Welcome2TheBronx

Lottery now open for affordable apartments as low as $865 a month for 1 bedroom in the South Bronx

Ed García Conde

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October 5, 2021

Lottery now open for affordable apartments as low as $865 a month for 1 bedroom in the South Bronx

Another lottery has opened, this time in a brand new development in the Foxhurst neighborhood of the South Bronx.

The Bryant, located at 1115 Bryant Avenue at E 165th Street is a brand new development constructed on an empty lot owned by NYCHA which has a small development across the street.

*The Bryant, located at 1115 Bryant Avenue in Foxhurst*

At eight stories in height, the building has 62 residential units of which 24 are available via New York City’s Housing Connect affordable housing lottery which have been set aside for households making 50% of the Area Median Income which varies according to the size of the household.

Available units in this lottery are as follows:

13 studios renting at $682 a month have been set aside for individuals making anywhere from $25,886 – $41,800 or a two-person household with a yearly income of $25,886 – $47,750.
6 one-bedroom units renting at $865 a month have been set aside for individuals making $32,503 – $41,800, a two-person household making $32,503 – $47,750 a year, or a three-person household with a yearly income ranging from $32,503 – $53,700.
5 two-bedroom units renting for $1,049 have been set aside for a two-person household with a yearly income of $39,703 – $47,750, a three-person household with a yearly income of $39,703 – $53,700, a four-person household with a yearly income of $39,703 – $59,650, or a five-person household with a yearly income of $39,703 – $64,450.

*A kitchen at The Bryant/Via Housing Connect*

Of special note, since the land is owned by NYCHA, there is a preference for 25% of the available units to go to current NYCHA residents. 50% for residents of Bronx Community Board 2, and 5% for New York City employees. 5% of units have been set aside for individuals with mobility issues, and 2% for those with hearing or visual impairments.

Amenities at The Bryant include a doorman, security guard, energy-efficient appliance (not sure if you can call such appliances an amenity at this point in time given that that’s simply just standard), shared laundry room, bike storage room, air-conditioning, media room, community room, children’s playroom, and even a library.

*A typical bathroom at The Bryant/Via Housing Connect*

The remainder of the units in the development are for supportive housing for the formerly homeless and people with disabilities with on-site support services available to these residents.

As for transportation, there are several buses in the immediate area and the 6 train is available at Whitlock Avenue or the 2 and 5 line at nearby Simpson Street.

Future residents will have access to excellent outdoor areas along the Bronx River at Concrete Plant Park just 3 blocks away and Starlight Park to the north filled with plenty of opportunity for active and passive recreation along New York City’s only fresh-water river.

*Another kitchen layout at The Bryant/Via Housing Connect*

The deadline to apply is October 29, 2021 and you can do so online by going to Housing Connect or you can apply by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: 5925 Broadway
Bronx, NY 10463 but remember, you can ONLY apply once. Sending in more than one application can result in disqualifying you for this lottery.

And remember, please do not contact us regarding this lottery as we cannot help you. We are not affiliated with this or any real estate development and we are only simply bringing the news of this opportunity to you.

Best of luck to all those who apply!

Direct connection by ferry and rail is needed between The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn

Ed García Conde

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October 1, 2021

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Direct connection by ferry and rail is needed between The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn

Almost 7 million of New York City’s 8.8 million residents live within The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens accounting for almost 80% of the population of America’s largest city yet there is no direct, and efficient form of transportation connecting these places other than by car.

While Manhattan is the traditional core of the city, since 2014, over half the jobs created in the city have been in the outer boroughs, Staten Island included.

Residents of The Bronx wanting to travel by public transportation to employment opportunities in Brooklyn or Queens (or vice-versa), have to make the trip through Manhattan in order to reach their destinations which only adds hours a day to their commutes.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

As New York City continues to expand the NYC Ferry service including The Bronx getting a second stop later this year in Throggs Neck at Ferry Point, it is a no-brain solution to add routes that altogether skip Manhattan and go straight to Queens and down towards Brooklyn.

A Soundview bound ferry makes its way under the Hell’s Gate Bridge. The bridge will soon carry Bronxites from four new Metro North stations to be constructed in the East Bronx and into Penn Station. The same bridge can also carry the Triboro line

Residents of The Bronx, particularly those in the East Bronx can see a drastic reduction in their commutes to these areas for work and recreational purposes which would only help spur greater economic growth in the outer boroughs.

One can’t think of any reason other than lack of political will or desire to help improve the lives of residents in the outer boroughs as to why such a ferry line doesn’t already exist.

The second and perhaps a bit more complicated and costly solution would be to finally stop talking about the TriboroRx and make it a reality.

*A potential Triboro Line could connect the four outer boroughs across 22 stations*

Right now about $2.1 billion will be spent on a rail to LaGuardia airport that is completely inefficient its route and would not really be a realistic way to travel to the airport by public transportation for many.

Instead, that money can be utilized to transform the lives of millions of residents in The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn by finally giving them a connection by constructing a Triboro line it would connect to up to 17 subway lines via 22 proposed stations across the three boroughs from Co-op City to Bayridge, Brooklyn.

With an extra push, the line could potentially even connect to Staten Island.

The Regional Plan Authority has estimated the cost of such a line to be between $1 and $2 billion which would utilize existing rail lines that are underutilized to maximize their full potential.

If we push for these two logical solutions to our transit infrastructure within the city, the lives of millions of residents stand to improve quality of life not just in reduction of commute times and increased economic opportunities, especially for lower-income residents, but the quality of health as we get more cars off the road by providing a truly reliable way to get around the entire city and not just into Manhattan.

It’s a win-win for people and the environment and if we’re realistic, a win for the environment is always a win for the people.

The gentrification and luxury takeover of the South Bronx waterfront

Ed García Conde

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September 29, 2021

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The gentrification and luxury takeover of the South Bronx waterfront

Third at Bankside, the Bronx’s most expensive private development in history coming in at just under a billion at $950 million, will begin leasing this November with the first move-ins expected this December at the first phase of the development.

*The Arches (two towers on the left) and Bankside*

Located at the foot of the Third Avenue Bridge at 2401 Third Avenue, the development, once completed, will have 1,350 luxury units along the South Bronx’s Harlem River waterfront spread across seven high rises with several reaching 25 stories.

Third at Bankside will join nearby luxury development, The Arches, which is just a few feet away and is already filling up with new residents.

The first phase at Third at Bankside will include 450 luxury residential units across two 25-story buildings and one 17-story building filled with amenities you’d expect at such development like valet parking, round-the-clock door attendant, co-working sky lounge, resident lounges, rooftop pool and barbecue deck, outdoor terraces, game room, playroom, fitness center, and a double-height lobby.

As part of the development, 34,000 square feet of public space will be developed to provide waterfront access to all Bronx residents and not just the future tenants of the development.

The site was originally owned by the Chetrit Group and Somerset Partners who sold the development site back in 2018 for $165 million in the most expensive transaction for a development site in the borough’s history.

*Rendering of a unit at Bankside/via LCP360*

Although plans have been made to set aside 30% of the units for affordable housing, the developer will more than likely select them to be available to those making 130% of the area median income which will make them out of reach for the average South Bronx resident living in the surrounding Port Morris and Mott Haven neighborhoods.

*Planned waterfront park at Bankside which will be open to all residents in the area and not just at Bankside/Rendering via LPC360*

Once this particular development is completed, it will undoubtedly usher in a new wave of gentrification in the area beyond the trickle that has been happening in the past decade and will bring thousands of residents into an area that was once seen as undesirable by those outside The Bronx.

And this is just one of such developments planned or under construction that will bring in thousands of more units which will undoubtedly change the character of the neighborhood. One just needs to look over at Harlem to see what happened to an area that was once predominantly Black and BIPOC working-class neighborhood which lost 10,085 Black residents and 2,015 Latino residents while gaining 18,754 more affluent white residents.

This is the future of the South Bronx and it’s only a matter of time before it’s no longer the poorest congressional district in the nation nor a haven for the immigrant communities that helped build it.

Bankside (on right) with the two towers at The Arches (on left)

Bronx community rallies around street vendor who had her food confiscated and thrown away

Ed García Conde

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September 27, 2021

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Bronx community rallies around street vendor who had her food confiscated and thrown away

Residents, elected officials, and activists from across The Bronx and New York City are outraged at how a local street vendor was treated by the New York Police Department and Sanitation Department last week when she couldn’t produce a vending permit last week at her produce stand at Pelham Parkway and White Plains Road.

When Diana Hernandez Cruz was unable to provide the permits, the NYPD saw it fit to call Sanitation who in turn confiscated her fresh produce and began to throw it away rather than work with her to help her get the necessary permits as seen in a video which has since gone viral.

In the middle of a pandemic, in the Bronx where 1 in 5 don't have enough to eat@NYPDnews @NYCSanitation trashed a business, destroying produce in a food desert

This family is just trying to run a small business, and sell affordable fruits & veggies.@NYCMayor beyond wrong pic.twitter.com/dC9c7YkNGt
— StreetVendorProject (@VendorPower) September 25, 2021

The incident, which occurred last Thursday, September 23rd, resulted in a loss of over $10,000 in fresh produce.

In a statement on Twitter, The Street Vendor Project, who advocates on behalf of the over the estimated 10,000 street vendors of New York City, said, “The vendor is clearly a beloved member of her community. Neighbors crowded around her, calling for the abuse to stop Thousands of dollars worth of oranges, tomatoes, and other fruits trashed Taken from an immigrant woman entrepreneur, already hard hit by the pandemic”.

“The systemic abuse of our city’s micro-businesses and disregard for hunger is a travesty. Our communities deserve care, support, and training. Thankful to the community members who donated to the vendor yesterday to help her get back on her feet”, they added before asking Mayor de Blasio if he condones this behavior.

According to Sanitation, they had the food discarded because it was “…abandoned material needed to be disposed of for the safety of the community,” however, the food was not abandoned and this practice is not in line with protocol as per the Department of Worker and Consumer Protection.

As you watch the video, you can clearly see Hernandez Cruz at the stand watching as sanitation just throws away the produce.

Ms Hernandez Cruz says she’s been working at that corner selling fresh produce for five years to provide for her family and she’s out there whether the sun is shining or in bad weather in the snow and rain.

At the root of the problem is the permits are currently capped at about 5,100 permits, a number that hasn’t changed since the 80s which has led to many immigrants desperate to work to simply set up shop wherever and however they can along the city’s busy commercial corridors.

A bill written by New York State Senator Jessica Ramos from Queens would change that but it hasn’t had any movement since it was presented in 2019.

These are people who are trying to make a living and shouldn’t be treated as criminals. The city and state need to step up to make it easier for them to do so and be compliant with rules and regulations.

In the meantime, a fundraiser has been set up for Hernandez Cruz to help her recover the over $10,000 lost in produce that was thrown away.

Last chance to apply for brand new apartments as low as $375 a month in Soundview

Ed García Conde

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September 24, 2021

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SOUNDVIEW—The lottery for truly affordable residential units at a brand new development is soon drawing to a close.

Back in August, New York City’s Housing Connect launched a lottery for a brand new development with 283 units spread across three buildings in the Soundview area of the borough.

1755 Watson Avenue LLC is truly a rare, affordable housing development with income requirements at 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the Area Median Income for the majority of the units, making it accessible to the majority of local residents. The development also has units for middle-income families which is available at 100 percent of the AMI.

*Rendering of 1755 Watson Avenue LLC courtesy of NYC Housing Connect*

Households making as low as $15,052 can apply for a studio apartment renting for $375 a month or $18,960 for a one bedroom renting for $481 a month which is well below the typical studio in the area which can rent for up to $1,200 and $1,300 for a one bedroom.

The middle-income units available at 100% of the AMI, are renting for $1,225 a month and $1,542.

Located at 1775 Watson Avenue, 1111 Commonwealth Avenue, and 1115 Commonwealth Avenue, once complete, the development will contain a total of 323 apartments of which a total of 131 will be permanently affordable spread across 312,880 square feet among the three buildings.

The development is situated just a couple of blocks from the St Lawrence subway stop on the 6 train and is also easily accessible by the BX4A, BX5 and BX36 bus lines.

The development has many of the typical amenities like a community center, bike storage room, laundry room and also features extras like a media room, yoga and dance studio. Kitchens will have high-end countertops and finishings. A plus for residents is the fact that it will be a smoke-free development once it opens.

As with many of these affordable housing developments, 5% of units are set aside for people with mobility issues, 2% for vision and hearing impaired, 50% for residents who live within Community Board 9, and 5% for New York City employees.

In order to apply, you can do so online by going here or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: 1755 Watson Ave LLC, 77 Cuttermill Road
Great Neck, NY 11021.

Please remember, do not submit duplicate applications and only send one application per lottery. Do NOT apply both online and by sending in a paper application. Doing so and applying more than once may disqualify you.

But time is running out and you must hurry up if you haven’t applied. Lottery closes in less than two weeks on October 4, 2021!

Good luck to everyone who applies!

Please note: Welcome2TheBronx is NOT affiliated with this listing or any other real estate developments nor do we receive any commissions from these posts. We are simply bringing the news to you. Please do NOT contact us as we cannot help you with these listings.

Popular Dominican restaurant, La Casa Del Mofongo, is coming to The Bronx

Ed García Conde

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September 24, 2021

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Popular Dominican restaurant, La Casa Del Mofongo, is coming to The Bronx

A popular Dominican restaurant dedicated to the staple dish of deep-fried plantains mashed together and filled with different types of meats known as mofongo throughout the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico is coming to The Bronx.

La Casa del Mofongo will be opening their fifth location and first Bronx location at the former TGI Friday’s at the Gun Hill Commons Mall in the Pelham Gardens, Baychester area.

*The former TGI Friday’s will soon be home to La Casa Del Mofongo’s fifth location and first in The Bronx / Image via Google Streets*

The chain will be joining other tenants at the mall like Aldi, Chuck E Cheese, Planet Fitness, and Home Depot.

Its location at the 7,500 square foot space near I-95 and Gun Hill Road, as well as ample parking, will provide for easy access to not just borough residents, particularly 45,000 residents of Co-op City just across the highway, but folks in Westchester County looking for some good, Dominican food.

According to Real Estate Weekly, Felix Cabrera, founder and owner of La Casa Del Mofongo said, “We’re thrilled to be opening our first location in The Bronx. We saw an incredible opportunity to expand into a large and well-equipped building that’s convenient and easily accessible. We’re looking to sharing our cuisine and providing entertainment to the greater Bronx community.”

Right now, Bronxites who love La Casa Del Mofongo have to trek over to Washington Heights to get their fix but come Spring of next year, they will be able to stay right here in the borough, especially for residents in the East Bronx.

Once they open, we’ll be happy to keep our money right here in the borough by going there instead of The Heights.

The Bronx leads New York State in eviction filings for the third year in a row

Ed García Conde

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September 22, 2021

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The Bronx leads New York State in eviction filings for the third year in a row

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic rolled through and claimed the lives of over five thousand residents to date and plunged The Bronx into economic chaos that pushed the unemployment rate at one point to over 25%, the borough was already grappling with some of the highest eviction filings in the state.

Now, new data from the Statewide Landlord Tenant Eviction Report shows that, for the third year in a row, The Bronx has the highest rates of eviction filing in not just the city but New York State as per filings between January 1st and September 20th of this year.

According to NBC, over 10,000 households in the borough accounting for 2.17% of Bronx households have been served with eviction filings down from 5.59% in 2020 and 13.23% in 2019.

*Rental apartments along the Grand Concourse*

This rate is over twice that of the next county which is Kings, aka Brooklyn, with a rate of 0.86%.

These numbers, however, aren’t a surprise given the struggles that many Bronx households have faced throughout the years including extreme rent burden where families are paying well over 30% of their income towards rent.

Last year, a report was released indicating that The Bronx had the greatest threat to affordable housing in New York City with seven out of the top ten community boards facing such a threat located right in the borough.

According to that data, The Bronx leads New York City with the highest rates of eviction, the most rent-burdened residents, tenants making less than the required Area Median Income to qualify for affordable housing, and most residents living in areas with increasing housing prices than any other borough in the city.

Community Board 4, covering areas like Highbridge and Mount Eden, faced the greatest threat to affordable housing in New York City according to that data.

As for the recent eviction filings data, the significant drop in filings is perhaps due to the eviction moratoriums which have been in place since last year when the pandemic began.

The 10457 zip code covering parts of Tremont, Mount Hope, and Crotona, has the most eviction filings so far for 2020 with 889 filed thus far followed by 10467 covering Norwood, Olinville, and Allerton with 846 filings for the year.

Meanwhile, over in the East Bronx, 10464 covering City Island only has 11 filings for the year and 10465 in Throggs neck with 40 making them the lowest in the borough. This, however, is in line with the fact that there are more homeowners in this area of the borough than the West Bronx.

For now, residents are still protected under a new eviction moratorium that bars evictions until January 15, 2022 but a new $250 million Supplemental Emergency Rental Assistance program may not help out everyone given that it is only available to households making 80 to 120% of the Area Median Income and in some of the hardest-hit areas of The Bronx, the majority of residents barely make 50% of the AMI.

One thing is for sure, tenants and landlords, particularly owners of smaller, residential properties, will continue to suffer if funding doesn’t come through to support both.

What’s going to happen come January 15th, 2022 when the moratorium expires? Will it be extended yet again? Chances are slim to none as life returns to somewhat normal.

Residents need to continue to pressure their elected officials if they want true relief of any kind to avert an even bigger crisis once moratoriums expire.

Brand new 1-bedroom apartments now available for just $740 a month in Bedford Park

Ed García Conde

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September 21, 2021

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BEDFORD PARK—Fourty one brand new residential units are now available for you to apply in a recently launched affordable housing lottery in this northwest Bronx neighborhood.

Located at 211 East 203rd Street between the Grand Concourse and Valentine Avenue, the brand new development, which is still under construction, has studios, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units available.

*Rendering of 211 E 203 Street from above*

In order to qualify for the units set aside for households making 40 or 50% of the Area Median Income, applicants must have at least one household member who is 62 years or older.

There are two studio units available renting for $592 a month at the 40% range which means you need to make anywhere from $22,800 a year to $38,200 depending on a one or two-person household.

Eleven one-bedroom units are available for $740 a month for those at the 40% AMI which is listed as anyone making $28,218 to $42,960 a year depending on household size.

One and two-bedroom units have also been set aside for middle-income families making 80% of the AMI with significantly higher rents more closer to the area median for such units.

The development has also set aside eight one-bedroom units at the 50% AMI which is specifically for applicants who qualify for the Section 8 Project Based Voucher program and rents for these units will vary per household and set at 30% of their yearly income. Qualifying income ranges for these units goes anywhere from $0 to $53,700 a year.

The 13 story unit building has a total of 108 residential units of which the remainder are set aside for the formerly homeless and families with special needs, however, those units are not made available via the NYC Affordable Housing Lottery.

Amenities included in the development are pretty standard for such new construction buildings in The Bronx like bike storage lockers, shared laundry room, air-conditioning, community center, private outdoor spaces, and an outdoor terrace.

The Bedford Park Boulevard station on the B and D line along the Grand Concourse and is an accessible station with an elevator and is located just two blocks away along with several bus lines.

As far as recreational spaces, Mosholu Parkway, Harris Park, Williamsbridge Oval, and Bronx Park, and Van Cortlandt Park are just blocks away as is the New York Botanical Garden.

If you’re interested in applying, you can do so online by going here or you can apply by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to:

Bedford 203 HDFC C/O Sycamore Birch Management
869 Morris Park Ave
Bronx, NY 10462

50% of units are set aside for current residents of Bronx Community Board 7 (you can find out which community board district you live in by entering your address here) and 50% are set aside for those 62 and older. 5% of these units are set aside for those with mobility issues and 2% for the vision and hearing impaired.

Good luck to all who apply and remember, please do not contact us as we are NOT affiliated with this or any real estate listing. We’re simply bringing you the news.

The Bronx’s first Apple Store Opens September 24th

Ed García Conde

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September 15, 2021

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The Bronx’s first Apple Store Opens September 24th

Apple fans rejoice. The wait is finally over for Bronxites who’ve been wanting an Apple store in the borough.

As we reported earlier this year, the world’s most valuable brand will be opening up at The Mall at Bay Plaza and we finally have a date for that opening.

*The Mall at Bay Plaza/©Welcome2TheBronx.com*

According to signs up at The Mall at Bay Plaza, opening day will be Friday, September 24th and if it’s like a typical Apple Store opening day, expect free giveaways at this location in celebration of the occasion.

For years, Bronx residents, including local elected officials, have been clamoring for the store to open within the borough.

When we first heard the rumor that the iconic store was opening here at an undisclosed location, we speculated where in The Bronx it would be.

The original source said it was at a “significant property” and while there are several that match that description like the Old Bronx General Post Office, it was doubtful that they would open there.

Well Apple just let the cat out the bag! FINALLY… an Apple Store in the Bronx at Bay Plaza! pic.twitter.com/YF2suaDJad
— Tom Sheppard (@tomcsheppard) September 15, 2021

Sure enough, just days after we wrote the story, it was revealed that it indeed was The Mall at Bay Plaza where Apple would land.

And now, five months after we have an opening date.

For decades, The Bronx was the last place where big retailers would even set foot within our borders and let alone a name like Apple but over the past several years, more and more big-name chains are calling the borough home.

But with such a big name like Apple coming into the borough, fears of increased gentrification will continue to occupy the minds of many residents and small business owners who cannot compete with the kinds of rents that such a company can afford.

*Swarovski is one of the many retailers that call The Mall at Bay Plaza home and will soon be joined by Apple*

We’re seeing what’s happing along commercial corridors like Fordham Road and The Hub, two of the largest in The Bronx, where more and more national retail chains are opening up where once mom and pop shops stood.

Their mere presence has increased rents out of the reach of the average Jane and Joe who want to open up a brick and mortar shop.

At The Hub, 1800Fix, which has been in business for about three decades at the same location on 149th Street at the corner of Third Avenue, is being replaced by a Krispy Kreme.

While Apple’s first Bronx store will be at The Mall at Bay Plaza, it may just pave the way for the first Whole Foods, the first Trader Joe’s, and so on and so on.

But for now, Apple fans have September 24th to look forward to.

The Bronx’s first mobile bookstore finally hits the road

Ed García Conde

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September 10, 2021

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The Bronx’s first mobile bookstore finally hits the road

Back in 2019, Bronxite Latanya DeVaughn revealed her plans for bringing a mobile bookstore to The Bronx that would travel across the borough with the ability to serve communities lacking such a critical resource.

It was immediately met with widespread support from not just across the borough and city but the country, with folks immediately reaching out asking how they could help or be a part of this project.

*A mother and her daughter browsing through the collection at Bronx Bound Books*

Now, after almost two and a half long years, most of which was through the COVID-19 pandemic, Bronx Bound Books has a fully operational bus and is already in operation across the borough.

This past Saturday, the bus made its debut at Clinton High School outside the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center, where it will be every first and fourth Saturday of the month from 10 AM to 3 PM until November 13th.

Residents were already enjoying the novelty of a mobile bookstore with parents and their kids going through the wide selection of offerings Bronx Bound Books has on its shelves.

“Before, when it would start raining, I would have to pack up my books and end my day early, but now I can just continue inside the bus,” said DeVaughn, who has been popping up at various locations across the borough without a bus until now.

*Latanya DeVaughn shows us around the mobile bookstore*

And although the bus isn’t complete as to what she would want it to look like, she said she could no longer keep waiting for it to be perfect and decided to do a soft launch as is.

DeVaughn still wants to paint the bus’s exterior and have an artist and the community partake in the process; however, an exact timeline for that is still in the works.

Since the beginning when the concept of the mobile bookstore was launched in May of 2019, the bookstore was unlike many other independent bookstores. The community truly has taken ownership and pride in the concept, whether through volunteering, donating books, or making financial contributions, they have been an integral part of Bronx Bound Books.

And it wasn’t accidental, but by design that it has been that way as DeVaughn wanted this space to be truly for the community.

You can catch Bronx Bound Books on the first and second Saturdays of the month in front of the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center at DeWitt Clinton High School from 10 AM to 3 PM until November 13th; each Sunday at the Riverdale Y Sunday Market from 9 AM to 2 PM until December 19th; and Every Wednesday at the New York Botanical Garden’s Farmer’s Market from 10 AM to 3 PM.

*Bronx Bound Books has a wide variety of books available with a focus on books by authors and stories that are reflective of the community.*

Bronx Bound Books will also be on City Island on Saturday, September 18th, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Clipper Coffee at 274 City Island Avenue (raindate Sunday, September 19th). This event is sponsored by City Island Rising and Clipper Coffee. If you’d like to donate your own books, you can do so by dropping them off at Clipper Coffee or Archie’s Tap and Table.

Every neighborhood deserves a bookstore, and now, thanks to Bronx Bound Books, every neighborhood in The Bronx can finally have one.

Remnants of Hurricane Ida Dumps Historic Flooding on The Bronx and Region

News
Weather

Ed García Conde

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September 2, 2021

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Remnants of Hurricane Ida Dumps Historic Flooding on The Bronx and Region

September 1st, 2021 will go down as an unfortunate, historic weather event in The Bronx, New York City, and the region.

Remnants of Hurricane Ida drenched the area in torrential rains which activated the first-ever flood warning for New York City and dumped 3.15 inches of rain in Central Park in just one hour last night.

The morning after, a flooded Crotona Park with abandoned cars/Image courtesy of Damian Griffin

Across The Bronx and the city, subway stations flooded causing a halt of the system, roadways flooded stranding cars and passengers, with the Bronx River Parkway turning into an actual river as the river itself overflowed its banks.

At The Hub in Melrose, a roof collapsed at a vacant building that once housed Glory Shoe store at Third Avenue and 153rd Street. Firefighters were at the scene making sure no one was inside the building and pedestrians steered clear.

Stranded cars in a flooded Crotona/Image courtesy of Damian Griffin

On Facebook, hundreds of people in the East Bronx reported major flooding in basements with pumps unable to keep up with the pace of the massive amounts of rain falling per hour.

Not even residents living above ground on higher floors were spared flooding in apartment buildings as rooftop drainage failed, spilling over the water down elevator shafts and stairwells.

And around 9PM, The Bronx was hit with a tornado warning as conditions for such an event were just right. Luckily, the borough was spared that.

Sounds apocalyptic? That’s because in many ways it’s just a look at what to expect in the near future and no longer the distant future as climate change continues to take hold of our planet.

How can we deny that this is happening when in less than two weeks, New York City shattered the record for most rainfall amounts in an hour?

The Major Deegan Expressway underwater/Via NYC Fire Wire

On August 21st when Hurricane Henri arrived in the New York City region, 1.94 inches of rain fell in just one hour making it the most ever recorded in one hour since records began in the 1800s.

Last night, as the remnants of Ida slammed New York City, 3.15 inches of rain fell in Central Park in just one hour obliterating the days-old record.

In total, 7.9 inches of rain fell in The Bronx according to data from ConEd and University of Albany’s weather station in the borough making it second only to Staten Island which saw 8.4 inches.

These types of events are supposed to be once-in-a-lifetime but here we are with two such events within 11 days. And lest not we forget Superstorm Sandy happened almost 9 years ago.

As of this afternoon, the death toll has risen to 15 across the metro area.

Below are just a few scenes of the chaos from last night’s historic flooding and the aftermath this morning.

#BREAKING: Severe flooding throughout The #Bronx… this is 95 at Bx River Pkwy. #abc7ny #ida pic.twitter.com/tDXX1DkSdt
— Josh Einiger (@JoshEiniger7) September 2, 2021

Our infrastructure is not ready for climate change, Bronx River Parkway edition pic.twitter.com/4vhhY302Mb
— Brian Kahn (@blkahn) September 2, 2021

my bronx basement apartment flooded. pic.twitter.com/ImE0Ya4bdx
— fran thee evangelist ✨ (@fgarlands) September 2, 2021

Tenants in NYC and especially the Bronx are devastated by abhorrent infrastructure. We need awareness! @ABC7NY @news12bx pic.twitter.com/GXoxbCLjSW
— 🐥 (@waveridderr) September 2, 2021

Bronx River at the parkway pic.twitter.com/ykekWLLONr
— Luke (he/him) (@donateyourpaint) September 2, 2021

Flood at Bronx River Forest disrupts the commute for moped rider pic.twitter.com/dc0LaWspjN
— Luke (he/him) (@donateyourpaint) September 2, 2021

#Repost from @lovingthebronx River Park – Lots of flooding and damage in The Bronx from hurricane Ida. Hoping everyone is safe 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/1Gx6Hyc7TB
— The Bronx Brand (@TheBronxBrand) September 2, 2021

The flood on the Bronx River Parkway is absolutely insane #nyc pic.twitter.com/dBDoiVySTT
— Josue Mendez (@yeswayjosue) September 2, 2021

As a state of emergency is declared in New York City and New Jersey, this guy is another level of chill!#Ida #Hurricane #ViralVideo #Manhattan #Flash Flood Emergency #flood #Bronx #Brooklyn #nycwx #NJwx #TORNADOEMERGENCY #climate pic.twitter.com/4HvtUPKQrn
— pragiya (@ucatchpragiya) September 2, 2021

Chipotle, Krispy Kreme Coming to The Hub

Ed García Conde

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September 1, 2021

0

Chipotle, Krispy Kreme Coming to The Hub

THE HUB—The popular Mexican-American fast-food chain Chipotle is opening up a second location in the South Bronx neighborhood of Melrose, and Krispy Kreme, one of America’s favorite donut shops, is opening its second Bronx location in the area as well.

Chipotle’s new location is currently under construction on Third Avenue between 151st Street and Westchester Avenue between CityMD and Footlocker, where Payless Shoes once stood.

Meanwhile, Krispy Kreme has taken over the corner at one of the busiest intersections outside Times Square, right outside the 3rd Avenue and 149th Street station on the 2 and 5 lines where 1800Fix had been in operation for almost three decades.

*Chipotle is coming to The Hub at 3rd Avenue, where Payless Shoes once stood.*

While many areas across the city have experienced significant slowdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, especially in parts of Manhattan like Midtown, the pace at The Hub has picked up considerably with little actual vacant storefronts.

As one of the busiest areas in the city in terms of pedestrian foot traffic, they should have plenty of hungry customers to keep them in business and perhaps will do better than the Starbucks on 149th Street around the corner, which closed after less than two years in operation.

Directly behind Chipotle, a ten-story office building and charter school are currently under construction, as well as La Central, where hundreds of residents are moving into as over 400 units of affordable housing recently became available.

That particular development is still under construction and, once completed, will contain just under 1,000 units of housing spread across five buildings.

*Meanwhile, Krispy Kreme has taken over the busiest corner in The Bronx, right outside the entrance to the 3rd Avenue and 149th Station on the 2 and 5 line*s

While many in the area have called for a greater variety in food options and some eagerly await the opening of these chains, there are others online in social media forums such as several Facebook groups who are not necessarily thrilled with the opening of more fast-food and junk food options given the health disparities that plague The Bronx, and in particular, the South Bronx.

The South Bronx has some of the highest rates of diabetes in the city and state, as well as obesity, along with the additional complications these bring with them, such as heart disease.

Options are great, but there needs to be a balance in healthy offerings for locals versus all the junk food they’re bombarded with daily.

One thing’s for sure, and that’s that these two franchises will survive where Starbucks failed, given the propensity for Bronxites to flock to such foods.

For those that want authentic, home-cooked, and real Mexican food, you can get your fill at local favorites, Xochimilco and La Morada.

As for the donuts at Krispy Kreme, at least they’re freshly baked in The Bronx where they are shipped to the rest of their stores in the city, but even that has a local alternative over at Capri Bakery on 149th Street near the corner of Morris Avenue which is where you’ll catch us grabbing freshly baked donuts.