We’ve been hearing a boom here and a boom there since April every now and again but since May, it’s been quite an extraordinary crescendo of fireworks going off across The Bronx and New York City.
Well maybe not extraordinary but definitely annoying.
According to Gothamist, 311 complaints for fireworks has increased by a mind-boggling 4,000% for the past two weeks compared to the same time last year.
According to 311 data analyzed Gothamist, during that same period last year there were only 21 complaints but these past two weeks have seen 849 such complaints across NYC.
In The Bronx, the 10463 zip code covering Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, and parts of Riverdale had the highest number of complaints in the borough and was one of the top 5 across New York City.
There’s no real answer as to why this is happening but I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to make the connection between boredom from being under basic lockdown due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
MELROSE—One of the most anticipated affordable housing developments in The Bronx, La Central, is officially accepting applications for 494 apartments ranging from studios to four bedrooms with rents as low as $395 for studios, $426 for 1 bedrooms, $521 for 2 bedrooms, $594 for 3 bedrooms, and $669 for 4 bedrooms—all within just steps of The Hub and the 3rd Avenue/149th Street Station on the 2 and 5 lines.
Lucky residents will enjoy such amenities like central HVAC systems, roof top terraces, stainless steel appliances, dishwashers, bike storage, community rooms, and even a resident garden program.
556 Bergen Avenue (left) and 600 Bergen Avenue (right) at La Central
The 494 apartments are spread across two buildings along Bergen Avenue at Westchester Avenue, 556 Bergen and 600 Bergen Avenue and represent the second and third buildings to open up at the massive five building development. Two more buildings have yet to break ground including a 25-story building at the northern end of the development.
Rendering of La Central
This latest phase of La Central to open up for the affordable housing lottery will also include a YMCA equipped with swimming pools, steam and sauna, basketball courts, fully equipped gym, and classrooms for a host of fitness classes.
Last year La Central’s first building with 160 apartments opened up at 626 Bergen Avenue with 60% of those units set aside for formerly homeless individuals with special needs.
Income requirements for La Central Buildings A and B
Once completed, La Central will have 992 apartments across 5 buildings making it one of the largest affordable housing developments in the borough.
600 Bergen Avenue
Its location at The Hub, the commercial heart of the South Bronx and the oldest shopping district in the borough is bound to change the character of a struggling commercial corridor dotted with mom and pop shops with national chains sprinkled in between.
With thousands of new residents living in the new complex once its open, the face of The Hub will never be the same again.
556 Bergen Avenue which will also house a massive YMCA.
This current phase is mostly for low to moderate income households, with 75% of the units reserved for those making 30, 40, 50, and 60% of the Area Median Income, 25% of the units (for a total of 121) are reserved for middle income families.
In order to apply, go to Housing Connect here and best of luck. You have until August 14, 2020 to apply so hurry up.
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.
Want a beautiful estate overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades but don’t want to leave New York City?
Well then The Bronx is just that place. Riverdale to be exact.
While many people do not associate such types of homes and neighborhoods with our borough, the fact is that Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, and Fieldston tucked away in the northwest corner of our borough is indeed The Bronx.
5501 Palisade Avenue in the Estate Area of Riverdale is currently on the market for $5,900,000 and is currently the most expensive single family home on the market.
That does look like a sweet property. Personally, I wouldn’t subdivide it.
Honestly just looking at the listing you can see why they’re asking a pretty penny for this home with stunning views of the Hudson and Palisades and in the area of social distancing, 1.69 acres of land helps keep the neighbors at bay and give you more than 6 feet distance from any visitor you may entertain on your property.
So what do you get for this price tag besides the views?
This 3,387 square foot Greek-revival home comes with 6 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, 2 fireplaces set on a generous 1.69 acre lot that is described as, “perfectly manicured park-like grounds.”
According to the listing, the lucky owner of this home can either keep the lot as is or tear it down and build one to four new homes on the expansive lot as per new survey and zoning analysis.
This more than likely is the reason as to why the listing has almost doubled in asking price in four years when it was listed for $3.2 million in 2016.
There is another nearby property at 4490 Fieldston Road even more expensive, however, it’s a package deal with two 1 acre lots included plus the main lot with a 2,224 square foot house all for $6,888,888.
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.
While many area residents are helping businesses destroyed by looting early last week, one particular pair stands out.
Ricardo Torres and his partner Ryan Ehrlich of the Queens-based contracting company, Paintworks & Decorating recently helped several local businesses in the affected areas rebuild their damaged stores free of charge.
After watching the videos of the looting along Fordham Road and Burnside Avenues, the two felt a need to reach out and use their skills to help out some of these businesses and spread positivity. “I just want to bring positivity back. Everybody is locked down because of quarantine, depressed, stressed out and I just want to give positive energy and help out, and that’s all I’m interested in doing,” Torres told News12 The Bronx.
Before and after at WK Multiservices/Images via Paintworks & Decorating
According to Alison Jaquez, co-owner of H&H Mobile, getting the store back up and running would have taken several months. But now, thanks to these good samaritans this small business in The Bronx has a headstart on the road back to recovery.
To date, they’ve also helped Asencio Pharmacy on E 174th and Morris and WK Multiservices on the Grand Concourse and 182nd Street which cost Torres and Ehrlich $288 in materials.
At work at H&H
Back at H&H they spent $310 on removal of debris, patching up holes, and repainting the store.
Because of overwhelming positive feedback from people wanting to help, Paintworks & Decorating has launched a GoFundMe to cover the costs of materials only as they are donating their labor as well. If you’re interested in helping out, you can donate here.
Watch the full videos from CBS2 and News 12 The Bronx below:
In just over a month since launching service in The Bronx, the popular electric moped ride sharing service Revel has expanded its service area in The borough.
When they launched in late April they pretty much covered everything south of E Tremont and west of the Bronx River and now that service area has been pushed further north to Fordham Road and covers such neighborhoods as Belmont, Little Italy, West Farms, Crotona, Mount Hope, Morris Heights, Fordham Heights, Claremont Village, and Charlotte Gardens.
This expansion is also exciting as Revel launches their new mopeds which are painted a brighter blue to better stand out and has deployed 200 of these new vehicles in The Bronx before any other of their markets in the country.
In a press release issued by Revel, New York City Council Member of The Bronx Rafael Salamanca Jr said, “The Bronx has shown amazing resilience in surviving the peak of COVID-19 and coming back stronger than ever.”
“Now, with New York City starting to reopen and more people going back to work, we need to ensure that our communities feel safe and supported. A big part of this is making sure they have transportation options. Revel has become an integral part of our streets since coming here in April and I’m proud to help them grow into the Central Bronx.” added Salamanca Jr.
Revel’s expansion northward from E Tremont to Fordham Road.
Co-founder and CEO of Revel, Frank Reig said, “In the weeks since Revel first came to the South Bronx, demand has been off the charts and we’ve heard from so many users who love having a new way to get around,”
He then added, “Given this response, we decided together with Council Member Salamanca to expand up to Fordham Road. We’re excited to serve even more of the Bronx and debut our new moped design here.”
And off the charts demand has most certainly been.
Since their expansion into The Bronx, the company has recorded 25,000 trips that began or ended in the borough—that’s 15,000 since we reviewed them back in early May.
In fact, within days of our article, it became harder and harder to find one and everywhere you turn you see someone riding by on a Revel.
We ran into a fellow Revel user who told us she loves using them to get around.
This expansion is definitely something we welcome especially for a quick trip to Little Italy (the real one of course) to get some delicious raviolis at Borgatti, fresh mozzarella at Cada Della Mozzarella, or a nice olive loaf at Madonia Bakery.
Check out our extensive review of the system and enjoy your ride safely!
Now if only we can convince them to expand to the East Bronx where residents are eagerly awaiting.
As Citi Bike continues its expansion into The Bronx and Upper Manhattan, the company is now hiring for a number of different jobs.
There are currently 60 seasonal positions, paid hourly, open across four categories of employment within the Motivate division which operates Citi Bike under Lyft.
A recent Citi Bike installation on Melrose Avenue at The Hub
You can apply by following the links below to each job but hurry as they’re looking to fill these positions by June 22nd.
Bike Mechanic – 13 Positions- Seasonal Motivate is looking for an experienced Bike Mechanic to assist with all aspects of bike assembly, maintenance, and repair. This is a unique opportunity to join a bike fleet team that focuses on maintaining a bike share system while also putting an emphasis on exceeding the highest standard for service and safety. Training on technical and unique aspects of bike share bikes will be provided.
Battery Swapper – 14 Positions-Seasonal Motivate is looking to hire a battery swapper to join the growing eBike team. They will play a crucial role on the team as they travel throughout the city providing maintenance to Electric Bikes (eBikes) in the bikeshare system. This role will report to the Operations Management team and will require a driver’s license and someone who is comfortable/excited about working outdoors in all weather conditions.
Valets – 23 Positions- Seasonal As a Station Valet Attendant, you will take part in these innovative non-motorized operations and improve the usability of the Citi Bike systems. You will not only play an essential role for Citi Bike operations, but also be our customers’ “knight-in-shining armor” – helping them to check-out a bike to begin a trip, find an available dock to end their trip and provide personal greeting for customers enjoying the Citi Bike experience. Station Valets will be positioned at key high-demand areas, initially, across Manhattan. You will also have the opportunity to act as “the face” of Citi Bike, helping customers when issues arise and answering questions when necessary.
Assembly & Deployment – 10 Positions- Seasonal Motivate is looking for an Assembly Technician to play an essential role in the deployment of new stations and bikes in the New York market. You will be primarily responsible for loading and unloading station materials, assembling stations, and completing other tasks within the expansion team. As part of this position, you will receive basic training on station operations and may provide as needed support to the overall operation. The Assembly Tech will report to the Assembly and Deployment Operations Manager.
25 stations have so far been installed in The Bronx
To date, Citi Bike has installed 25 docking stations so far across Port Morris, Mott Haven, and Melrose in Community Board 1 which and they’re far from over. Once installation is complete in CB1 they’ll head on over to CB4 covering Highbridge and the Concourse.
SOUNDVIEW—Amazon has leased a 200,000 warehouse along the Bronx River owned by Prologis which was briefly occupied by Wal-Mart’s defunct online delivery service Jet.
Located just at Bruckner Boulevard along the river, this is the massive online shopping behemoth’s second Bronx warehouse after snagging 1300 Viele Avenue in Hunts Point early last year.
Business Insider reports:
“The space is the latest addition to the network of last mile and distribution facilities that Amazon has been amassing in and around the city for its e-commerce grocery and consumer goods businesses.
The Prologis warehouse at 1055 Bronx River Avenue as seen from Concrete Plant Park.
“The $1.2 trillion tech giant recently reported that its e-commerce operations experienced a “major surge” beginning in March as more shoppers migrated online while lockdowns were imposed across the country to combat the coronavirus pandemic.”
This latest Bronx acquisition will more than likely be yet another last-mile facility fulfillment center to continue to be able to make deliveries as quickly as possible including same-day deliveries.
The Bronx is becoming a hotbed of such last-mile warehouses with two massive facilities currently under construction.
At the old Whitestone Cinemas site, a first-of-its-kind 700,000 square foot warehouse is currently being constructed across two levels and up until recently was considered to be one is the largest of its kind being built. That was until another monster was announced in February of this year.
The proposed Bronx Logistics Center in Oakpoint.
Over in Oakpoint on 149th Street, a 1.24 million square foot warehouse spread across four levels was announced making it the largest in the region and the only one with direct rail access, which for the South Bronx is of critical importance to get as many trucks off the road.
Frankly we can’t continue to make the trade-off between jobs and clean air given our chronic asthma situation which is one of the causes of The Bronx having one of the highest rates of asthma.
Can we afford what will ultimately be more truck traffic through our streets?
Plans have been filed with the Department of Buildings for a new, 12-story residential development at 299 E 161st Street in Melrose just half a block from Morris Avenue and Bronx County Hall of Justice.
The site is currently occupied by several vacant homes, actually, the last houses left on 161st Street in that neighborhood and will be replaced with 154 apartments across 146,000 square feet.
Rendering of 299 E 161st Street.
No other information has been made available as to what type of development but more than likely it will be affordable housing given the area. There will also be retail space on the ground floor.
The new development will rise at the site of the houses to the right.
The site is also adjacent to Montefiore’s clinic and is just a two block walk to the Melrose Metro North Station.
No details on when the development will break ground.
While it’s not the busway lie 14th Street in Manhattan which we advocated for here in The Bronx earlier this year, it’s a start: The Bronx will be getting new dedicated bus lanes along 2.7 miles of 149th Street.
City Hall announced today that work will begin this month to reconfigure 149th Street to accommodate bus lanes in either direction which will help speed up bus services especially for essential workers to get to their destinations quickly and safely.
The bus lanes will stretch from River Avenue at the foot of the 145th Street Bridge and stretch across to Southern Boulevard covering most of the street which is one of the busiest east/west corridors in the South Bronx.
Last year the 19 bus, which travels across 149th Street, was yet again named the slowest bus in The Bronx
149th Street carries 55,000 passengers a day along four bus routes and connects to major intersections like The Hub and the 2/5 trains at 3rd Avenue and 149th Street as well as 149th Street and Grand Concourse on the 2/4/5, Hostos Community College, and Lincoln Hospital.
“As New York City emerges from the difficult days of COVID-19, our commitment to faster and more reliable bus service has never been more important, as buses serve a critical role — both in communities hit hard from the pandemic and by essential front-line workers,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.
“We are proud to undertake transformational work on some of the busiest bus corridors in the city, including 149th Street in the Bronx and on 14th Street in Manhattan, where the busway has been such a tremendous success. We look forward to working with our partners at the MTA to get these transformational changes finished this year.”
We sincerely hope that this is a beginning step towards converting 149th Street into a full car-free busway like 14th Street.
As New York City businesses that are allowed to reopen under Phase 1 as per New York State guidelines opened their doors, many at The Hub in The Bronx are simply ignoring the guidance provided to safely do so.
Some of these businesses even continued to operate during the shutdown despite the threats of fines.
Some businesses along Third Avenue have been open all along with the gate raised halfway just to give the illusion that they are closed.
Conversations with several of these owners who do not wish to be identified simply revealed that most were frustrated with government response to the coronavirus pandemic and lack of assistance to small businesses. Businesses in The Bronx were particularly neglected during the first round of disbursement of $8 million relief loans which of which 66% went to Manhattan business and less than 1% went to Bronx businesses—a paltry $80,000.
This left many business owners ignoring social distancing and shut down regulations in order to make ends meet.
Others have been adhering to strict curbside pick up only.
It was either that or lose their businesses entirely. Either way it was another indication that whatever systems were supposed to be in place to project everyone was either simply not working or didn’t exist.
Now on the first day of Phase 1 reopening in New York City after almost 3 months of shutting down all but essential businesses and services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses that are supposed to be providing ONLY curbside pick-ups are simply ignoring the guidance and allowing people to come inside and shop around.
A customer waiting for his purchase at Gamestop on Westchester Avenue at The Hub.
Some are doing so by practicing social distancing guidelines limiting the number capacity by restricting entrance to anywhere from 2 to 5 people depending on the size of the stores while others are just letting people in like pre-coronavirus days.
But where do we place the blame?
Can’t really fault them for struggling to survive given that they still have to pay rents on their storefronts, feed their families, pay rents or mortgages where they live.
This is what happens when we let capitalism and corporate greed elect our politicians and write out laws: The 99% gets shafted.
It’s not that they want to work during a deadly pandemic is that they have no choice with zero protections and functional healthcare system to lean back on.
Hopefully in two weeks we won’t see increases in hospitalization rates due to the coronavirus.
At least most were wearing their masks inside stores.
Others offered mixed-messages of curbside only but you can only come in with a mask…
Some stores simply didn’t even bother with social distancing even though they are not supposed to have anyone inside.
Some businesses along Third Avenue have been open all along with the gate raised halfway just to give the illusion that they are closed.
Others have been adhering to strict curbside pick up only.
A customer waiting for his purchase at Gamestop on Westchester Avenue at The Hub.
A busy Monday at The Hub
Despite guidance saying that stores should only provide curbside pick up only, many were open for customers to simply walk in.
The streets of The Hub were almost as busy as usual pre-pandemic days.
On Sunday, June 7, hundreds of protesters gathered at Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse and marched down the famed boulevard towards the Bronx County Courthouse at 161st Street as protests continued for almost two weeks now throughout the city and the country.
This march came at the heels of more police brutality: Thursday night’s kettling of peaceful protesters in Mott Haven 15 minutes before the 8PM curfew not allowing them to leave and then proceeding to beat the protesters and pepper spray them.
It was an utterly unprovoked attack that left a number of people brutally injured due to the gang of thugs known as the NYPD.
Yesterday’s march continued to Harlem after a pit-stop at the courthouse gathering more people along the way.
Watch the videos below from PIX11 News and News12 The Bronx:
After almost 14 years filled with love, I had to say goodbye to my beloved dog and princess and the unofficial mascot of Welcome2TheBronx, Kanela.
Kanela, a red-headed Siberian Husky, was as Bronx as they got. She would always walk the beat around with me in our South Bronx neighborhood of Melrose and surrounding areas as I’d scope the latest happenings and potential newsworthy items.
Or, when simply going to the bodega or supermarket.
Kanela looking out at me while I was on the fire escape…how Bronx.
Most of our days began with those long, almost 2 mile walks whenever the weather permitted.
At home, she lived with several other cats throughout the years, a few who I’d rescue off the street on our block as kittens and she’d quickly adopt them.
Her last snow this winter.
This big wolf-like dog with giant paws would gently lick these babies clean and play mother to them.
She was my perfect partner in providing a new home to our cats.
But as most big dogs do when they age, their mobility suffers and they begin to slow down.
About two years ago she could no longer go on our long walks so they started shortening. And shortening.
Until finally, we rarely left a 4 block area as it was too much for her.
Kanela with Elton, her best friend and a cat I rescued on Elton Avenue when he was a kitten.
But still she was playful and a fighter.
Last year she was diagnosed with pancreatitis and her prognosis wasn’t looking good plus her hip displasia was really starting to hurt her.
But still she forged ahead. The vet said she wasn’t ready yet.
By January of this year she could only go back and forth on our block. She could and would play with locals and the other dogs but not for long.
For a year now I was carrying her up and down 5 steps to the lobby because she could no longer climb or go down them at all.
Ten days ago she got worse and was in severe pain. I took her to the vet at Bronx Veterinary Center and after several tests it was revealed that her condition had gotten worse plus several other unexpected complications were revealed.
With her other best friend, Tux, a cat I rescued outside out building.
He said it was a decline from here but to take her home with pain meds and assess the situation.
But she wasn’t improving.
Yesterday, surrounded by love, my friend, the cats and my dad, she passed away peacefully thanks to At Home Veterinary’s Dr Jonathan Leshanski, who performed the ultimate act of kindness for my baby.
It is the most painful decision we make as caretakers of our pets. It’s not one that’s made easily but when we take a pet, it’s part of that unspoken contract between us and nature: Give them a good life and when the time comes, help ease their transition.
Yesterday morning we shared our last sunrise together. For a brief second when I took this pic, she looked happy and pain free. But it was only a brief second.
But the contract comes with the ultimate price: We take away their suffering by transferring that pain into our hearts when we say goodbye.
Goodbye my sweet princess, my darling girl. You made me a better person and made everyone who saw you in The Bronx smile and laugh.
