PORT MORRIS—A new waterfront park is now open to the public along the Harlem River in the South Bronx.
Located at the foot of the Third Avenue Bridge leading into Manhattan, the new waterfront park is part of the Bankside luxury development that is gentrifying the neighborhood but thanks to provisions within the Special Harlem River Waterfront Rezoning, any development within the rezoned area must provide a Shore Public Walkway.
A new waterfront promenade is now open to the public in the South Bronx
Eventually, this area will link to the greater network along the Harlem River Greenway that is currently under planning stages and will stretch for 7 miles from Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, down to Randall’s Island.
The new park offers plenty of seating and lounge deck chairs to sit back and enjoy the outdoors, sun, and the views of the Harlem River. According to a sign within the park, it’s open as late as 1AM.
The new waterfront park offers plenty of seating areas
While the new waterfront promenade must be made accessible to the public, there is currently no signage indicating its location provided by neither the developers nor the city making it almost feel like local Bronx residents who have lived there their entire lives aren’t wanted.
But Welcome2TheBronx being Welcome2TheBronx is here to rectify this and ensure that our residents get to enjoy this public resource that many residents across the city get to enjoy along their waterfronts.
For far too long, The Bronx has been cut off from our waterfronts so it’s important that residents are aware of such locations once they are opened.
While the overwhelming majority of local residents cannot afford to live at Bankside where rents are typically over $5,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, at the very least we can enjoy the waterfront park.
A few local residents have found the park but many don’t know it even exists
Currently, the only way to access the park is either by going through Third at Bankside at 2385 Third Avenue or on the other side of the bridge at Lincoln at Bankside. At the moment, you can’t travel between both sections of the park as the connection underneath the Third Avenue Bridge has yet to be constructed.
Every now and again there’s a property in The Bronx that catches the eye with its asking price and almost always, that home is in Fieldston.
And once again that’s exactly where the most expensive home on the market in The Bronx is located.
5020 Grosvenor Avenue in Fieldston is a massive 10,000 square foot home on almost an acre of land and even comes with a swimming pool/Via Corcoran
Located at 5020 Grosvenor Avenue, the 10,000 square foot Fieldston mansion, which was constructed in 2012, was listed 10 days ago for a whopping $7 million and features 7 bedrooms with 7 and a half baths, two fire places, a swimming pool all set on almost three-quarters of an acre of land, something that is unheard of in New York City except a handful of neighborhoods like Fieldston.
The mansion is also located at the 16 acre Villanova Heights, a fifteen home development that welcomed the first two mansions in 2009.
The home comes with two fire places/Via Corcoran
While it is currently the most expensive home on the market in The Bronx at $7 million, it is not, by far, the most expensive ever in the borough.
That honor goes to nearby 360 West 253rd, a massive 15,000 square foot home on 2.3 acres that was built for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Yes, you read that correctly. That property was listed for $15 million back in 2009 and by 2015 it was dropped to $10 million and finally sold in 2017 for just $6.25 million—a mere fraction of the original asking price.
The seven bedroom home also features seven bathrooms and a half-bath/Via Corcoran
At any rate, while 5020 Grosvenor may not have an interesting origin story like the Jesus mansion, it sure is a beautiful home that will make the family that can afford it happy.
Take a look at the listing and all the photos of your dream home here.
MELROSE—Ten years ago, the world famous—and anonymous—street artist from England named Banksy, left his mark in The Bronx during a month-long outdoor show in which he would tag at least one wall a day across New York City.
Now, the building on Elton Avenue and 153rd Street which is home to the mural that has been under a locked gate for 10 years, is coming down along as the owner is demolishing the buildings that occupy the lot.
The Banksy mural as seen several weeks ago when the gate was opened by a building representative.
History of the mural
On the morning of October 21, 2013, Melrose residents starting their morning commute through The Hub stumbled upon one of his most controversial pieces during his ‘Better Out Than In’ New York City “residency”—the child spray painting the words “Ghetto 4 life” while a butler holds a tray with spray paint.
Once avid Banksy fans found out the location, thousands descended upon a neighborhood they would otherwise never even think of coming to unless for a game or event at Yankee Stadium at the complete opposite end of the area.
Many residents complained, myself included, how not only the phrase, ‘Ghetto 4 life’ that Banksy chose for his Bronx piece being rather offensive and further negatively stereotyping the borough but also the fact that the South Bronx was and still is full of works by local, home grown graffiti artists, many of whom have also received world-wide renown yet none of these people would make their way to see those works.
By that first evening, the owner had hired security to guard the mural from vandalism as many graffiti artists around the city were destroying the works Banksy left behind. The guards even hid the mural behind make-shift curtains made from bed sheets.
Two days later, a gate was installed along with plexiglass over the section to protect it from any vandalism and damage. While the building owner said at the time his motivation to protect the wall wasn’t financial, let’s be real here—Banksy walls have been known to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars and one with such infamy like this Bronx wall probably would fetch a pretty penny.
Sale of the mural
Fast forward to the present day, while walking past the building, I noticed the gate had been opened and the mural was unveiled for the first time in almost 10 years. A gentleman saw my stop and take pictures and he immediately asked me if I was from the gallery.
He then explained that the building was going to be demolished to make way for a charter school and that the mural was going to be sold to a gallery but wouldn’t specify which gallery it was.
The representative for the building owner was there to figure out with the gallerist how to remove the wall.
The set of four buildings on Elton Avenue and 153rd where the Banksy mural is will soon be demolished to make way for a charter school.
At one point about a year after Banksy put up the mural, the owner was in the process to convert the building into market-rate apartments but that clearly never materialized and other than the stores on the ground floor, the buildings remained empty for over 40 years.
Patricia Wheeler Bozza, who grew up in Melrose and lived in one of the buildings at 649 Elton Avenue (651 Elton is the one where the Banksy ‘Ghetto 4 Life’ is located), told us she lived there from when she was born in 1947 until 1967.
“It was a railroad flat above stores and the rent started out at $27.30 a month and once we had radiators and risers, the rent rose to $43.80,” said Wheeler Bozza. “The bathtub was in the kitchen!” she added.
Since that conversation several weeks ago with the building representative, the remaining businesses on the ground floor have been shuttered and scaffolding has been erected to get ready for the demolition process.
While we have reached out to the owners, we have yet to receive a response as to what the future of the mural is and where it will end up.
It’s a shame that the mural just remained locked up for all these years no matter how one felt about it.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS—Fordham Landing, the mega development along the Harlem River in The Bronx, that was first proposed four years ago in 2019 by developer Dynamic Star, is nearing ground-breaking for construction of phase 1 of the development.
Rendering of Fordham Landing phase one with the taller community facility to the left/Via Dynamic Star
The development site, which is located along the Harlem River, is located directly south of the University Heights Bridge and Fordham Road and is bound to the east and west by the Major Deegan Expressway and the Harlem River and Roberto Clemente directly to the south.
The first phase is slated to have a 290,000 square foot community facility as well as 505 units of affordable and market-rate residential housing. As part of this phase, a new, 3,000 square foot entrance to the University Heights Metro North Station will be constructed and located within the community facility building.
The waterfront will also be developed to provide public accesss and once all phases of the development are completed, it will include a waterfront promenade that will connect with the Bronx Harlem River Greenway connecting Van Cortlandt Park to Randall’s Island along a 7-mile waterfront route.
Fordham Landing phase one site just below the University Heights Bridge/Via Google Streets
Originally, when the development was first announced four years ago, Fordham Landing was proposed to be a massive 5 million square foot, 2,800 residential unit development along with a life science center and even a hotel and a conference center spread across the entire development site, which actually begins just south of the Shops at Marble Hill and south to the University Heights Bridge, and had an estimated price tag of $3.5 billion dollars and would have made it the largest development in New York City since Hudson Yards.
However, since then, the proposal appears to have been changed a bit and the developer will first focus on phase one since that lot will not require rezoning.
In a statement to Welcome2TheBronx by Dynamic Star, the site north of the bridge will require rezoning and the company stated that, “…this property requires zoning changes and the program will be determined in close collaboration with the New York City Department of City Planning, the local community, and local elected officials.”
Meanwhile, there are concerns of how such a development can speed up gentrification in the area which already has one of the highest rates of rent burdened residents paying over 30% of their income towards rent.
Welcome2TheBronx hasn’t received word yet on exactly how affordable the units that will be set aside in phase one will be.
Construction is slated to begin by the end of the year and anticipated completion date some time in 2025.
Lidl, the wildly popular discount European supermarket, is finally opening up a store in The Bronx.
While shopping at the Bronx Terminal Market yesterday, we saw the announcement at the former Michael’s arts and crafts location in the mall which closed for good during the pandemic.
Ever since Lidl opened its first store in the United States in 2017 in Virginia, many New Yorkers familiar with the supermarket and big savings they offer back in Europe have been hoping for one to open nearby. And while the first New York City location opened on Staten Island in 2018, it was not accessible to most New Yorkers.
Lidl is coming to the Bronx Terminal Market
Eventually, location opened in Astoria and Harlem but still none in The Bronx.
Now, our borough will finally get another and much needed quality, discount supermarket especially given the inflation of the past several years.
Lidl is much like Aldi which also offers deep discounts on groceries and both operate on similar principles of carrying mostly store brands versus national brands (although Lidl tends to offer more national brands as well) which keeps prices down when compared to regular supermarkets.
Lidl operates with a no-frills approach. The store layout is typically simple, with products often displayed in their shipping cartons to reduce labor costs. With a focus on efficiency, the brand ensures speedy checkout processes and relies on a small but high-turnover range of products.
They also offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and a range of produce at affordable prices making them an attractive destination for such items.
One of the things that sets Lidl apart from Aldi, is that most stores have a bakery, usually located at the entrance, filled with freshly baked goods and honestly, the aroma is a bit too enticing easily bringing in customers just by good smells alone.
Both stores also were founded in Germany and quickly spread across Europe but where Lidl began operating in the US in 2017, Aldi has been in the US since 1976.
Such stores like Lidl are a welcomed relief for consumers thanks to the deep savings they offer. I’ve been a loyal shopper at Aldi in the Melrose neighborhood of the South Bronx and oftentimes my groceries cost almost 50% less when compared to other supermarkets. I’ve also shopped at Lidl in Harlem and simply love their wide variety of items as well.
Now, having Lidl AND Aldi in the South Bronx is the perfect compliment for discounted grocery shopping.
Currently there is no exact set date for their grand opening but we’ll make sure to let you know once we find out!
Hip hop, a vibrant cultural and artistic movement that began in the streets of New York City in The Bronx in the 1970s, has become one of the most influential and globally recognized genres of music today. Its roots are multifaceted, drawing from African, Caribbean, and Latino influences, and it has since grown to encompass various sub-genres, styles, and cultural phenomena.
It’s almost hard to believe that what started in The Bronx 50 years ago today, August 11, 1973, would eventually span into a global movement that has generated hundreds of billions of dollars (if not more) during the half a century it has existed.
Bronx Beginnings
In the early 1970s, a remarkable cultural movement was taking shape in the South Bronx, a neighborhood known for its diversity and the rich heritage of its residents, many of whom hailed from Caribbean and African roots. It was a time of great economic decline and urban decay, a period when the city itself seemed to be crumbling under the weight of neglect and social struggle. Yet, amidst this challenging environment, something incredible was happening: the birth of hip hop.
Hip hop, as we know it today, is a global phenomenon that has influenced countless artists, musicians, and creatives around the world. But its humble beginnings can be traced back to the streets of the South Bronx. It was here that the pioneers of the genre, such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash, first experimented with a new form of music and expression that would go on to reshape popular culture.
Kool Herc, widely regarded as the “Father of Hip Hop,” began hosting block parties in the Bronx, where he would showcase his unique DJing style. He would isolate and extend the breakbeats of funk records, creating a rhythmic foundation that captivated audiences. This new approach to DJing, now known as “breakbeat DJing,” became a defining element of hip hop.
But hip hop was not just about the music. It was a multidisciplinary movement that encompassed various art forms and self-expression.
The Four Pillars
Hip hop culture is traditionally recognized as having four main elements:
Rap (MCing) – vocalists, or MCs (Master of Ceremonies), began by introducing DJs and hyping up the crowd. Over time, this evolved into the rhythmic spoken delivery we associate with rap today.
DJing – manipulating and mixing records to produce new sounds and beats, creating the musical backdrop for rappers.
Breakdancing – a style of dance that emerged in tandem with hip hop music, characterized by acrobatic and rhythmic movements.
Graffiti – visual art, often in the form of spray-painted murals or tags on urban surfaces, that served as a medium for self-expression and commentary.
While many are familiar with Rap and DJing, Breakdancing and Graffiti had meanings beyond what most would think.
Breakdancing emerged from the creative energy of the South Bronx. It became a physical form of storytelling, combining acrobatics, athleticism, and rhythm. Breakdancers would gather in parks and on street corners, showcasing their skills and engaging in friendly battles that pushed the boundaries of what was possible.
Growing up in the South Bronx in the 70s and 80s, you couldn’t go a block without seeing someone with a boombox and someone or a crew Breaking on the streets.
Graffiti art, which was much derided and considered vandalism, was much more than that. It’s only been considered art in more recent decades. This pillar also played a crucial role in the early days of hip hop. Amidst the crumbling infrastructure of their neighborhoods, young artists saw an opportunity to transform their environment through vibrant artwork. Graffiti became a medium of expression and a way to claim a sense of ownership over the neglected spaces. These bold and colorful murals, often adorned with intricate lettering and symbolic imagery, became a visual representation of the determination and resilience that defined the South Bronx and its hip hop culture.
The Puerto Rican and Latino Influence
Oftentimes and almost always overlooked in the discussion of the birth of Hip Hop is the impact that the Latino community, particularly the Puerto Rican community had on the development of the genre.
The fact of that by the 1970s, the South Bronx was the largest Puerto Rican community outside of Puerto Rico. The mixing of cultures in the South Bronx and genres of music is what gave life to hip hop, and it is well chronicled in the documentary, From Mambo to Hip Hop which was produced by Elena Martinez (who is currently the Co-Artistic Director of the Bronx Music Heritage Center), and Steve Zeitlen.
Carlos Mendes who is Puerto Rican, is best known as DJ Charlie Chase was the DJ for the Cold Crush Crew, pioneers of hip hop and the first rap group to be signed by CBS Records.
You have major graffiti artists and crews like Crash that has been active since the nascent days of hip hop and Tats Cru, who’s founding, original members like Nicer, Bio, and BG183 who were active during that time (and continue to this day).
Then of course in later years you have icons like Fat Joe and Big Pun who have helped further shape the genre.
And of course, where would we be as viewers of the past if it weren’t for Joe Conzo Jr, a Puerto Rican photographer from the South Bronx who was there to document hip hop when it was still in its infancy? Joe Conzo Jr, the one called, “The man who took Hip-Hop’s baby pictures” in a New York Times article?
Over 10,000 of his images and prints now reside at The Cornell Hip Hop Collection as part of the university’s archive preserving over a quarter of a million items that document the genre.
Mainstream Success and Evolution
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the success of tracks like “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang signaled hip hop’s crossover into mainstream music. The 1980s also saw the emergence of socially conscious rap with artists like Public Enemy and N.W.A addressing societal issues and injustices in their lyrics.
By the 1990s, hip hop had further diversified with the emergence of gangsta rap, East Coast vs. West Coast rivalries, and a global expansion. Artists like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and Dr. Dre became household names.
In the 2000s, hip hop continued to evolve with the rise of Southern hip hop, the blend of R&B and hip hop, and the commercial success of artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Eminem.
Global Expansion
From its birthplace in the Bronx, hip hop has become a global phenomenon. Countries from Japan to South Africa, from France to Australia, have embraced and localized the genre. Today, non-English hip hop, such as K-hip hop in South Korea or Spanish rap in Latin America, has made significant inroads into the global music industry.
The Legacy and Future
Hip hop has not just been a genre of music; it’s a reflection of societal issues, aspirations, struggles, and victories. Its influence can be seen in fashion, language, and even academia, with courses on hip hop history and culture offered at many universities.
Today, as technology democratizes music production and distribution, the barriers to entry are lower than ever with Hip Hop music creators and performers needing only access to apps like Instagram and TikTok to get their name out there. The genre continues to evolve with the rise of drill, trap, and countless other sub-genres, ensuring that hip hop remains at the forefront of cultural conversations for years to come.
Hip hop’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and transformation. From the streets of the Bronx to global arenas, its journey is a testament to the power of creativity and the enduring human spirit. It is, without a doubt, the story of The Bronx.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has made a groundbreaking announcement today, that Edward Caban has been appointed as the 46th commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD). This historic appointment marks a significant milestone as Caban becomes the first Latino to hold such a prominent position within the nation’s largest police force, which has been in existence for 177 years.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban in an undated photo via NYPD Comm Affairs Instagram Account
Caban, who previously served as deputy commissioner under Keechant Sewell, the first woman to hold the position and who recently retired after only 18 months on the job, began his career at the NYPD in 1991 at 40th precinct in The Bronx and was the location of today’s announcement by the mayor.
The symbolism of not only selecting an officer from the 40th precinct who worked there when the precinct had one of the highest murder rates in New York City during the tumultuous crimewaves of the 90s as well as a precinct that has been embroiled in controversies due to also being the epicenter of stop and frisk which targeted Black and Latino men does not escape us.
This is not including the recent settlement by the city to pay millions of dollars to protestors that were wrongfully detained and arrested in 2020 during the George Floyd protests that spread across the country. During that incident in the midst of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a city under curfew, officers from the 40th precinct “kettled” in over 300 protestors blocking them from being able to leave the area in time to meet the curfew.
NYPD officers began wrongfully detaining protestors during the George Floyd protests in the South Bronx back in June 2020
Chaos ensued which resulted in multiple injuries to protestors as a result of their abuse of power.
Caban’s father, a retired NYPD Transit police detective, was by his side during today’s announcement who Caban described as his mentor.
Not only is Caban the first Latino NYPD Commissioner but he’s also the first Puerto Rican from The Bronx to claim this title.
While the NYPD has a contentious history particularly with Blacks and Latinos in The Bronx, this is still a significant moment in the department’s history.
According The New York Times, the Legal Aid Society, which is the largest provider of legal aid for those in need, plans to work with the new commissioner to help him earn the public’s trust in the NYPD.
750 E 134th Street at Willow Avenue in Port Morris is just steps away from Randall’s Island.
A new housing lottery has opened for a brand new and truly affordable housing development in the Port Morris area of the South Bronx.
Called The Willow, which is being developed by JCAL Development Group, the 112 unit building is located at 750 E 134th Street and Willow Avenue just steps away from the Randall’s Island Connector to the 512 acre park.
A typical bedroom at The Willow
The development is being constructed under the Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) program of the New York City Development Corporation and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Through this program, the project aims to provide much-needed and truly affordable housing to the Port Morris neighborhood.
Some units feature open kitchen layouts…
In recent years, the area has witnessed an influx of luxury housing units that are far beyond the financial means of most residents in the community. By addressing this disparity, the project seeks to support the local residents and enhance the overall affordability of the neighborhood.
While others have separate kitchens but either way, you get a lot of counter space and tons of cabinets.
Monthly rents at The Willow begin as low as $410 for studios, $521 for one-bedrooms, $615 for two-bedrooms, and $701 for three bedrooms for qualifying households that make 30% of the Area Median Income which ranges from $17,006 to $52,530 depending on household size.
The rooftop terrace is still under construction but will provide beautiful views of The Bronx and Manhattan skyline.
Residents will have access to several amenities like package lockers, bike storage lockers, storage rooms on each floor, a shared laundry room, and a rooftop view with stunning views of The Bronx and Manhattan skylines. One of the best features of the apartments is that they all have their own heating and cooling units.
Oh and three bedroom units have 2 bathrooms with the main bedroom having an ensuite bathroom.
The rents, unit breakdown, and income requirements for The Willow are as follows:
30%AMI
$410 a month for studios for households making $17,006-$33,900
$521 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $21,223-$38,130
$615 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $25,509-$45,750
$768 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $29,555 – $52,530
Check out those skyline views from the rooftop
50%AMI
$768 a month for studios for households making $29,280-$56,500
$969 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $36,583-$63,550
$1,152 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $43,920-$76,250
$1,322 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $50,846-$87,550
70%AMI
$1,126 a month for studios for households making $41,555-$79,100
$1,416 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $51,909-$88,970
$1,689 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $62,332-$106,750
$1,942 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $72,103-$122,570
A typical bathroom at The Willow
80%AMI
$1,305 a month for studios for households making $47,692-$90,400
$1,640 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $59,589-$101,680
$1,958 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $71,555-$122,000
$2,252 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $82,732-$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 September 12, 2023 and you can do so online or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: The Willow c/o Wavecrest Consulting LLC 87-14 116th Street Richmond Hill, NY 11418
Remember, you can only apply ONCE and you may not apply both online and by mail. Applying more than once can and will disqualify you according to the lottery rules.
5% of units are set aside for individuals with mobility issues and 2% for those with vision and/or hearing impairments. 50% preference for residents of Community Board 1 (to see which community board you live in, click here), and 5% for New York City employees.
Also, please note: We are NOT connected with this or any other real estate developments and cannot assist you in obtaining an apartment so please do not contact us regarding these units.
Good luck to all who apply!
Construction is expected to wrap up within the next couple of months with occupancy to begin some time this Fall.
Masked court officers cross the Grand Concourse at 161st Street
With major highways like the Cross Bronx Expressway and polluting industries like fossil fuel plants and medical waste incinerators, Bronx residents are no strangers to air pollution and the lasting physical and their sometimes often, deadly health outcomes where residents suffer from some of the highest rates of asthma in the nation as a result.
These environmental conditions have led The Bronx to have some of the highest rates of asthma with 9x the national rate and 15x the hospitalization rate in New York City.
At The Hub, by 2PM, conditions had deteriorated with AQI reaching over 400 making NYC the city with the worst air quality in the world.
The culprit in air pollution is PM 2.5, a microscopic particulate matter that, due to its tiny size, can easily get deeply within lungs and, according to the New York State Department of Health, “…can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath,” all of which can be deadly to individuals already suffering from limited lung capacity due to asthma.
But what has transpired across the city and region since this past Tuesday, due to the out of control Canadian wildfires raging hundreds of miles away, made simple daily tasks a hell on Earth for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents that suffer from respiratory ailments especially within our borough.
The Yankees game yesterday was postponed due to ‘Hazardous’ air quality
On a typical day in The Bronx, the Air Quality Index for PM 2.5, according to the Environmental Protection Agency can range from anywhere in the 30s to 60s with anything up to 50 considered “good” and anything between 51 to 100 considered moderate.
That all changed yesterday by 2PM when the skies darkened dramatically to an unsettling orange hue with very low visibility and the AQI jumping to over 400 into what is considered hazardous, even for those without such complications like asthma or heart disease, making New York City is having the worst air of any major city in the world.
A woman crosses the Grand Concourse coughing due to hazardous air quality despite wearing a mask
I can’t breathe
Across social media, many Bronx residents complained of breathing issues and having to use asthma inhalers more than they’re already used to as well as reporting having headaches, something which such a high PM 2.5 is known to cause according to city and state health departments.
In Norwood, Alexis E. (last name withheld at their request), said that as of today, they haven’t been outside in two days and despite having all of their windows in their apartment closed, their asthma was, “acting up”, and they were feeling weak.
“I have an ongoing headache no matter how much Excedrin I take, it just keeps coming back”, Alexis said.
A street vendor at The Hub struggled to cover his mouth and nose after the city’s AQI hit over 400 and entered ‘hazardous’ territory
She added, “I finally ordered an air purifier that should be here tomorrow but I might have to got to the ER before if this keeps up. I can’t wait for my air purifier to get here. It’s getting hard for me to breathe…I feel crazy lightheaded.”
Meanwhile, another person on our Instagram post commented that they, “…just went up the block and got a headache.”
On a more personal account, on Tuesday I went about my normal routine which includes commuting by bike across The Bronx and into Midtown Manhattan. By the time I arrived in Midtown on Tuesday around 4PM, my eyes were burning.
Yesterday, while documenting the event in The Bronx, I had to err on the side of caution and limit my time outdoors despite wearing my N95 mask after feeling a little fatigued.
Climate change reality
Climate change, often spoken as some dystopian future, became a reality for hundreds of millions of Americans across the region as they grappled with the impacts of the Canadian wildfires.
No strangers to masking, New Yorkers quickly donned their masks as smoke from the Canadian wildfires hundreds of miles away enveloped the city and region.
Drier weather and rising temperatures since the turn of the 21st century has created the conditions for these wildfires to spread and while the western half of the United States have been experiencing such events, this is the first time New York and the Northeast have gotten a look at what the future may hold.
If this is indeed what we have to look forward to, then we have an obligation to protect our most vulnerable populations as best as we can.
We have already seen what having the worst asthma rates did to The Bronx at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the borough becoming the epicenter with the highest rates of mortality from the disease not just in the city or state but the entire country.
A delivery man rides down the Concourse.
The time to act is now to make sure our most vulnerable are protected before such wildfire events become more commonplace.
Current forecasts is calling for improving air quality by tomorrow and overall clearing by Sunday or Monday.
For many Bronx residents, staying home and indoors despite the hazardous air quality conditions was not a luxury they could afford which was no different than during the height of the pandemic.
In the meantime, pay attention to sites like airnow.gov to monitor air quality in your area and follow the necessary recommended guidance to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe by limiting outdoor activities and keeping your windows closed for the time being.
UPDATE: Hours of operation have been updated to 6 days a week from Wednesday through Monday from 4pm to 11pm and will eventually open 7 days a week down the road.
MELROSE—The South Bronx restaurant scene just got a little more diverse with a new Japanese restaurant opening today.
Minato is located at 407 E 161st Street in Melrose
Called Minato (which means harbor in Japanese), the eatery is the brainchild of Luigi Ghidetti and Mark Lu, the duo behind Porto Salvo, the popular South Bronx Italian restaurant and bar, and features a menu with many of the standard sushi and sashimi along with a well-stocked sake bar, the latter of which is perhaps the first of its kind in The Bronx.
The menu at Minato is what you’d expect at similar eateries but the first thing you notice once your food arrives is that the portions and size of the rolls are a bit larger than most places which is a refreshing change.
The yummy tuna tartare
And while some of the fare is pretty standard for a Japanese and sushi restaurant, the flavors and presentation are definitely above what you’ll encounter at most places around the city, especially in The Bronx.
According to owner Mark Lu, this was intentional and one of the things Minato’s chef insisted when creating the menu.
Mark Lu, one of Minato’s owners
“You can get sushi and Japanese food anywhere in the city and it’s all going to be pretty much the same so we have to ask ourselves what can we do to make it different and why would someone want to come here and more importantly, back again?” said Lu.
As an avid fan and lover of sushi and all foods related, Minato certainly was an entirely different experience when we went last week for the menu tasting.
Fried avocado spring roll
One of the most creative items was an avocado spring roll which managed to retain its vibrant green and yellow coloring despite being fried in its thin wrapper and is a must try for those who love avocados.
Other favorites of the evening was the spicy tuna roll, a vegetable roll which somehow managed to not taste like a basic veggie roll, and Minato Mussels.
The house special Minato Roll
But the showstopper of the evening was the house specialty, the Minato Roll which is a crab salad roll topped with Chilean sea bass and is served warm with a combination of sauces that explodes with flavor with each bite.
Besides sake, you can order several different teas of which one is the blooming flower green tea infused with other teas like Jasmine and serves as a perfect palate cleanser unless you choose to opt for the mochi which is delicious and serves the same function.
The beautiful, and delicious, blooming flower tea
The space itself is nice and cozy with bar seating and a few indoor tables as well as outdoor seating in the front. The backyard is currently under construction for additional outdoor seating and will be styled to give patrons a taste of a Japanese Buddhist garden as part of the experience.
As someone who loves sushi and Japanese food and would often eat it several times a week, it’s nice to have one in my own backyard that I can easily walk to and support locally.
We’re pretty sure it’s going to be another local favorite along with all the other popular eateries in Melrose.
Minato’s grand opening is today, May 15th and will open 6 days a week from Wednesday through Monday from 4PM – 11PM and is located at 407 E 161st Street at Melrose Avenue. They plan on opening 7 days a week in the near future.
One of the most highly-anticipated affordable housing developments in New York City is now accepting applications for 432 brand-new apartments.
Bronx Point sits right at the 145th Street Bridge
Located at 575 Exterior Street right along the Harlem River Waterfront, this is the first phase of Bronx Point that is nearing completion and includes 540 permanently affordable apartments of which 432 are available in the current housing lottery.
Monthly rents at Bronx Point start as low as $465 for studios, $591 for one-bedroom units, $700 for two-bedroom units, and $800 for three-bedroom apartments for incomes ranging from $18,815 to $49,650 depending on household size.
The Universal Hip Hop Museum, America’s first museum for the music genre, will also be located at Bronx Point
Besides being located above the future home of America’s first hip hop museum, the Universal Hip Hop Museum (UHHM) and located right along the Harlem River Waterfront at Mill Pond Park, Bronx Point offers many amenities like a 24-hour attended lobby, an outdoor terrace, a gym, bike room, outdoor spaces, a community center, shared laundry room, and even a children’s playroom and educational facilities. Oh and the entire building is a designated smoke-free environment.
Speaking of Mill Pond Park, it would be remiss of us not to mention that this development is being constructed on stolen parkland that was once dedicated for Mill Pond Park’s expansion. At the very least, however, the developer, L+M Development, is constructing the publicly accessible waterfront extension of the park at the development site.
The waterfront promenade will eventually be part of the proposed 7-mile Bronx Harlem River Greenway which will connect from Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale down to Randall’s Island in Port Morris once it’s completed.
Rendering of a bedroom at Bronx Point/Via Housing Connect
Josue Sanchez, Senior Director, L+M Development Partners said, “The opening of the affordable housing lottery for Bronx Point brings us one step closer to welcoming families to this long-awaited, transformative development.”
Sanchez added, “Bronx Point is a first-class community-based housing development that brings some incredible amenities to the neighborhood – a new park and esplanade along the Harlem River waterfront, the future home of the world’s premier hip hop museum, dynamic retail spaces, and an educational early childhood center. We encourage everyone to apply and are looking forward to welcoming residents to Bronx Point later this year.”
Rendering of the extension of the waterfront Mill Pond Park/Via Housing Connect
Bronx Point is also located across from the Bronx Terminal Market and walking distance to the 2, 4, and 5 subways at 149th Street and Grand Concourse and directly adjacent to the 145th Street bridge into Harlem.
The rents, unit breakdown, and income requirements for Bronx Point are as follows:
30%AMI
$465 a month for studios for households making $18,515-$32,040
$591 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $23,178-$36,030
$700 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $27,772-$43,230
$800 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $32,092 – $49,650
Areal view of Bronx Point/Via Housing Connect
50%AMI
$866 a month for studios for households making $32,263-$53,400
$1,092 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $40,355-$60,050
$1,301 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $48,378-$72,050
$1494 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $55,886-$82,750
80%AMI
$1,466 a month for studios for households making $52,835-$85,440
$1,842 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $66,069-$96,080
$2,201 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $79,235-$115,280
$2,534 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $91,543-$132,400
Bronx Point, as seen from the 145th Street Bridge, overlooking the Harlem River
120%AMI
$2,166 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $77,178-$144,120
$2,892 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $102,926-$172,920
$3,332 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $118,903-$198,600
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 June 30, 2023 and you can do so onlineor you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: Bronx Point Phase I C/O Metropolitan; PO BOX 609001 Brooklyn, NY 11206
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 4 (to see which community board you live in, click here), and 5% for New York City employees.
Also, please note: We are NOT connected with this or any other real estate developments and cannot assist you in obtaining an apartment so please do not contact us regarding these units.
A new affordable housing development in The Bronx neighborhood of Morrisania is now accepting applications via New York City’s Housing Connect lottery program.
Rendering of Victory Commons/via Housing Connect
Located at 1007 Union Avenue, Victory Commons is a 79 unit development constructed on the site of the old Victory Baptist Church which will once again occupy space at the site once the building is completed.
The six-story building features basic amenities like a recreating room, shared-laundry room, storage, and bike storage lockers. These amenities were once common to luxury developments but over the past few years they have become increasingly common in even the most affordable of new developments.
Victory Commons is being constructed under the Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) program and as a result, rents and income requirements for most of the units are truly affordable and more reflective of the immediate surrounding area.
Monthly rents start as low as $410 for studios, $521 for one bedrooms, $615 for two bedrooms, and $701 for three bedroom units for households making 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) which ranges from $17,452 to $49,650 depending on unit size and number of people in the household.
Typical living room at Victory Commons/Via Housing Connect
The rents, unit breakdown, and income requirements for Victory Commons are as follows:
30%AMI
$410 a month for studios for households making $17,452-$32,040
$521 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $21,703-$36,030
$615 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $25,920-$43,230
$701 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $29,898 – $49,650
50%AMI
$729 a month for studios for households making $28,389-$53,400
$919 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $35,349-$60,050
$1,094 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $42,343-$72,050
$1,253 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $48,823-$82,750
Typical kitchen at Victory Commons/Via Housing Connect
70% AMI
$1,126 a month for studios for households making $42,000-$74,760
$1,416 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $52,389-$84,070
$1,689 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $62,743-$100,870
$1,942 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $72,446-$115,850
80%AMI
$1,305 a month for studios for households making $48,138-$85,440
$1,640 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $60,069-$96,080
$1,958 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $71,966-$115,280
$2,252 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $83,075-$132,400
Please note, for each unit, there are other requirements such as number of people per household and further income requirements based on household size so refer to the Housing Connect website for further details.
How to Apply
For those interested in applying, you have until June 12, 2023 and you can do so online or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to: Victory Commons c/o Wavecrest Consulting LLC 87-14 116th Street Richmond Hill, NY 11418
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 3 (to see which community board you live in, click here), and 5% for New York City employees.
Also, please note: We are NOT connected with this or any other real estate developments and cannot assist you in obtaining an apartment so please do not contact us regarding these units.
