the catastrophe still made it the worst fire in New York City in three decades, whose victims include eight children dead and another 32 tenants hospitalized.
City fire commissioner Daniel Nigro asserted in a Monday press conference alongside Mayor Eric Adams that the front door in the third-floor apartment where the fire started “malfunctioned” and did not close.
FDNY Chief Daniel Nigro speaks about a deadly fire at a Bronx residential building on East 181st Street, Jan. 10, 2022. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
“The door was not obstructed: The door, when it was fully open, stayed fully open because it malfunctioned,” he said, noting that severe smoke inhalation caused the majority of deaths and serious injuries.
Nigro added that another open door, from a stairwell into a corridor, spread the smoke: “the 15th floor became quite untenable.”
Stiffened Penalties
The 2018 city law requiring self-closing doors built on an existing state statute that had a lesser penalty for violations.
It amended the city housing code to require all owners of properties with three or more apartments to install and maintain self-closing doors or add devices to existing doors to accomplish that task for all doors providing access to interior corridors or stairs.
Councilmember Joseph Borelli (R-Staten Island) sponsored the legislation in 2018 following a series of Bronx fatal fires that resulted in 15 deaths and 29 injuries.
Borelli did not respond to several phone calls from THE CITY seeking comment.
Before the new law, a door that failed to close was a Class B “hazardous” violation with minor penalties. The new law ramped up the punishment: owners are now supposed to receive a Class C “immediately hazardous” violation — the most severe — and be required to get up to code within 21 days.
Under the old law, HPD issued 22,000 citations for this violation in the year that ended July 2021, with 18,000 closed as corrected. The department said Monday that following the new law, the checklist for housing inspectors now includes self-closing doors as an item that must be reviewed during inspections.
HPD said at Twin Parks, the most recent self-closing door violations were issued in 2017 and then another in 2019. Both citations were reinspected and observed to be corrected by August 2020, they said.
“Self-closing doors are essential to fire safety, which is why HPD proactively checks to ensure compliance at every apartment it inspects, regardless of the initial complaint,” HPD spokesperson Anthony Proia said.
“Yesterday’s fire was a devastating tragedy, and our hearts go out to all the families affected by the worst kind of loss. We urge residents to report malfunctioning doors to property owners or call 311 if issues are not corrected and HPD will respond.”
Asked about the law he co-sponsored, Torres said Monday: “The law is only as good as its enforcement. No matter what law we have, we’re gonna have to ensure that we have enough building inspectors and fire inspectors and housing inspectors to hold landlords accountable. We need rigorous code enforcement.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) speaks about working with local leaders to help the victims of a deadly fire at a residential building on East 181st Street, Jan. 10, 2022. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
He added that the task force, which he announced alongside Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and city Councilmembers Oswald Feliz (D-The Bronx) and Pierina Sánchez (D-The Bronx), will also investigate manufacturing standards for electronic space heaters, as well as sprinklers and smoke alarm systems.
Heat Issues
Several longtime tenants who spoke with THE CITY on Sunday and Monday said Twin Parks had persistent heat and fire safety issues for years.
Rodríguez, 52, said she and her daughters often resorted to using space heaters, because the heat in the building was “inconsistent,” she said in Spanish.
And Miguel Henríquez, 67, told THE CITY on Sunday that “no one” at the building “paid attention” to the building’s fire alarms because they rang at all hours of the day.
The state’s Homes & Community Renewal agency has oversight of the building, monitoring whether it’s in compliance with health and safety regulations. On Monday, spokesperson Brian Butry responded by email to THE CITY:
“HCR is currently conducting an internal review of records related to this building. We will make any relevant information public as soon as it is determined to not interfere with the ongoing FDNY investigation. HCR’s immediate focus has been on the health and safety of the residents and helping them find stable housing while they have been displaced.”
On Monday the owners said there were no open violations for problems with self-closing doors, but they acknowledged that on July 27 maintenance staff had to repair the lock on one of the entry doors for the apartment where the fire started, and checked to make sure the self-closing mechanism functioned properly.
More than 100 families were displaced after one of the deadliest fires in city history took place in a Bronx residential tower, Jan. 10, 2022. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
The building was built in 1972 under the state’s Mitchell-Lama affordable housing program and was purchased in January 2020 by a joint venture that includes Rick Gropper, a member of Adams’ transition committee, and Andrew Moelis, the son of for-profit affordable housing developer Ron Moelis.
Sprinklers are installed only in the basement compactor room and laundry room, circumstances that are allowed under city housing code because its ceilings and floors are poured concrete and it’s fire doors are sufficient to make the building qualify as “non-combustible,” a spokesperson for the owner said.
The scope of the destruction caused by the fire is extensive. Of the 120 units, HPD has issued vacate orders covering 27 apartments with five inspections pending, building records show.
Gambian and Dominican Communities Devastated
Repercussions from the fire devastated the area’s Gambian and Dominican communities, which many Twin Parks residents hailed from.
Dawda Docka Fadera, a Gambian ambassador in the U.S., said in a press conference alongside Adams on Monday that the majority of the 17 victims had roots in the west African country. A representative for the consulate general of the Dominican Republic was also in attendance.
“Our country is currently in a state of shock,” Fadera said.
A fundraiser set up by the Gambian Youth Organization, a 20-year-old community group headquartered just steps away from Twin Parks, had raised more than half a million dollars in direct aid for the fire victims just 24 hours after the disaster.
Momodou Sawaneh, the organization’s founder, said on Monday afternoon that “100%” of the funds would go directly to the victims: “cash payments, transportation, funeral expenses. The only thing we can guarantee is that the funds are going to go to the people who deserve this.”
Shawaneh added the organization is in contact with Adams and Gibson’s offices, who offered to help distribute the funds.
The city set up a donation and shelter site at Monroe College in The Bronx after a deadly fire in a nearby residential building, Jan. 10, 2022. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
About 50 families were receiving services from the group, the majority of them from Latin America, he said. He said that only “about 10%” of families who had reached out to the group hailed from Gambia.
At GYO’s modest headquarters on East 181st Street, piles of coats, clothes, foods and water bottles grew faster than volunteers, some of them from the Bronx chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, could stock them. Cars unloading supplies often clogged traffic on the narrow street that afternoon.
“This is not limited to one community, but every community,” he said. “We serve everyone.”
