After serving the residents of the South Bronx for over 30 years, Concourse Plaza Multiplex has announced that it will close its doors for good next month on May 28th.
The closure will leave The Bronx—a borough of 1.4 million residents—with just one movie theater, the AMC Bay Plaza Cinema in Co-op City.
Once upon a time, you could walk or take a short trip within The Bronx to go to the movies. Growing up in the late 70s and 80s, I recall taking trips to Teatro Puerto Rico on 138th Street to watch He-Man with friends when it came out in 1987.
Moviegoing was an easy form of entertainment for kids and families alike.
When we wanted to get fancy, we’d take a drive to the now since demolished, Whitestone Cinemas which was torn down five years ago to make way for a futuristic last-mile warehouse.
Around the same time that the Whitestone closed, so did the American Theater in Parkchester leaving The Bronx with just two movie theaters: Concourse Plaza Multiplex in Melrose and AMC at Bay Plaza.
Now, with the coming closure of Concourse Plaza, a borough with a population of 1.4 million people that would make it the 7th largest city in the country if it were its own city, will only have one theater to serve its entire population.
Getting to Bay Plaza from the South Bronx isn’t an easy commute so residents will just go to Manhattan movie theaters that they can get to in less than 20 minutes versus the long trek to Co-op City.
The announcement made by the theater on social media
If The Bronx is where it’s at and is booming as many politicians would like you to believe, then why, can’t a borough of 1.4 million residents, keep a movie theater? It’s not like we don’t go to the movies.
This is just another insult in a long line of insults to Bronxites being snubbed much like when Barnes and Noble abandoned the borough and left us without a bookstore.
New York City is facing an affordable housing crisis and nowhere is this more apparent than in the northernmost borough of The Bronx.
While the borough traditionally has had and continues to have some of the lowest median rents in the city, it is also a borough beset with economic hardships.
Hardships that contribute to it also having the highest poverty rate in the city and one of the most rent-burdened populations where residents pay well over 30% of their income in rent which exceeds the recommended guidelines for one to be able to have enough to cover other expenses and be able to also save for the future.
Estela, a two-building development with over 500 residential units in Mott Haven is anything but affordable.
Thousands of apartments have been constructed in the South Bronx neighborhoods of Port Morris and Mott Haven along the Harlem River Waterfront but unfortunately these are market rate, luxury housing—housing which residents in The Bronx aren’t clamoring for or in need of.
The construction boom that the South Bronx has experienced in this area isn’t one that is benefiting local residents who need it the most hence why many units remain vacant even years after completion of such luxury developments.
In order to solve this housing crisis that we find ourselves in, the city needs to speed up construction of truly affordable housing in the borough and this can be accomplished in several ways.
Utilizing Wasted Space
One of the first ideas that come to mind, and this isn’t a new one and has been floated by many over the past years, is for the city to take over all the underutilized parking lots between 149th Street and Yankee Stadium along River Avenue.
These lots can be rezoned to accommodate thousands of units of truly affordable housing which can benefit from being near a busy transportation hub like the 2, 4, and 5 subway line at 149th Street and Grand Concourse as well as the 153rd Street Yankee Stadium Metro North Station.
In a dense urban area such as the South Bronx, such parking lots are a waste of space that can be better utilized to help alleviate the housing crisis faced by the borough.
Meanwhile, a few blocks over along 149th Street at Park Avenue, a more creative solution to the crisis is possible if the State really wants to do something about it besides lip service.
Creating New Land
The Metro North railyards at 149th Street, where all three lines of the service East of the Hudson River converge, present an excellent opportunity to create a platform over them much like Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
Such a platform could also support thousands of new units of housing along with new, open, green recreational spaces that would benefit all.
Adding a platform above the Metro North rail yards along 149th Street and Park Avenue can potentially create thousands of new units of housing as well as much needed green open spaces.
A new, Metro North Station at this location, connected directly to the 149th Street and Grand Concourse station, would also make sense since this is where the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines all meet.
The same can be done over the massive subway yard in the North Bronx right next to Lehman College.
And while we’re talking about creating new land, this is where capping the Cross Bronx can also come into play.
If parts of the Cross Bronx are eventually capped where it makes sense to do so, some of the new land should be utilized to create permanently affordable housing along with new park land that will help restitch those neighborhoods that were destroyed by Robert Moses during the construction of what would become one of America’s most congested highways and a major contributor to the borough’s health issues.
Doing so will right a wrong that left lasting consequences felt in the borough for over half a century.
Rezoning Along the Planned 4 New Metro North Stations
Of all the scenarios discussed so far, the only one that has the possibility of actually happening is the planned rezoning along the four new Metro North Stations that are to be constructed in the East Bronx as part of the Penn Station Access Project that will, for the first time ever, connect Metro North commuters along the New Haven Line straight into Penn Station.
What the area around the future Morris Park Metro North Station looks like and what it could be
The planned stations will be located in the Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, and Hunts Point neighborhoods of the borough—areas that are considered transit deserts with limited access to rapid public transportation options and mainly have to rely on buses.
The city is taking advantage of this transformational project by recommending rezonings around the surrounding location of the future stations with a strong focus on the Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest sites.
East Tremont along the proposed Parkchester/Van Nest Station can benefit with new housing as well under the proposed rezoning plan.
If passed, it has the potential of creating of 7,500 new units of housing—housing which is desperately needed in the borough—that is centrally located around a transportation node.
Morris Park is the medical and life sciences heart of The Bronx and one of the largest such hubs in the city with, according to New York City Planning, over 23,000 jobs within half a mile of the future Metro North Station.
The immediate area surrounding the planned station, as well as spots along the East Tremont corridor near the planned Parkchester/Van Nest station, has many underutilized lots that can be better maximized to serve a larger population if rezoned.
But with this and any of the other possible pathways towards alleviating the housing crisis in The Bronx, all of them must have a commitment to not just “affordable” housing in name but truly affordable housing that local residents can qualify for.
Oftentimes, affordable housing is created but isn’t truly affordable to those in most need. One only needs to look at the current offerings on New York City’s Housing Connect in The Bronx to see that almost every single development on the site currently are market-rate luxury apartments disguised as affordable.
Also, affordable homeownership opportunities MUST be a part of all of these as we cannot simply rely on rentals to escape this crisis.
The rezoning around the future Metro North stations at Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest must also include options for affordable homeownership whether it be through co-op or condo ownership.
Offering rentals only is simply unacceptable and just continues to perpetuate the cycle of reliance on landlords for housing and all the issues that comes along with it including uncertain futures due to rent increases and the likes.
We have options to alleviate the housing crisis, we just need leaders and elected officials who have the will to think big and do the right thing.
As millions of Americans across the country engage in Earth Day activities and celebrations to raise awareness on environmental issues such as pollution, environmental justice, and even more so as of late, climate change, The Bronx, unfortunately, takes center stage with being the borough that is plagued with many of these issued more disproportionately than any of the other five boroughs that make up New York City.
Just a few weeks ago, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice released the first ever comprehensive study on environmental inequality across the city.
And it was no surprise, at least to many Bronxites—especially those who work within environmental justice in the borough—that The Bronx topped the list in several categories.
Some of the findings in the report indicated that:
Low-income Bronx residents report the highest rates of transit hardship across the five boroughs
Residents in the Bronx experience both the highest rates of food insecurity and the highest rates of diet-related diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Exposure to polluted water was highest in New York City neighborhoods such as the Southeast Bronx due to stormwater flooding
The Bronx also had several areas with high heat vulnerability that has been exacerbated with rising temps due to climate change.
These are just some of the issues that, unfortunately contribute to the borough continuing to top the charts in such reports.
Concrete Plant Park, a former concrete manufacturing plant along the Bronx River is one of the many success stories of reclaiming once polluted industrial lands along the river and converting them into open, recreational spaces for Bronxites
It’s also the reason why it’s so important to support the many grassroots organizations within our borough, orgs that have been founded from the very people living through these conditions who sought to make the borough a better place for all and leave it just a little better than they found it, so that they can continue to elevate these issues to the forefront lest they be forgotten and neglected by our government.
Organizations like The Bronx River Alliance, which this year is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Bronx River Restoration Group, that has turned the river into a literal sewer and dumping ground into one of the most successful environmental stories in the city.
Since the group’s inception, over 20 acres of new parkland have been added to the borough along the Bronx River as well as the rehabilitation of New York City’s only fresh-water river that has seen the return of wildlife such as the first beavers in the city in over 200 years, fish, oysters at the mouth of the river, and yes, even dolphins who came to visit last year and frolic in its waters.
None of this could have been done without the people power of the borough.
Other organizations in the borough that have worked tirelessly to right the wrongs of environmental injustices are groups like South Bronx Unite, which was founded over a decade ago when area residents united against a sweetheart deal given to FreshDirect to move its truck-intensive operations to the South Bronx waterfront.
The move eventually added thousands of extra trucks to an area that was already suffering from some of the highest rates of pollutions in the city and some of the highest rates of asthma not just in the city but in the country.
Despite FreshDirect succeeding in moving to the South Bronx, this did not stop South Bronx Unite from continuing the fight for environmental justice in the area and since then, has continued to work for a better South Bronx for all.
Speaking of air pollution, we can’t talk about the subject of environmental justice without talking about The Cross Bronx Expressway which like an ugly scar, tore the borough in half and, along with its creation, displaced roughly 40,000 residents and destroyed neighborhoods along the way.
Imagine a Cross Bronx Expressway that’s mostly covered and being able to walk across a park to the other side of the neighborhoods that it cut decades ago in the name of “progress”.
For the past several years, Nilka Martell, founder of Loving The Bronx, has advocated for “capping The Cross Bronx” which would, in areas where possible, plate over one of the busiest highways in the nation and creating new green spaces above to help restitch the neighborhoods that were bisected with its creation.
Air pollution along the infamous thoroughfare is among the worst in the city contributing to some of the worst asthma rates in nation.
What all these groups have in common is the indomitable spirit of the people of The Bronx who, facing inequities and more obstacles than the average New York City neighborhood, won’t take no for an answer and utilize their collective power to bring about positive change in the borough.
It’s the same spirit that rebuilt the borough when the the city abandoned it in the 70s and 80s.
Although we celebrate Earth Day once a year just remember that for many in The Bronx it’s not just a day of action but a literal way of life that seeps into what they do 365 days of the year to leave our beloved home better than what we inherited.
So next time you enjoy a nice walk along The Bronx River, remember that you can do so because of ordinary people just like you and me, did extraordinary things decades ago so that you can do so.
A decades-long dream to connect The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn directly by a subway or rail was derailed last year when Governor Kathy Hochul dissed The Bronx by mandating that the Metropolitan Transit Authority begin an environmental review for the Interborough Express but only to connect Queens and Brooklyn.
Proposed stops on the Interborough Express with only Brooklyn and Queens being considered/Via Governor’s Office
As originally proposed decades ago, the then Triboro Rx line would’ve spanned 24 miles stretching from Co-op City in The Bronx down to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn without having to go through Manhattan and thus connecting millions of residents.
Now, the New York State Assembly appears ready to right this wrong with yesterday’s release of their recommended changes to Executive Budget for 2024-25.
Rendering of a station along the Interborough Express/Via MTA
According to the Assembly Budget Proposal SFY 2024-25 for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Assembly modifies, “…the Executive appropriation of $68 million for feasibility studies for the Second Avenues Subway — Western Expansion and for the Interborough Express (IBX) project, by including a requirement that the MTA also study the feasibility of connecting the IBX to the Bronx.”
Excerpt from the recommended changes by the NYS Assembly to the Executive Budget/Via NYS Assembly
When the announcement was made last year that The Bronx was to be left out of the study, many bemoaned the typical lack of foresight and willingness not to think big by the state when it comes to such potentially transformative projects that almost always do not include the borough.
While we are getting four new Metro North Stations in the East Bronx that will connect residents straight into Penn Station as well as points north into Westchester and Connecticut, the borough has been clamoring for easier access into Queens and Brooklyn for decades.
Manhattan may be the traditional core of New York City but more than 50% of jobs created in the city since 2014 have been in The Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn—which happen to be home to over 6 million residents that accounts for roughly 75% of New York City’s population—all of who do not have a direct connection other than buses and cars.
The original 24-mile, Triboro Rx line as proposed by the Regional Plan Association/Via RPA
A true Interborough Express connecting the three boroughs would connect dozens of subway lines and several rail lines as well that would provide a seamless connection for millions.
And yes, let’s face it, it would be far more transformative of a transit project that would have a far greater impact on the majority of residents than the Second Avenue Line which is exponentially more expensive due to the fact that the tunnels have to be dug which, when the second phase is completed, would have a price tag of well over $10 billion for just a handful of new stations.
The Interborough Express, with dozens of stations, has been estimated to cost a fraction of that due to its proposed construction along existing rail lines.
If this budget is approved as is, it is imperative that our elected officials fight to make sure it gets done because it isn’t about can it be done but do our elected officials have the political will to spend the necessary monies from our tax dollars that will actually benefit us.
In what is believed to be the largest donation to a medical school in the United States, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Morris Park neighborhood of The Bronx, has received a $1 billion gift from a former professor at the institution.
The Michael F. Price Center for Genetic and Translational Medicine and Harold and Muriel Block Research Pavilion, 2008/Courtesy of Albert Einstein College of Medicine
93 year old Ruth Gottesman, who is also the current chair of the Board of Trustees at the medical school, made the donation after inheriting a large stock portfolio from her late husband of 72 years who instructed her to, “do whatever you think is right with it”.
Gottesman had no idea that her late husband, David Gottesman, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, had a sizeable portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock that he had made as an early investment in the company.
Ruth Gottesman, EdD, former professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the current chair of the Board of Trustees at the institution, recently donated $1 billion to the school / Image Courtesy of Albert Einstein College of Medicine
While we can measure the impact in dollars of Gottesman’s generous and historic donation of $1 billion to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the most obvious impacts are perhaps immeasurable given the fact that most doctors have well over $200,000 in medical school debt when they begin their occupations—a barrier that undoubtedly prevents many qualified students to forgo their dreams of becoming a doctor and choosing another profession altogether.
When Gottesman made the announcement at the college, the med school students jumped for joy and screaming in shock of the generous gift, many were visibly emotional and even crying tears of joy at the announcement.
It also goes unnoticed that this gift isn’t going to one of the more prestigious medical schools in Manhattan which have commutatively and collectively have received millions if not billions of dollars in donations throughout their existence but it is going to a medical school right here in The Bronx, the poorest borough in the wealthiest city in not just the country but in the world.
How many Bronx children have dreamed of becoming a doctor but due to financial circumstances didn’t bother to apply? There are only a limited number of scholarships and not everyone is eager to take on the debt of student loans that will burden them for decades to come to achieve that dream.
Now, students in The Bronx who apply themselves in school and have the smarts to get into medical school, have one right in their home borough they can attend for free.
According to a press release from Einstein College of Medicine, “This donation radically revolutionizes our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it. Additionally, it will free up and lift our students, enabling them to pursue projects and ideas that might otherwise be prohibitive. We will be reminded of the legacy this historic gift represents each spring as we send another diverse class of physicians out across the Bronx and around the world to provide compassionate care and transform their communities,” said Dr. Yaron Tomer, the Marilyn and Stanley Katz Dean at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Gottesman could’ve done whatever she wanted to but she chose to put it to where it would make the biggest impact and also where her heart has been for over half a century since she first began her career at Einstein back in 1968.
Another commendable action by Gottesman is that she requested the name of the school not be changed in her honor but rather to keep the name that Einstein himself allowed to be used and is also believed to be the only institution he ever agreed to being named after him in the world—right here in The Bronx.
Free tuition at Einstein will be in perpetuity and begins August of this year.
In a city as great as New York, it’s hard to believe that we don’t actually have a public observatory for the average resident to be able to stargaze and enjoy the heavens above. But that won’t be the case for much longer.
The 12 foot observatory will soon call The Bronx home/Via Amateur Astronomers Association of New York
Thanks to an aggressive push by the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York for the past few years, which we wrote about back in 2022, that is all about to change.
After negotiations with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the agency has approved the installation of the small observatory in Jerome Park that will be operated by the association with Bronx High School of Science students having exclusive access during school hours.
Once completed and open, Bronx and city residents will have free access to the observatory and opened seven nights a week completely free of charge.
Jerome Park Reservoir will be the home of NYC’s first public observatory / Via Amateur Astronomers Association of New York
The observatory itself is actually quite small and not a large structure by any means and is about the size of a phone booth (remember those?). Construction is expected to begin some time in March and according to the association, should take about a month to finish given its relatively small size.
It’s really fitting that The Bronx will become the home of NYC’s first public astronomy given that one of the most famous astrophysicists of our time is none other than one of our very own, Neil deGrasse Tyson who not only called our borough home but is also a graduate of Bronx High School of Science.
Another famous stargazer from The Bronx is Carolyn C. Porco, a Bronx native who graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School and went on to become of the foremost experts on the outer planets with particular emphasis on Saturn and planetary rings.
For almost 200 years, many have tried to establish a public observatory in New York City but finally the Amateur Association of Astronomers of New York has succeeded where so many have failed.
Thanks to this great endeavor, the next great astrophysicist or astronomer may be a kid from The Bronx who got inspired by a trip to a free, public observatory right in their own backyard.
Residents across The Bronx and New York City woke up this morning to a city blanketed in light snow with an inch of accumulation since midnight and finally ending the longest dry-spell of significant snow in history falling in a single day.
It’s hard to believe but the last record of significant snow accumulation was February 13, 2022 when 1.6 inches of snow was recorded in Central Park.
The 701 day streak shattered the previous record which was broken on March 21, 1998 when the city went just over a year with 400 days without significant snow recorded.
A mother and child commuting in the snow in The Hub
But the lack of the white stuff in almost two years shouldn’t be too surprising given the fact that several years have been the warmest on record with 2023 coming in as the hottest in modern history since record keeping began.
Up until this weekend, we’ve had a relatively mild fall and winter with unseasonably warm temperatures and even flowers blooming in late December/early January at The New York Botanical Garden right here in The Bronx.
As someone born in the 70s and having experienced winters in The Bronx all my life, the past several years have been quite jarring with the lack of snow as the years pass us by. Typically, the city sees about 24 inches of snow during the winter season usually pretty spread out throughout the winter but now it seems we either barely get snow or we get it all at once in a few storms and that’s it.
But for now, it looks like we’re stuck with the seasonably cold weather as temps are forecast to plunge to the teens overnight through Sunday so maybe, just maybe, the warm spell has finally snapped, at least for winter.
In the meantime, Spring is around the corner with just 63 day left until the vernal equinox on March 19 so at least there’s hope for those who don’t like the cold.
A brand new development in the Mott Haven is now accepting applications for affordable apartments.
Located at 405 E 146th Street at Willis Avenue, Betances VI Family Apartments was constructed on NYCHA property that is part of the 1,000 plus unit Betances Houses of Mott Haven and replaced an underutilized 1 story commercial building was demolished to make way for the 15 story, 103 unit residential building.
405 E 146th Street aka Betances VI Family Apartments
Because it was constructed on NYCHA land, the development gives a preference to applicants from within NYCHA and also has several units set aside for those who qualify for Section 8 as well as offering a number of units with deep affordability.
The development is also located just a few short blocks from The Hub and the 2 and 5 subway stop at 3rd Avenue and 149th Street as well as the many bus lines that serve the immediate area.
Besides the typical amenities of shared laundry rooms and on-site security guard, Betances VI offers residents a community center, a children’s playroom, green spaces which include an outdoor terrace, and a bike storage locker room.
Available apartments range from one bedroom units as low as $617 a month to two-bedroom apartments at $728 a month for qualifying households making 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). There are also one, two, and three bedroom apartments available for households that qualify for Section 8. The rent for such units are set at 30% of the household income and will vary per household.
Betances VI Family Apartments is just a couple of blocks from The Hub
Breakdown of available units and income requirements are as follows (see website for full details and household size requirements):
30%
$617 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $24,515-$38,130
$728 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $29,383-$45,750
$672 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $27,703-$49,650
40%
$882 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $33,600-$50,840
$1,046 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $40,286-$61,000
$1,197 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $46,560-$70,040
50%
$1,146 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $42,652-$63,550
$1,364 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $51,189-$76,250
$1,564 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $59,143-$87,550
405 E 146th Street was constructed on the site of a single story commercial building that was owned by NYCHA that was mostly vacant for a number of years.
70%
$1,676 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $60,823-$88,970
$1,999 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $72,960-$106,750
80%
$1,941 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $69,909-$101,680
$2,317 a month for 2 bedroom units for housholds making $83,863-$122,000
$2,655 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $96,549-$140,080
Please note, for each unit, there are other requirements such as number of people per household and further income requirements based on household size so refer to the Housing Connect website for further details.
How to Apply
For those interested in applying, you have until February 13, 2024 and you can do so online or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: Betances VI Family Apartments c/o Lemle & Wolff, Inc. 5925 BROADWAY, BRONX, NY 10463
Remember, you can only apply ONCE and you may not apply both online and by mail. Applying more than once can and will disqualify you according to the lottery rules.
5% of units are set aside for individuals with mobility issues and 2% for those with vision and/or hearing impairments. 50% preference for residents of Community Board 1 (to see which community board you live in, click here), and 5% for New York City employees, and 25% for current NYCHA residents.
Also, please note: We are NOT connected with this or any other real estate developments and cannot assist you in obtaining an apartment so please do not contact us regarding these units.
MELROSE—The Bronx’s oldest commercial shopping district, The Hub is about to get its first luxury high-rise and it was only a matter of time before it happened given what’s been going on down by the Harlem River Waterfront.
The Jacqueline, located at 2980 3rd Avenue at E 153rd Street, the 15-story building is the first market-rate and luxury development in the neighborhood and is nearing completion after construction began over a year ago.
The Jacqueline, The Hub’s first luxury high-rise
Once complete, which should be by the end of the year or very early 2024, will feature 69 apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units.
According to marketing materials for The Jacqueline, the development will feature dishwashers in each unit, a doorman, a secure package room, as well as a bike storage room. A private gym for residents will be available on the second floor and as for outdoor space, residents will have access to a 2,900 square foot rooftop terrace.
Currently, rents for the units haven’t been finalized but according to marketing for the development, they are in the final phase of the rents which should be publicized at some point later this year.
Whatever they will be, based on what’s going on just blocks to the south in Mott Haven and Port Morris, we can expect the rents to be well out of the reach of the average resident of the area.
The Jacqueline is being constructed on what used to be two separate commercial buildings. Several years ago, the building on the right, housing Glory Shoes and Jackie’s Kids, suffered a roof collapse following the catastrophic rains and flooding dumped by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021
For the past several years, The Hub has been particularly hard hit with the opioid crisis and has unfortunately been one of the epicenters of the crisis in New York City and has seen its fair share of overdoses. One of the unfortunate realities of this crisis is the blatant open use of such drugs out in the middle of the street as those suffering from addiction openly use syringes for all to see.
The Jacqueline will be a tough sell for the kind of market they’re clearly seeking if prospective residents have to walk several blocks witnessing all of that just to get to and from their homes.
The presence of such a large-scale luxury development in Melrose might only be the beginning given and may be an indication that smaller developers are being priced out of Mott Haven given what’s happened there already in terms of gentrification.
Only time will tell if this development will usher in a new wave of such developments in Melrose and around The Hub.
While New York City’s Affordable Housing program via lottery has provided residents with many opportunities for truly affordable housing, every now and again we encounter a listing that is anything but affordable.
1258 Shakespeare Avenue is literally nothing special and as basic as basic comes for new construction/Via Housing Connect
Many luxury buildings that have been constructed on the Harlem River Waterfront in the South Bronx neighborhood of Port Morris have a percentage of units set aside for “affordable” which are anything but, but that’s to be expected in The Bronx’s ground zero for gentrification.
We recently came across a listing for 19 “affordable” 1 bedroom units listed on New York City’s Housing Connect with monthly rents listed at $3,126 for brand new one bedroom apartment for households making 130% of the Area Median Income which ranges from $107,178 to $165,230 a year depending on the household size.
The new development offers zero amenities and is more expensive than the one bedroom units being offered at the uber-luxury Bankside in Port Morris where the top rent for an “affordable” one bedroom unit is listed at $3,075 a month which gives you access to a host of on-site amenities like washer and dryers in each unit along with a dishwasher, a gym, media room, party room, recreation room, a business center, a children’s playroom, outdoor terrace, a rooftop terrace, and a concierge just to name a few.
Meanwhile, 1258 Shakespeare Avenue only offers air conditioning in each unit and that is it. Nothing else is offered for the outrageous asking rent of $3,126 for a one bedroom where the typical rent for similar-sized units is about $1,230 a month according to the Furman Center.
And this isn’t the only one in Highbridge that has questionable asking rents on the Housing Connect portal.
92 West 169th Street, another new construction development that is located around the corner from 1258 Shakespeare Avenue has 2 two-bedroom units with asking rents of $3,773 a month which is significantly more than the $3,400 a month being asked for a luxury two-bedroom at Bankside.
92 West 169th Street is offering two bedroom apartments for $3,773 a month.
Highbridge is an area that is classified as one of the most rent-burdened neighborhoods in the city with 36.3% of households paying above 30% of their income towards rent and the poverty rate is at 28.3%.
The fact that New York City continues to give subsidies to these developers that market “affordable” units to those making 130% of the AMI in areas that desperately need truly affordable housing needs to stop.
The entire affordable housing program needs to be revamped from the ground up and elected officials need to work for the people and not developers that are making it impossible for those with limited means to survive in their neighborhoods.
For over 150 years, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has captured the imagination across the globe and has been reinterpreted countless times in popular culture.
But now, for the first time ever, The Bronx will be home to a massive horticultural exhibition inspired by Alice’s magical journey “through the looking glass” set on the 250 acres of The New York Botanical Garden.
Beginning May 18, 2024 through October 27, 2024, visitors to the world famous New York Botanical Garden will be able to enter Wonderland: Curious Nature, an exhibit based on the on the magical tale along with its sequels, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There and will be guest curated by Jennifer R. Gross, PhD who is an art historian as well as an independent curator.
According to a press release from NYBG, visitors will be able to experience a variety of journeys, “encompassing mind-bending horticultural displays and mesmerizing and immersive art installations in and around NYBG’s iconic glasshouse, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building, and across the historic 250-acre grounds.”
If you ever wanted to wander through the rabbit hole and walk among larger than life installations that challenge visual perspectives, NYBG promises you’ll be able to do just that in Wonderland: Curious Nature!
The exhibition also promises to be not just a visual feast but also one for the tastebuds as you can partake in an, “imaginative meal or elegant afternoon tea at the Hudson Garden Grill, grab a quick bite at the Pine Tree Café, and discover whimsical pop-ups sprinkled throughout the visually stunning Botanical Garden landscape. Whether looking for a hearty meal, a sweet “unbirthday” treat, a savory nibble, or an inventive handcrafted cocktail, all will find something delightfully mad to spark their curiosity and whet their appetites.”
Over the past recent years, The New York Botanical Garden has produced some of the most fantastic exhibitions in New York City that blend the art world with nature including the works of Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Monet, Kusama, and Chihuly just to name a few.
And Wonderland: Curious Nature, is promising to perhaps be one of the garden’s biggest exhibitions ever given how universal the tale of Alice in Wonderland is to the world.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted as more details emerge about the exhibition.
Tickets go on sale February 1, 2024 and you can get them right here.
Photo Credit: The New City Island Bridge Facebook Page
The following is an Op-Ed by John Doyle, Kim Jones Woodruff, and David Diaz, board members of the community based non-profit group, City Island Rising.
As proud residents of City Island, we are passionate about our unique community. Like many Islanders, the tranquility that washes over us as we cross the City Island Bridge returning home is a feeling we cherish.
Our community’s history as the “Seaport of The Bronx” is deeply ingrained in our culture, evident in our yacht clubs, marinas, and boatyards, and in the countless vessels crafted here over the centuries.
So why, as New York City invests more into the NYC Ferry service, with routes seeing record ridership, is our maritime haven being excluded from this transportation network?
Change is inevitable and City Island has seen its fair share. Most residents no longer work in the boat-building industry, and a significant portion (about 9%) commute daily to Manhattan with some even traveling farther into Brooklyn. City Island commuters will tell you that their journey into Manhattan takes, at best, 90 minutes each way. Let that sink in for a moment – spending three hours, on a good day, traveling to and from work.
Devoting 12% of your day to commuting (even more if you discount sleep time) significantly impacts your quality of life. These challenges are a major obstacle in attracting and retaining young professionals to City Island, and revitalizing our nightlife and culture.
Unfortunately, those who are unsatisfied with their commutes are making the difficult decision to leave.
The NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) suggests that a ferry can trim the commute to Manhattan by about 30 minutes each way, offering us the gift of time — more moments with our families, to pursue passions, or to engage more deeply within our community.
But it’s not just about the commute. Even City Island residents who would not be using the ferry on a regular basis would benefit from the positive impact a ferry terminal could have on our community. Here’s why:
Revitalizing Our Economy:
A ferry could provide a boost to our local businesses. Ferry riders would arrive on foot and are more likely to explore City Island Avenue, breathing new life into our local shops. Currently, the majority of visitors arrive by car, park in a restaurant’s lot, dine, and then leave without visiting many of our small businesses.
Essentially, we have two different economies that coexist but are not interconnected. Our main street is still grappling with the aftermath of the ’08 recession, and many storefronts remain vacant or underutilized. In fact, the majority of City Island local stores close by 9pm.
By arriving via ferry, visitors would have the opportunity to fully experience City Island and the small-town feel that attracts so many of us. The influx of foot traffic could bring scores of new customers into our shops, revitalize local businesses, and encourage extended business hours. It would create jobs and strengthen our local economy.
Alleviating Traffic Concerns
Traffic is a well-known annoyance on City Island. While some make baseless claims that building a ferry terminal will lead to more traffic and parking problems, the experts at the EDC say otherwise.
They argue that people are incredibly unlikely to drive 20 minutes out of their way and search for parking when they can choose other terminals with closer parking or use Metro North. Moreover, this ferry could potentially reduce traffic.
It offers an exciting new way for people to visit City Island and appreciate its nautical heritage.
Which option sounds more attractive to visitors: sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic with vehicles spewing exhaust everywhere or visiting City Island via our scenic waterways on a beautiful day?
Expanding Opportunities for Youth
The ferry could open up new educational horizons for our students. Easier access to different schools and institutions can significantly benefit our youth, and in turn, lessen the burden on parents who drive their kids to school every day.
For many years, City Islanders have complained about the lack of opportunities for young people within the community. A ferry terminal would provide them with an easier way to explore neighboring communities while making it easier for others to visit here.
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness
As a Zone 1 evacuation area, having an alternative means of evacuation via a ferry could be a crucial safety net in emergencies. Our emergency exits within Pelham Bay Park (along with some City Island streets) currently flood under routine rainfall.
A ferry would provide another way for Islanders to escape in the case of an emergency, particularly if something happens in or around the single escape point, the City Island Bridge.
We shouldn’t wait for tragedy to strike before developing alternative evacuation routes.
While the island’s diversity of opinion is a strength, it’s essential to base our decisions on facts, figures and accurate information. The concerns some have about street parking due to a ferry have been addressed by the EDC, indicating minimal impact.
Additionally, while there’s interest in a ferry at Orchard Beach, logistics suggest it might not offer the same benefits as a City Island service.
A City Island Ferry isn’t just a nod to our past but a bridge to our future. By integrating modern transport solutions with our maritime heritage, we can ensure that City Island remains a thriving, connected community for generations to come. Let’s unite in support of this vision.
After all, to flourish, communities must adapt and evolve.
We encourage you to sign our petition to expand Ferry service to City Island here and to speak to the Bronx Borough President’s Office and your New York City Council Member.
Disclaimer:Comments, views, and opinions are that solely of the author and should never be misconstrued as that of Welcome2TheBronx or any other authors of this site. Welcome2TheBronx only edits articles submitted by readers for grammar and spelling leaving fact checking up to the author.Welcome2TheBronx encourages reader submissions for consideration for publication on our site. It is our mission to be able to provide a platform where Bronx residents can have their voices broadcast to a wider audience.To submit an article, email us at submissions@welcome2thebronx.com
