The Bronx Museum and Morris Perk together for the new cafe which we want YOU to name!
As you know, we’ve partnered with The Bronx Museum along with BronxMama and The Bronx Socialite to engage our fellow Bronxites in choosing a name for a new cafe that will operate at The Bronx Museum. The bonus? It will be serving Morris Perk’s Bronx Blend which our borough has fallen in love with over the past year with proprietor, Lovie Pignata’s Morris Perk Pop-Ups across every type of business, organization and corner of our wonderful borough.
Since we launched the contest several weeks ago, over 300 entries have been selected and now only the top 3 have made the cut so it’s up to YOU to name that cafe!
Folks, this is beyond a cafe opening. This is community building once again where a large organization such as The Bronx Museum helps out not only Morris Perk by sourcing their delicious coffee and the café will be run in partnership with Fountain House, an organization which dedicates itself to providing learning and working opportunities to local residents recovering from mental illness providing a wonderful way to give back to the community through this vehicle.
In a borough that is home to so many great mom and pop restaurants and the home of Arthur Ave, New York City’s REAL Little Italy, it always baffles me why someone in The Bronx would choose to go to a chain restaurant like the Olive Garden.
That’s DEFINITELY not the ‘cucina italaliana‘ (Italian kitchen) I grew up with spending time with my Italian high school friends and their families.
One of the beautiful things about growing up in The Bronx and going to school here was being exposed to the many ethnic groups that make up the beautiful tapestry that is our borough.
It was growing up here that I learned what authentic cuisine Italian cuisine was along with Albanian and many other flavors.
Not knocking anyone who loves chain restaurants and Olive Garden but seriously? With all our excellent, Italian restaurants why would you go there? Makes me wanna just shout, “Porca miseria!”
Anywho, hope you enjoy this video by Buzzfeed showing us what happens when you have Italian grandmothers to try Olive Garden for the first time.
After the video, check out some great articles on Arthur Avenue and why you should basically make that your stomping grounds for the real deal.
Now if only we could answer the age old question: Is it sauce or gravy?
What better way to celebrate Frida Kahlo’s birthday, which is today, July 6th, than by dressing up like her or Diego Rivera?
On Saturday July 11th The New York Botanical Garden will be filled with plenty of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lookalikes—from children to adults—in a competition to see who can pull it off best!
As many of our readers already know, Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life, one of the most anticipated exhibitions, is in full swing and what better way for Frida lovers to commemorate her life than to dress up like her or Diego?
“Participants will be judged on the creativity and accuracy of their ensemble by Garden Staff judges as well as audience appreciation. Three winners in both the Frida and Couples categories will be chosen and awarded a gift bag from Shop in the Garden valued at $30, $50, or $100, and will also receive two tickets for an upcoming Frida al Fresco evening event. Additionally, posed photos will be taken in front of the Conservatory’s Casa Azul and elsewhere in the Garden, and made available to the winners. Kids’ Contest participants will each receive a prize for participating, with additional prizes for the three selected winners.”
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Mexico City, 1939 / Image credit unknown via theredlist.com
Kids contest will be from 2pm-3pm and Frida and Diego adult contest will be held from 4pm-5pm.
Whether you haven’t seen the exhibition or are a repeat visitor, you definitely want to go on this day and enjoy the fun even if you don’t participate.
Can you give us your best Frida or Diego? Show us we want to see! Tag us on instagram @welcome2thebronx or Twitter @welcome2thebx
The Bronx was once home to several major film & television production facilities and now will be home to major players again.
Silvercup studios purchased 295 Locust Avenue for $15 million and according to WSJ will be investing an additional $20 million to convert the building into 4 production studios.
With a lot of home grown talent in the film and television production industry it is only proper that such facilities continue to expand into our borough—an industry that is an economic powerhouse in New York City which the WSJ says: “The sector annually generates an estimated $7.1 billion in direct spending and $400 million in tax revenue, while employing 130,000 New Yorkers behind the scenes, said a spokeswoman for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.”
Bronx resident Gene DeFrancis has been calling for Film & Television production to come to the Mott Haven/Port Morris area of The Bronx for years now. Last year in an interview with The Bronx Times, he was quoted as saying:
“Locals would embrace a film studio development far more than they did the other main development to rock the area in recent years — the relocation of FreshDirect to the Harlem River Yards at the borough’s southern tip, said DeFrancis, who lives in Allerton but often hosts productions in the area.
“I know it would not face the same resistance as Fresh Direct,” said the actor. “And it would help local business and create real jobs.”
The new Silvercup Studios will be located just a few blocks away from the soon to open Randall’s Island Connector as well as the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan—a community led and designed plan for a sustainable waterfront in the South Bronx that would provide equitable access to area residents to our waterfront as well as add additional, much needed greens space in the area.
What do you think about film and tv coming back home to The Bronx? We want to know!
Many people wouldn’t think that The Bronx would have any role in America’s independence but not only does our borough indeed play one but it is much bigger than you think!
Let’s start with our nation’s first president, George Washington.
Van Cortlandt House, where President George Washington slept at least twice and also where he began his journey from into Manhattan to re-capture New York from British rule thus ending their control in America.
On October 12, 1776, the British landed in Throgg’s Neck with 4,000 troops who were later met with the resistance of 350 Americans who were able to hold them off at Pell’s Point in Pelham Bay Park. This allowed Washington and his troops to safely reach White Plains. Think about that. 350 Americans against 4,000 British troops!
But it wasn’t until 1783 that George Washington left Van Cortlandt House in The Bronx with his troops in what is considered the final act of the American Revolution which was the recapturing of New York City. Known as ‘Evacuation Day‘, November 25th, 1783 was that historic day when Washington triumphantly left The Bronx, crossed the Harlem River into Manhattan and headed down the island to New York as the last bit of British Authority fled the shores of America. It should also be noted that sadly, the British army slaughtered Native Americans fighting for American Independence, The Stockbridge Indians in present day Van Cortlandt Park where they are buried and memorialized in Indian Field.
Here are some other historical facts on our borough’s role in the founding of America:
2: Lewis Morris half-brother, Gouverneur Morris who not only was a signer of the Constitution but is also the author of large sections of this treasured document and is considered the ‘Penman of the Constitution’ and the author of its preamble:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington ordered the construction of outer defenses throughout the Kingsbridge area. Fort Four was built under the direction of Colonel Rufus Putnam in 1777 to protect the American army and to safeguard the line of the Harlem River. The largest of all fortifications in the neighborhood, Fort Four was admirably situated, commanding a view for miles in all directions. In the fall of 1779, the fort was destroyed by the British forces led by Sir Henry Clinton.”
5: Here’s another one submitted by Bronxite Sally Dunford: “Also according to NYC Parks: “Gun Hill Meadow is named for a January 25, 1777 Revolutionary War battle that took place near this site. Gun Hill Road, then known as Kingsbridge Road, was an important east-west thoroughfare, which the British and the Americans fought fiercely to control. During the battle, the British were chasing the Patriots east towards the river. While in retreat, a group of soldiers, led by Captain Bryant of the artillery, dragged a cannon atop a nearby hill and fired upon the charging Brits. That strategic position, which then became known as “Gun Hill,” forced the Brits to retreat west to Kingsbridge, allowing the Patriots to escape.”
6: And Bronxite Nick Leshi reminded us about Glover’s Rock in Pelham Bay Park and the Battle of Pell’s Point:
According to New York City Parks Department:
Before the American Revolution, the Siwanoy Native Americans used the rock as a lookout point along their trading route.
On June 21, 1775, the British ordered Glover and his Marblehead Militia to Cambridge, but the next day he and his regiment defected to the Continental Army. General George Washington (1732-1799) organized the Continental Army on July 3, 1775, and on January 1, 1776, the Marblehead regiment became the 14th Continental Regiment, led by Colonel Glover. Colonel Glover soon commanded a brigade, and on September 13, 1776, he safeguarded the evacuation of New York City through Harlem, across the King’s Bridge, and into the Bronx and White Plains. General Howe and a British fleet had landed on Kip’s Bay, and the British Army was threatening General Washington’s position in White Plains. Glover spied the fleet off Pell’s Point, the site of present-day Rodman’s Neck.
There were four regiments in Glover’s brigade, one being his own Marblehead regiment, the other three under the command of Colonel Joseph Read (b. 1731), Colonel William Shepard (1737-1817), and Colonel Loammi Baldwin (1745-1807). On October 18, 1776, Colonel Glover separated each regiment, spreading them along Split Rock Road behind the stone walls that marked property lines. He then led 40 men in a direct attack on the British. After an exchange of fire, two Americans were killed and Glover retreated north along the path with the British in pursuit.
Soon, the British forces hit the other three Continental Regiments, and, surrounded, they retreated back to Pell’s Point. Only 12 Americans were killed, yet between 800 to 1,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded in the battle. Colonel Glover thus enabled General Washington to position and hold his forces in White Plains before moving south. Glover’s “Marbleheaders,” with their experience as sailors, were also essential in Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, for the Battle of Trenton. Glover was promoted to Brigadier General on February 23, 1777. While General Glover was stationed in Rhode Island, his wife died on November 13, 1778. After the war, Glover returned to Massachusetts and was elected to the state legislature in 1788 and 1789. He died in Marblehead on January 30, 1797.
Here’s one last bit and a fun fact: Lewis Morris tried to convince the newly found nation to make Morrisania the Capital of The United States in 1790…but we know how that went.
On Monday when we started the petition calling for New York City to cancel the contract with Donald Trump at Ferry Point Golf Course after his disparaging remarks and factually incorrect remarks about Mexican immigrants, we thought it was just a pipe dream that we would be heard and listened to (click the link to sign the petition please!).
But now it seems that Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration have heard our collective calls as our petition has reached over 5,000 signatures.
Yesterday, New York City Bill de Blasio announced that they are reviewing all contracts with Donald Trump and his organization of which Ferry Point Golf Course is one of them.
Even major GOLF organizations, are beginning to back away making our crusade even more important to continue to fight this battle:
“After an interview with the Golf Channel on Tuesday in which the Republican candidate for president claimed he had the support of the golf community despite his inflammatory comments because “they all know I’m right,” the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, USGA and PGA of America jointly released a statement disassociating themselves from Trump.
The four golfing bodies are the latest to publicly back away from the embattled Trump, along with television networks Univision and NBCUniversal (the parent company of msnbc) and the department store Macy’s.” — MSNBC, Golf organizations the latest to back away from Donald Trump
Currently we have received almost 5,000 signatures on our petition to date and the mainstream media is listening to our voices. Now it is a sit and wait to make sure that our elected officials pay attention as well.
Some of the media coverage on The Bronx’s quest to be rid of Trump are as follows:
We want to personally thank each and every one of you for making this possible for without the power and voice of the people, we would not have reached this point. It is too soon to declare any sort of victory, but the fact that the administration is listening and working on reviewing these contracts and the media is listening to voices, it sure is something to be happy for.
4 out of 5 major sales have occurred on just one block in Port Morris. / Map Via PropertyShark CLICK TO ENLARGE
Let’s face it: We already knew that developers were going to set their eyes on The Bronx, often called “The Last Frontier” by real estate developers and moguls due to The South Bronx’s proximity to Manhattan and excellent transportation network but as speculative purchases are made on properties far more than their actual worth, is it over for those trying to make a quick buck on our back?
198 E 135th Street, which was owned by storage company CubeSmart, was sold on May 12, 2015 for $15,470,000 to Deegan 135 Realty LLC. CubeSmart owns the adjacent property at 200 E 135th Street which is a massive lot at 276,538 square feet with a 214,560 square foot storage facility. In August of 2012, CubeSmart purchased the properties at a price of $68,234,000.
The vacant lot is 48,976 square feet in size and according to public records can be developed to accommodate a 352,627 mixed-use residential building, however no plans have been filed as of yet with NYC Department of Buildings.
198 E 135th Street sold last month for almost $16 million.
These properties sit right within the Special Harlem River Waterfront District in the Lower Concourse Rezoning Area and are proximate and/or adjacent to the properties purchased by the Chetrit Group and Somerset Partners—developers who want to rename the area the Piano District, as reported by Curbed, which gives homage to the area’s distinction of once being the epicenter of piano manufacturing in America.
The name may sound cute but it is rather audacious that developers want to rename OUR neighborhoods where we have lived and have been here for decades, generations of families having lived here when no one wanted to only to have developers come traipsing in to make things cute and nice for outsiders and not for those who currently reside in the area.
It should also be noted that CubeSmart is sitting on a lot that can be developed up to almost 2 million square feet (1,991,074 square feet to be exact) of residential properties so if a developer offers the right price for this waterfront property, they probably wouldn’t hesitate in selling it.
In just a matter of 5 months, just slightly over $104 million in 4 properties have been sold—3 on one block and the other across the street from the others.
Most of the Lower Concourse Area is filled with empty or semi-vacant warehouses along with fully occupied industrial buildings and now that these properties are selling for such astronomical numbers that even two years ago no one would have thought would be possible, many of these owners stand to make a fortune should they sell to speculators looking to develop the area.
All properties are located on High Risk FEMA Flood Zones (Post Sandy Update) / Map Via PropertyShark
One of the good things about these properties is that they are located in high risk FEMA flood zones so development is going to be quite costly and perhaps give us time to delay anything detrimental to our communities.
Already 2401 Third Avenue will require a Fish and Wildlife Impact Analysis as stipulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in emails obtained by Welcome2TheBronx during investigation performed on these properties. Initially, NYSDEC indicated that one was not necessary, however, environmental activists in the area familiar with the Brownfields on these lots raised a red flag to which NYSDEC quickly acknowledged that indeed a Fish and Wildlife Impact Analysis will have to be performed.
All properties discussed here are also located in NYC Tidal Wetland areas which makes costlier for developers to construct what they want due to the extra paperwork and approval process enacted in 2009 to protect NYC’s waterfront.
Now it’s just a game of wait and see what will happen to The South Bronx: Will speculators continue over-inflating prices in the neighborhoods or will they realize that prices are already high for them to make any decent return on investment in the near future?
Ferry Point Golf Course in The Bronx built by tax payer monies to the tune of over $230 million dollars is run by Trump. The city should follow other corporations in dumping him and pushing him out of The Bronx which is home to a large percentage of the city’s Mexican population.
Last week Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about Mexicans by saying in his bid for the 2016 Presidential election that Mexico is, “sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs, and bringing crime, and their rapists.”
Not only is this an insult to the Mexican community but it is an insult to The Bronx who is home to one of the largest Mexican populations along the East Coast.
Taxes paid by the very Mexican-American community which Trump insulted and funded his luxurious golf course that is out of the reach for most Bronxites.
Taxes that will pay the $300,000 a month water bill that the city has promised to foot.
If Trump has such disdain for Mexicans, and immigrants overall, then he should relinquish his holding at Ferry Point Golf Course and give the land back to the people to whom it belongs.
The Bronx and its residents can surely use more parkland so why not?
With its exorbitant prices, the city should just cancel their contract with Trump and make it a true municipal golfing facility.
Of course this is a pipe dream and won’t really ever happen but what if we demanded our land back that we helped finance?
After all, if it’s built with our money on our land, isn’t it ours?
If Trump doesn’t respect our residents then he surely doesn’t belong making money off our backs let alone in our borough.
Maybe our borough president Ruben Diaz Jr should jump in line with Univision, NBC and all others who are dumping Trump and do the same?
Instead of playing tee time with Trump, he should be dumping Trump and defending his Bronxites of Mexican descent that make The Bronx a great place to call home.
Gay Pride flag flies proudly in The Garden of Life Community Garden in Melrose
Today is an historic day in America as we took another leap forward towards equality, this time in the form of Marriage Equality and being able to marry the one you love regardless if they happen to be of the same sex. It is a major victory for the human rights of the LGBTQ community across America, Puerto Rico, The US Virgin Islands, and American territories—not just limited to the 50 states.
Although New York State passed the Marriage Equality Act almost exactly 4 years ago, granting same-sex couples the right to marry and the same rights that go along with marriage, it wasn’t until now that the highest court of this nation, The Supreme Court, issued a decision granting marriage equality in our country thus protecting our rights from that act 4 years ago.
So where does The Bronx connection to this historic Supreme Court ruling on Marriage Equality come in?
It comes from our very own homegrown Bronxite, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, born in our borough (of Puerto Rican parents) back on June 25th, 1954, who was of the majority opinion that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. Sotomayor is a product of The Bronx, its schools, communities and families.
Growing up in the Soundview section of The Bronx, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor attended Blessed Sacrament School and then went on to Cardinal Spellman High School (my alma mater) before embarking on her journey into law starting with Princeton and then on to Yale Law School.
According to Slate, during arguments on the Marriage Equality back in April of this year
“Ginsburg also pressed same-sex marriage opponents to explain how legalizing marriage equality could possibly hurt opposite-sex couples. “You are not taking away anything from heterosexual couples,” she said, when the state permits same-sex marriage. Justice Sonia Sotomayor echoed this point, demanding to know how barring gay couples from marriage could possibly strengthen marriage for opposite-sex couples. “How,” she asked, “does withholding marriage from one group—same-sex couples—increase the value [of marriage] to the other group?” And Justice Stephen Breyer asked why states had any interest in forbidding same-sex marriage, repeatedly noting that marriage is a “fundamental liberty” which “the state offers to almost everyone”—except gay couples.”
“Outside of the marriage context, can you think of any other rational basis, reason, for a state using sexual orientation as a factor in denying homosexuals benefits? Or imposing burdens on them? Is there any other decision-making that the government could make — denying them a job, not granting them benefits of some sort, any other decision?”
Charles Cooper, the attorney arguing against gay marriage for the state of California, struggled to find a response.
“Your Honor, I cannot,” Cooper said. “I, I do not have, uh, uh, any, uh, anything to offer you in that regard.”
“If they’re a class that makes any other discrimination improper, irrational, then why aren’t we treating them as a class for this one benefit?” Sotomayor then asked.
As an openly gay man born and raised in The Bronx, this is a big and victorious day for me and it is even more special to know that one of the Supreme Court justices who were in the majority opinion that ruled that The Constitution of The United States of America a “nationwide right” to same-sex marriage, came from The Bronx just like me.
Check out our very own Bronxites, Tai and Lola Velez in Target’s Pride video (they show up at 1:05 into the video when they Tai proposed to Lola):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ji8OpjSCXE
It is also interesting to note that of the 5 Supreme Court Justices who ruled declaring same-sex marriage a constitutional right, 3 are women from New York City. Along with Justice Sotomayor we have Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg of Brooklyn and Justice Elena Kagan of Manhattan.
Now isn’t that special?
Go forth and celebrate your right to marry who you love.
Love is love. It transcends gender, man-made borders, socioeconomic status and all man-made constructs.
Beautifully appointed lobby with high-end finishings.
Melrose—and The Bronx—just added its second luxury boutique hotel as The Umbrella opened officially on Wednesday and Welcome2TheBronx was on site for the official tour of this finished gem.
From the moment you walk into the hotel, you immediately notice it is a very special and unlike The Opera House Hotel where its luxury finishes and decor are more traditional, The Umbrella Hotel went for a sleek, modern look.
The lobby is simply beautiful with its designs yet very simple and the rooms are also pretty special as well. When you walk throughout the property you know that the developer took extra care to make this a special place where folks will be happy to return to.
The management of The Umbrella Hotel are also happy to be working with The Opera House Hotel as they will be sending folks over when The Opera House has no vacancies which seems to happen quite often so it’s great to see two businesses working with each other.
Rates for all rooms at The Umbrella are slightly less than The Opera House Hotel and are $129 plus applicable taxes (rates are subject to change during peak seasons and special events).
Residents of Melrose were very excited. One particular couple said they are going to book a night at the hotel, “just because” and they loved the fact that there is lodging in the area for their family that is not only of quality and luxury design but affordable as well.
The Umbrella Hotel is ready to serve your lodging needs.
There are plans to add a rooftop lounge, however, that is not complete as of this time.
Another great thing about the hotel is that they are committed to hiring locally from the neighborhood and The Bronx so already they are being good neighbors by providing jobs to our residents.
Currently under construction in Mott Haven are two hotels: a Comfort Inn on 3rd Avenue and The Major Deegan Expressway and a Holiday Inn Express at Exterior Street just 1 block south of 149th Street.
To book a room at the 7 story, 56 room Umbrella Hotel you can call them at 718-924-2100 or visit their website.
Umbrella is located at 681 Elton Avenue at 153rd Street and is just 4 short blocks and a five minute walk to the 2/5 subway line at 3rd Avenue and 149th Street Station offering convenient access to both the East and West sides of Manhattan, Harlem all within just 15-20 minutes depending on your destination.
Guests can also enjoy the local flavor of our borough with the many restaurants throughout Melrose and Mott Haven and not to mention taking quick trips to Arthur Avenue, the REAL Little Italy, City Island and other areas for great local food.
By staying in the area you get the best of both worlds: quick access to touristy Manhattan if that’s what you’re looking for or staying local and taking in the sights in our borough that’s still the REAL New York and hasn’t yet lost its flavor.
Click the images below to view the full gallery:
Umbrella’s lobby is beautifully appointed with high-end finishings—just like it is throughout the rest of the building including its rooms.
The Umbrella color pattern are everywhere including the ceiling fixtures.
Panoramic Bronx and Manhattan views from the rooftop which will eventually be converted into a lounge.
Panoramic Bronx and Manhattan views from the rooftop which will eventually be converted into a lounge.
Panoramic Bronx and Manhattan views from the rooftop which will eventually be converted into a lounge.
Vistas from the rooftop will offer guests beautiful views of the architecture of Melrose both old and new.
Vistas from the rooftop will offer guests beautiful views of the architecture of Melrose both old and new.
Name that café!! / Image courtesy of Lauren Click/Bronx Museum
Only one week left for The Bronx Museum’s café naming contest! One lucky winner will have the bragging rights to have named the café and also free lunch for six so if you haven’t done so already, make sure you head over and enter your suggestions!
Public access to the Jerome Park Reservoir could very well be headed to permanent public access pending the outcomes of a pilot program scheduled to begin sometime in September of this year. / Photo Credit and courtesy – Gary Axelbank
Last night at a meeting for the Croton Facility Management Committee, the Commissioner Emily Lloyd of New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection surprised all in attendance that the agency will move forward with a pilot program granting public access to The Jerome Park Reservoir—one of The Bronx’s greatest treasures that has been cut off from the public for some 20 years now. (see transcript from last night’s meeting here in pdf format)
“This was a surprising, if not a totally shocking development, something those of us who have been working on this for a long time never expected. After all we had been thorough over this, I remarked to a few people afterwards it’s like we had just entered some alternative universe.” commented Gary Axelbank host of New York City’s longest running talk show, BronxTalk and a resident living in front of the reservoir.
Axelbank added, “As recently as a month ago the commissioner made it clear to me that there were many impediments to this and one of the asst. commissioners said point blank at a previous meeting and behind the scenes to someone i know that public access to JPR was essentially not going to happen. so many of us were prepared for a long meeting. i’m not sure (nor do i care) what caused the change of mind, but this is the right thing for the Bronx, that’s for sure.”
This is a victory for Bronx residents as many parts of our borough lack direct access to one of our most precious resources and that is our waterfront and bodies of water.
Now while this is not a guarantee whatsoever that this will ever come to fruition beyond the pilot program, which is currently being discussed to begin sometime in September, for now we can celebrate the fact that DEP has done a complete about face on the issue.
During the pilot program, access will be limited to 2 hours of walking, biking around the reservoir in between the fences surrounding it, walking tours of groups of up to 25 people per tour to provide a history of the reservoir, and also educational programs in conjunction with local schools by developing special curricula on surround the Jerome Park Reservoir. Access has been denied due to safety concerns for New York City’s water supply.
“Improved public access to the Jerome Park Reservoir will not only create new recreation activities in our borough, it will help unite communities across the Northwest Bronx. I congratulate the elected officials, community boards and dedicated activists whose work has helped make this announcement possible, and I look forward to walk around the reservoir this fall,” said Borough President Diaz in a press release issued by his office.
Protected paths that are currently off limits around the Jerome Park Reservoir / Image Courtesy Gary Axelbank
Diaz Jr, along with New York State Senator Jeff Klein and NYS Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz joined forces, with great community support, to back legislation that would declare Jerome Park Reservoir a public park according to the press release issued by the BP’s office.
One thing that many may or may not remember, the original location for the controversial and filtration plant was actually the Jerome Park Reservoir itself that would have eliminated this beautiful and iconic body of water that is part of the fabric of The Bronx and the Northwest Bronx in particular.
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr added in his press release:
“This is incredibly welcome news, and something my office has advocated for over the past few years. Jerome Park Reservoir is a historic gem of the Northwest Bronx, yet for too long access to its paths has been denied to the public for a variety of reasons. The announcement by Emily Lloyd, commissioner of the City’s Department of Environmental Protection, to begin the process of expanding public access to the Jerome Park Reservoir is incredibly welcome, and I look forward to helping plan and implement access for the reservoir in the fall,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Borough President Diaz added, “It is my hope that this announcement is the first step towards greater, permanent access to this incredible amenity.”
Protected paths that are currently off limits around the Jerome Park Reservoir / Image Courtesy Gary Axelbank
The ultimate irony about this statement is that residents of the South Bronx have been fighting for the same amenities to waterfront access along the Harlem River where FreshDirect continues to plan to build a massive facility—something which the area has been fighting against due to overwhelming issues with asthma and quality of life issues, particularly poor access and lack of access to open spaces.
The community has even come up with a comprehensive waterfront plan backed by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and was given priority by the New York State Deparment of Environmental Conservation known as the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan.
All people in our borough deserve equitable access to green spaces especially those that are public land such as the Harlem River Yards where FreshDirect plans to build their headquarters.
Let’s hope that we can use this small yet huge victory in the Northwest Bronx to set a precedent for access to other spaces that our residents are clamoring for.
Protected paths that are currently off limits around the Jerome Park Reservoir / Image Courtesy Gary Axelbank
In the meantime, Gary Axelbank had a few important words to impart to the community:
“The most important thing for us to know is that when the pilot access is permitted, that we have a lot of people peacefully and responsibly make the most of it and enjoy it. the more people who do that, the better chance there will be to do things on a more permanent basis. that’s going to be crucial.”
