Welcome2TheBronx

The rich and deep history of the Irish in The Bronx

Ed García Conde

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March 17, 2023

The rich and deep history of the Irish in The Bronx

This article was originally published in 2021 by Welcome2TheBronx

Much like other ethnic groups that have called The Bronx home, the Irish have left an indelible mark on our borough.

While many often jump to stereotypes and often peg the Irish to St Patrick’s Day, they’re more than just a holiday, especially in The Bronx where they have left a living, breathing history of their journey in America.

Sure, legend has it that ‘green beer‘ was invented right here in The Bronx on St Patrick’s Day 1914 by Dr Thomas Hayes Curtis, a physician hailing from Ireland living in our borough who unveiled the green drink at a social club on 3rd Avenue and 163rd Street but there’s so much more to Irish history in The Bronx than that.

For example, did you know that things we take for granted in our borough were constructed by Irish laborers who arrived here in the 19th century?

*The High Bridge, connecting Upper Manhattan with The Bronx, was constructed by Irish laborers and is New York City’s oldest standing bridge.*

During the 1800s, many left Ireland in search for a better life for them and their families as they escaped the harsh conditions back home. A great number arrived in New York City and in parts of lower Westchester which would eventually become The Bronx.

These Irish laborers constructed the New York and Harlem Railroad as well as the Hudson River Railroad both of which, pre the COVID-19 pandemic, carried hundreds of thousands of daily commuters to and from their jobs.

Irish pride in Woodlawn is 365 days a year.

The landmarked High Bridge, New York City’s oldest standing bridge was also constructed by Irish laborers leaving yet another mark behind that we take for granted.

Long before Woodlawn Heights became the epicenter of Irish life in New York City, with its Irish grocery stores, butcher shops, pharmacies, and restaurants, they called the South Bronx home in neighborhoods like Melrose and Mott Haven.

*The Emerald Isle Immigration Center on Katonah Avenue*

In “The Remarkable Life of Kitty McInerney: How a Poor Irish Immigrant Raised 17 Children in Great Depression New York”, Christopher Prince writes of Irish life in the South Bronx and says:

“Beyond church grounds boys played in the streets — games like stick ball, hand ball, kick the can, pitching pennies, Johnny on the pony, and marbles. Girls played jacks, hopscotch and jump rope. Kids raised pigeons or flew kites on rooftops and raced gleefully through alleys and courtyards. Adults congregated and watched over neighborhoods from stoops and fire escapes. In summer, kids opened fire hydrants or flocked to sprinklers and wading ponds of nearby parks for relief from the sweltering heat. They rented bikes for 25 cents, jumped on a mobile merry-go-round for a few pennies, and sat on blanketed fire escapes after sundown to unwind in the cool night air. Villagers traversed Bronx Irish neighborhoods on trolleys for a nickel and children hitched on the back for a free ride. The downtrodden sang in courtyards and alleys for coins and bottle caps.

“Saturdays were scored by sounds of the Metropolitan Opera streaming from radios and reverberating through windows and alleyways of Bronx Irish neighborhoods. Holidays lured block parties and parades to crowd Bronx thoroughfares. The carnival set up once or twice a year by Jackson Avenue station, casting a nightly glow over the South Bronx. Small shops lined sidewalks and thrived on abundant foot traffic. The South Bronx portion of Westchester Avenue from Wales to 152nd featured Dolan’s Irish Food Store, Olympia Florist, Cushman’s Bakery, an ice cream parlor, a drugstore, a Jewish baker, a candy store and two newsstands.”

Change the names of the stores, prices, and a few other things and you’d still describe the South Bronx of today.

Perhaps the most famous Irish-American Bronxite is the late Mary Higgins Clark, who was born Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins, and was a prolific author with 51 books who was known as the ‘Queen of Suspense’.

*Katonah Avenue, the heart of Woodlawn.*

She is but one of many children of Ireland that has made not just the Irish but The Bronx proud.

Today, Woodlawn still remains the Irish capital of not just The Bronx but New York City despite being more mixed than it was even a decade ago.

All things change but history never does.

May you always have walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire.

Lottery open for new and truly affordable apartments in The Bronx as low as $683 for 3 bedrooms

Ed García Conde

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March 9, 2023

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Lottery open for new and truly affordable apartments in The Bronx as low as $683 for 3 bedrooms

WEST FARMS—A new lottery has been launched for a brand new affordable housing residential building with rents that are truly affordable for local Bronx residents.

Located at 1923 West Farms Road, the 16-story building is part of the massive Compass Residences that spans the Crotona Park East and West Farms neighborhoods of The Bronx with 1,374 apartments across eight buildings steps from the Bronx River and one block from the 2 and 5 subway line at West Farms Square/East Tremont Avenue.

*1923 West Farms Road/Via Housing Connect*

Compass Six Residences, as the building is known, offers deep affordability and is truly affordable to many local residents with monthly rents for brand new apartments as low as $397 for a studio, $503 for one-bedroom units, $598 for two-bedrooms, and $683 for three bedroom apartments for qualifying residents that meet the income requirements making 30% of the Area Median Income thanks in part to being constructed under the Extremely Low & Low-Income Affordability Program (ELLA).

Amenities at the building include a gym, bike storage lockers, the standard shared laundry room, outdoor areas, a community center, and energy efficient appliances.

Perhaps the best amenity is, however, access to the Bronx River via Starlight Park which has a new expansion area on the eastern banks of the river scheduled to open soon.

As you may recall, dolphins were spotted in the river within Starlight in January.

The rents, unit breakdown, and income requirements for The Bronx Grove are as follows:

30%

$397 a month for studios for households making $16,183-$32,040
$503 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $20,160-$36,030
$598 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $24,275-$43,230
$683 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $28,080 – $49,650

50%

$777 a month for studios for households making $29,212-$53,400
$980 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $36,515-$60,050
$1,168 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $4,3818-$72,050
$1,343 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $50,709-$82,750

70%

$1,080 a month for studios for households making $39,600-$74,760
$1,356 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $49,406-$84,070
$1,622 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $59,383-$100,870
$1,865 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $68,606-$115,850

80%

$1,314 a month for studios for households making $47,623-$85,440
$1,651 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $59,520-$96,080
$1,974 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $71,452-$115,280
$2,273 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $82,595-$132,400

Typical kitchen at 1923 West Farms Road / Via Housing Connect

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.

Good luck to all who apply!

New luxury building in South Bronx asking $3,068 a month for a studio

Ed García Conde

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March 6, 2023

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New luxury building in South Bronx asking $3,068 a month for a studio

MOTT HAVEN—Where else but the South Bronx can you live practically on top of a major highway and be expected to pay up to $5,500 a month for a two-bedroom apartment?

*Estela, a two-building development with over 500 residential units in Mott Haven has begun leasing. 445 Gerard Avenue is on the left and 414 Gerard Avenue is on the right.*

Welcome to Mott Haven, the epicenter of the gentrification of the South Bronx.

Known as Estela, the two-building $310 million development is nearing completion, and marketing and leasing have begun for one of the buildings, which is located at 445 Gerard Avenue and takes up an entire city block directly adjacent to Interstate 87 aka the Major Deegan Expressway.

Rents at 445 Gerard Avenue begin at $3,008 for a studio in the building and go up as high as $5,554 for a two-bedroom, two bathroom apartment, 980 square foot unit.

According to the marketing website for Estela and active listings on StreetEasy, the units are slated to be available on April 15th of this year, and with the apartments at the second building, located at 414 Gerard Avenue, becoming available a month later on May 15 of this year.

*Roof top terraces and gardens at Estela’s 445 Gerard Avenue/Via Estela marketing website*

Amenities at the development include 24 hour, 7 days a week concierge, a yoga and Pilates room, a fitness center, a private co-working space for residents, a club room that includes a full catering kitchen, game room, kids playroom, a media lounge and theater, and yes, a pet spa.

But as for the local amenities luxury renters in other parts of the city like Harlem, Williamsburg, and Long Island City come to expect, the immediate area is severely lacking and with rents similar to these, why would someone want to pay that much when they can stay in more “established” areas of the city?

*445 Gerard Avenue is just a few feet from the Major Deegan Expressway*

Between both buildings at Estela, over 500 high-end luxury units will flood an oversaturated luxury rental market in the South Bronx where developments such as Bankside’s first phase, which has been struggling to get full occupancy for over a year since they launched leasing back in late 2021.

Meanwhile, when truly affordable housing lotteries are launched in the area, some developments get tens of thousands of applications for a couple of hundred units.

With the desperate need for affordable housing, one would think developers would switch gears and construct the housing that’s actually needed and in demand and not construct so much luxury in one of the poorest districts of the city where no one is truly “flocking” to as predicted.

MTA reports 4% faster bus speeds in The Bronx after redesign implementation

Ed García Conde

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February 28, 2023

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MTA reports 4% faster bus speeds in The Bronx after redesign implementation

After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bronx Bus Redesign was finally implemented last summer, and now, after half a year of studying the changes in real-time, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced that the changes to bus routes have been a success.

*The Bx19 is one of three bus routes in The Bronx that are now equipped with ABLE cameras to capture bus lane violators in real-time/Welcome2TheBronx*

Once home to one of the slowest bus speeds in New York City, the system is now boasting faster speeds and, according to the MTA, outperforming the other boroughs.

A report issued last week by the MTA indicates that the newly redesigned bus network in The Bronx that went into effect last summer and saw the modification of thirteen routes, the addition of two new routes, and greater frequency along eight major corridors, showed an increase of 4% across overall bus service in the borough and outperforming the rest of the city by 7%.

Some of the most notable highlights from the report are:

Bx36 customers traveling between Parkchester and Manhattan save over 10 minutes in each direction and up to 15 minutes during rush hours
Bx40/Bx42 customers traveling along E 180 St are saving1 1-12% (3 minutes) of their travel time in each direction along E 180 St.
With the Bx11 rerouted to E L Grant Hwy, customers are saving 60-70% (5-7 minutes) of their travel time between Mt. Eden and Manhattan

“The data and feedback collected over six months demonstrates that the new network is delivering on shorter wait times, faster and more reliable trips,” said NYC Transit Senior Vice President of Buses Frank Annicaro. “The Bronx had one of the slowest bus speeds in the city and is now outperforming citywide trends in Customer Journey Time Performance, which measures the percentage of trips that are completed within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. This is a successful step in delivering better quality bus service.”

In a press release issued by the MTA on the study, Bronx Borough President, Vanessa L. Gibson said, “With a large segment of our population living in transportation deserts, which can increase their commute time by as much as an hour, we saw travel time along several routes decrease by as much as 40%. This is a significant win for our borough and the thousands of Bronx riders that rely on our buses to get to their destination. I want to thank the MTA, transit advocates, community boards, and everyone else involved in this initiative for their commitment to transit equity.”

“Most of my Bronx constituents rely on an effective bus service daily,” added Assemblymember Kenny Burgos.

Meanwhile, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, while rejoicing in the news, reminded everyone that the redesign did negatively impact seniors in places where bus stops were relocated or simply removed entirely.

Fernandez said, “The success of this program goes to show what is possible when investments are made in the Bronx! Ridership is up and Bronx bus routes are now outperforming citywide trends in speed and reliability. However, as with any success, it is important not to rest on our laurels because there is still a lot of work to be done. Boroughwide and citywide increases are truly great, but we still have to make sure we are addressing the hyper-local issues, particularly those that are affecting our seniors and many others who have had their regular stops moved and are now burdened with longer and more strenuous commutes. In the greatest city in the world, none of our communities should be left behind for the success of our neighbors.”

The MTA states that they will continue to monitor bus service and customer feedback within The Bronx and make adjustments if necessary.

Now let’s hold them to that promise.

Adidas opens first Bronx store

Ed García Conde

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February 24, 2023

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Attention sneakerheads: Sneaker giant Adidas has opened their first store in The Bronx

Located at The Mall at Bay Plaza, the store is part of the brand’s expansion in the New York City region and is an 11,000-square-foot space offering the latest in the company’s famed footwear brand.

*The Mall at Bay Plaza on opening day on August 14, 2014 ©Welcome2TheBronx.com*

According to Yahoo, LaNiece Douglas, Adidas VP of retail in North America, said in a statement, “We are thrilled to officially open our newest store in the Bronx. This is an important one for us in our Key City, New York. We can’t wait to welcome everyone and really see it come to life.”

The store features artwork by local Bronxite and creative designer Jae Tips, who will be on hand at the opening.

Adidas’ arrival in The Bronx comes at the heels, pun intended, of the opening of Nike’s first store in the borough back in September of last year at Bay Plaza.

In recent years, the borough has seen an ever-increasing presence of national and global chains opening stores that once shunned The Bronx, including Apple, which opened its first store, and only one thus far, in the borough also at The Mall at Bay Plaza.

Unfortunately, with the presence of such retailers, retail rents have increased and forced smaller businesses to relocate or close, as was the case with 1800Fix at 149th and 3rd Avenue at The Hub, where a Krispy Kreme replaced the electronic repair store that had occupied that corner for almost 30 years.

Over on Fordham Road, a fourth Target store opened last year as part of an aggressive expansion in The Bronx, and just a few weeks later, the company signed a lease for a fifth store to be located at Bruckner Commons at the site of the former K-Mart.

One thing’s for sure, the retail landscape of The Bronx has undoubtedly changed, but at what cost?

Apply for brand new apartments as low as $569 a month for two bedrooms in Bedford Park

Ed García Conde

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February 21, 2023

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Applications for New York City’s Housing Connect lottery are now being accepted for a brand-new development in the Bedford Park neighborhood of The Bronx.

Known as The Bronx Grove, 127 newly constructed units are spread across two buildings located at 261 E 202nd street and 270 E 203rd street and includes amenities like security guards, air conditioning, and a gym, as well as the standard shared laundry room.

The development is also located less than two blocks from the B and D subway at Bedford Park Boulevard and a few blocks away from the 4 line subway line also at Bedford Park Boulevard and is also served by several bus routes.

It’s also located within walking distance to Jerome Park Reservoir, the New York Botanical Garden, the greenways along Mosholu Parkway, and the Williamsbridge Oval as well as Lehman College.

*Rendering of The Bronx Grove / Via NYC Housing Connect*

Sixty percent of the units are set aside for individuals and families that are formerly homeless and disabled and will have access to on-site support services. These units are only available to those that are referred by city agencies.

The remaining 40 percent of the units are open to this lottery and offer deep affordability compared to other so-called affordable housing developments being constructed across The Bronx.

Rents are as low as $362 a month for studios, $465 a month for one bedroom apartments, and $569 for two-bedroom units for those making 30% of the Area Median Income.

Depending on whether you meet the income requirements, you may qualify for these rents or higher.

The rents, unit breakdown, and income requirements for The Bronx Grove are as follows:

30%

$362 a month for studios for households making $15,360-$32,040
$465 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $19,303-$36,030
$569 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $23,932-$43,230

*Typical two bedroom layout at The Bronx Grove / Via NYC Housing Connect*

40%

$522 a month for studios for households making $22,846-$42,720
$665 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $26,160-$48,040
$809 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $32,160-$57,640

50%

$683 a month for studios for households making $26,366-$53,400
$865 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $33,018-$60,050
$1,050 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $40,423-$72,050
$1,205 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $46,835-$82,750

70%

$1,003 a month for studios for households making $37,338-$74,760
$1,265 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $46,732-$84,070
$1,530 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $56,880-$100,870
$1,760 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $65,863-$115,850

80%

$1,163 a month for studios for households making $42,823-$85,440
$1,465 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $53,589-$96,080
$1,770 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $65,109-$115,280
$2,037 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $75,360-$132,400

*Typical three bedroom layout at The Bronx Grove / Via NYC Housing Connect*

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 April 28, 2023 and you can do so online or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to:
The Bronx Grove
c/o K&G UPRIGHT
PO Box 1181
New York, NY 10039

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 7 (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!

Brand new and truly affordable apartments now available in Fordham starting at $567/mo

Ed García Conde

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February 20, 2023

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New York City’s housing lottery on Housing Connect has launched lottery applications for brand-new apartments in the Fordham section of The Bronx.

The development, known as Twin Parks Terrace, is a brand-new 14-story building with 181 residential units constructed on a parking lot owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) that was underutilized.

*Rendering of Twin Parks Terrace / Via NYC Housing Connect*

As such, having been constructed on land owned by NYCHA, a preference of 25% of units are for residents of public housing.

Rents at the Twin Parks Terrace are genuinely affordable and more in line with local median incomes and with rents as low as $567 a month for studios for those making 40% of the Area Median Income.

*A typical kitchen at Twin Park Terrace/Via Housing Connect*

Amenities are aplenty at the development, with bike storage lockers, air conditioning, common area wi-fi, a playground, a children’s playroom, an outdoor terrace, a recreation room, and will even have onsite community events and classes.

Breakdown of unit size, rents, and income requirements are as follows:

40%

$567 a month for studios for households making $27,875-$42,720
$717 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $27,498-$48,040
$854 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $33,052-$57,640
$978 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $38,195-$66,200

50%

$738 a month for studios for households making $27,875-$53,400
$930 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $34,800-$60,050
$1,100 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $41,829-$72,050
$1,274 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $48,343-$82,750

*A typical unit at Twin Parks Terrace / Via Housing Connect*

70%

$1,080 a month for studios for households making $39,600-$74,760
$1,356 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $49,406-$84,070
$1,622 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $59,383-$100,870
$1,865 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $68,606-$115,850

80%

$1,250 a month for studios for households making $45,429-$85,440
$1,570 a month for 1 bedroom units for households making $56,743-$96,080
$1,878 a month for 2 bedroom units for households making $68,160-$115,280
$2,161 a month for 3 bedroom units for households making $78,755-$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.

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 5 (to see which community board you live in, click here), and 5% for New York City employees as well as a 25% preference for residents of NYCHA.

How to Apply

For those interested in applying, you have until April 11, 2023 and you can do so online or you can request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to:

Settlement Housing Fund,
Attn: TPT Lottery
247 West 37th Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10018

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.

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!

Six Bronx Catholic schools among a dozen to be closed by the Archdiocese of New York this June

Ed García Conde

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February 16, 2023

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Six Bronx Catholic schools among a dozen to be closed by the Archdiocese of New York this June

After a brief pause on Catholic school closings by the Archdiocese of New York due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Archdiocese has announced the closures of a dozen New York City schools.

And unfortunately, half of the schools scheduled for permanent closure are in The Bronx.

*Immaculate Conception School of Williamsbridge on E Gun Hill Road, will permanently close this June/Image via Google Streets*

According to a statement issued by the Archdiocese of New York, “Extensive broader community research, detailed studies, and careful deliberation and analysis went into the final determination of which schools would not reopen. Unfortunately, due to shifting demographics and lower enrollment made worse by the pandemic, the impact to the financial stability of these schools was detrimental.”

The schools scheduled to close in The Bronx are as follows:

Holy Family School in Unionport
Immaculate Conception School, 760 E Gun Hill Rd in Williamsbridge
Santa Maria School in Westchester Square
St. Angela Merici School in Melrose
St. Brendan School in Norwood
St. Margaret Mary School in Mount Hope

Also, the following schools in The Bronx will merge according to the Archdiocese:

St. Francis Xavier, Bronx, will merge with St. Clare of Assisi.
St. Gabriel School, Bronx, will merge with St. Margaret of Cortona.

“It is never a good day when we announce closures to any of our beloved schools, but the goal is always to strengthen the remaining institutions and preserve Catholic education in New York for decades to come,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York in a statement.

“We understand these are challenging times for many families, and this is indeed a sad day for everyone in our Catholic schools community,” shared Michael J. Deegan, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York. “I personally mourn the loss of every one of our great schools. However, as we process this news, we must resolve that the great tradition of Catholic education in New York will continue, and we will assist all students who are seeking to carry on their Catholic education to find a seat at another excellent school in the Archdiocese.”

Over the past decade, dozens of Catholic schools have been permanently closed in The Bronx, along with numerous churches and parishes which no longer exist or have merged.

As a product of Bronx Catholic schools, I never thought I’d see the day that many of these schools, let alone the churches, would be gone.

Particularly as a child of the 70s and 80s, the only thing that seemed permanent in those days were these institutions but alas, they have been revealed to be vulnerable to the test of time like anything else.

We’re sorry for the emails sent during an upgrade!

News

Ed García Conde

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February 15, 2023

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We want to apologize to our subscribers who may have received dozens of emails from us that were inadvertently sent during upgrades to the site.

We have been working on trying to offer a better experience and during our upgrade, due to a glitch with the themes we’re working with, dozens of dummy articles were sent to our subscribers.

This is truly unacceptable but we hope you can accept our sincerest apologies for this error!

Sincerely,

Ed Garcia Conde
Editor and Founder
Welcome2TheBronx

Bally’s is gambling on bringing a casino to The Bronx

Ed García Conde

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February 14, 2023

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Bally’s is gambling on bringing a casino to The Bronx

Bally’s is seeking to expand its gambling empire into The Bronx, hoping to snag one of up to three downstate casino licenses that New York State may issue in the near future.

The corporation, which has over 15,000 slot machines and 600 table games across 15 casinos, among other assets such as over 5,000 hotel rooms, is seeking to snag 17 acres at the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point Park in Throggs Neck.

*Trump Golf Links may soon be home to a Bally’s Casino if the gambling empire gets its wishes/Via Google*

According to an agreement between Bally’s and the Trump Organization, 10 of the 17 acres at the failing golf course would be for the actual casino, and the remaining 7 acres would be for staff housing and green space.

The endeavor would create over 3,500 jobs as well as 15,000 construction jobs, according to an article in The New York Post but besides Bally’s actually getting the license for the casino from New York State, they would have to get approvals for such usage at the location given the fact that it is public parkland.

While The Bronx could undoubtedly use the jobs and potential economic benefits from such an endeavor, these types of venues always bring concerns and controversies along with them. However, people will still gamble, so perhaps we might as well have a place within the borough for them to do so rather than losing the thousands of Bronxites who go across the border to Yonkers at the Empire Casino and Raceway.

*Thousands of Bronx residents go into Yonkers daily to visit Empire Casinos, why not keep them here locally?*

Ultimately, local residents in the immediate area should have a voice in what they would like to see in their own backyard and if this makes sense for them, given the fact that they will have to live with the consequences of having a casino in their own neighborhood.

So far, the proposal has been met with a warm response from local elected officials.

Assemblymember Mike Benedetto and State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, who both represent the area at the state level, told Politico in separate statements agree that, while the proposal could be a tremendous economic boom for the neighborhood, local input from area residents on the matter is a must.

New York City Council Member Marjorie Velazquez also signaled that the proposed casino would be a good fit for the borough in a statement to The New York Post and that it would open up the golf course to local residents that currently cannot utilize it due to the high costs associated with golfing at the course.

You may recall that last year when the New York State budget was enacted in the previous year, it provided for the addition of three new casinos, and Assemblymember Amanda Septimo and New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr both floated the idea of bringing a casino to the Hunts Point waterfront, but eventually, nothing ever came of it.

Bronx Residents Got Rid of Their Gas Stoves. Their Air Quality Markedly Improved

The City

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February 1, 2023

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Bronx Residents Got Rid of Their Gas Stoves. Their Air Quality Markedly Improved

Samantha Maldonado, The City

This article was originally published on Jan 31 11:00am EST by THE CITY

Public housing residents who traded their gas stoves for electric induction ones saw improved air quality compared with their neighbors, according to the new results of a pilot program across 20 apartments at a complex in The Bronx.

Run by the nonprofit WE ACT for Environmental Justice, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority, the Association for Energy Efficiency, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Berkeley Air Monitoring, the experiment involved switching out gas stoves for induction units in 10 apartments at 1417 Watson Avenue, as THE CITY reported last February.

A pan sits on a black, shiny induction oven stovetop. | NavinTar/Shutterstock

After a 10-month run, the air quality in those households was compared to 10 apartments still using gas stoves.

The households with electric ovens showed a 35% decrease in daily concentrations of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide and a nearly 43% difference in daily concentrations of carbon monoxide, according to the study results released Tuesday.

The findings come on the heels of a national frenzy over possible federal regulations of gas stoves.

Shavon Marino, 34, received an induction stove at the start of the experiment and although she had to learn how to control the heat without knobs, she quickly grew to appreciate the oven. Marino said she was particularly impressed with how fast it cooked her food and the ease of cleaning the flat stovetop.

And as the mom of a 7-year-old, she didn’t take the air quality improvements for granted, either.

“It cooks better and just for the safety of my daughter, that’s why I like the stove,” Marino said. “As she gets older, I think this stove would be a great teaching tool for my daughter.”

Indoor Environmentalism

Traditional indoor gas stoves burn methane, a planet-warming greenhouse gas more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. But beyond the larger climate concerns, gas stoves can pose immediate health risks to people in a household.

Previous research has shown that the pollutants released when turning on a gas stove are associated with causing or worsening respiratory illnesses.

An alarming December 2022 study estimated that 18.8% of childhood asthma cases in New York might be prevented if households didn’t have gas stoves.

A Bloomberg News report following that study indicated that the head of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was considering banning gas stoves across the country — but the agency later said that they were only looking into slight regulation.

In the Bronx, in addition to continuous air monitoring, researchers measured pollutants while preparing a “standardized” meal of steamed broccoli, spaghetti with tomato sauce and chocolate chip cookies. They made the meal three times each in six households — two with gas stoves and two with induction.

The researchers found that, while cooking using a gas stove, nitrogen dioxide concentrations were nearly three times as much when using an induction stove. In fact, measurements of nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the kitchens with gas stoves reached levels above what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

During the cooking tests, “an induction cooking household’s pollution didn’t change at all,” said Michael Johnson, technical director at the Berkeley Air Monitoring Group. “It’s another data point we’re seeing that reinforces this narrative that cooking with gas increases levels of NO2 [nitrogen dioxide] and other pollutants in your home to levels that are often unhealthy.”

Beyond stoves, other sources of pollutants like nearby gas boilers and cars also affected the levels of pollutants in the apartments studied, researchers said.

Overhaul Improvements

Misbath Daouda, a PhD candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health who worked on the study, noted the health benefits of overhauling an entire building’s worth of fossil fuel-powered appliances.

“The transition would need to not only focus on gas stoves as a single appliance, but look at other systems that need to be replaced or improved in those homes to improve air quality and also meet carbon emission reduction goals — and that would include heating systems,” Daouda said.

A full-building transition would greatly decrease the risk of fires and accidents from people using their gas stoves to heat their homes in the winter, she added. Newer electric stoves with batteries would still be usable if the power failed.

NYCHA is preparing to install heat pumps in all apartments in the 96-unit Bronx, as well as a new electrified hot water system.

NYCHA resident Shavon Marino attended a cooking to learn to use her new induction stove. Feb. 11, 2022. — NYCHA resident Shavon Marino attended a cooking class to learn to use her new induction stove. Feb. 11, 2022. | Hiram Alejandro Durán/ THE CITY

“The collaboration with WE ACT has helped NYCHA steer its decarbonization commitments, recognizing the clear air quality benefits of electrified cooking,” said NYCHA spokesperson Nekoro Gomes. “We continue to strive for wider implementation of this technology and we are thrilled to see the residents of 1471 Watson enjoying their new induction stoves.”

Switching to electric appliances can raise some concerns about expensive utility bills. The researchers estimated that operating an induction stove would cost about $6 more per month on electricity bills. But households that only pay for cooking gas would see their gas bills zero out, allowing for a monthly cost saving of about $11, the study found.

“Everyone deserves to live in a healthy home, regardless of your income, and regardless of the kind of housing that you live in,” said Sonal Jessel, WE ACT’s director of policy. “It’s ultimately really important that we’re finding pathways to ensure that as we are transitioning, it’s affordable and attainable for all populations.”

Now that the pilot program is complete, residents in the 10 control apartments can have induction stoves installed.

“They were impatient to get them,” Daouda said with a laugh. And no one who received an induction stove as part of the program asked for their old gas stove back.
THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

Fun facts, history, people, and things from The Bronx you probably didn’t know

Ed García Conde

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January 27, 2023

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Fun facts, history, people, and things from The Bronx you probably didn’t know

The Bronx has quite the image in many people’s minds, whether locally or across the world, but there are many actual real things, people, facts, and history about the northernmost borough of New York City that many people don’t know.

Since Welcome2TheBronx was founded almost 14 years ago, we have been exploring such things about the borough and sharing it with our readers, much to their delight (and ours, if we’re being honest).

So today, we’re going to revisit a few as well as update the list with some more.

Now while you may already know some of these, others will come as a surprise to even the most die-hard lover of all things Bronx.

In no particular order, here we go!

Step Streets

In New York City, there are just over one hundred step streets that are pedestrian-only streets at points where it’s too steep for vehicular traffic, and it just so happens that The Bronx has the most step streets in New York City where more than half are located. Sixty-four step streets, to be exact!

The longest of these streets is W 230th in Riverdale between Netherland and Johnson Avenues!

Art Deco Architecture

*Some of the Art Deco beauties along the Grand Concourse*

Did you know that The Bronx has the world’s most extensive collection of Art Deco architecture? That’s right! According to Bronx historian Lloyd Ultan, it’s The Bronx and not Miami Beach, as many people think, and the bulk of the collection is located on and around the Grand Concourse.

The People of The Bronx

*Woodlawn Heights in The Bronx, the Irish capital of New York City*

The Bronx has always been home to many immigrant groups that have left their mark on our borough. Woodlawn is considered the Irish capital of New York City, and Arthur Avenue in Belmont is the most authentic Little Italy in New York. Over the past decades, we’ve been home to more African diaspora than any other place in the city. At one point, we were also the most Jewish borough, with over 50% of the population in that demographic. Seventy years ago, you were more likely to hear Yiddish than Spanish on the streets of the Bronx.

We’re home to most of the state’s 250,000 Albanians and most Garinagu (the plural for Garifuna) are believed to live in the Bronx.

Okay, so #3 on our list had a bit more than just one fact, but overall it pretty much paints a picture of The Bronx that most outsiders don’t know. It shows the ever-changing face of the borough, and that’s one of the things that makes us such a vibrant place: our people.

A Borough of Bridges

*Locals enjoying the sun on the high Bridge, NYC’s oldest bridge.*

Another fun and exciting fact that sets The Bronx apart from the rest of the boroughs of New York City is that it’s the borough with the most connections by way of bridges to Manhattan.

There are a total of 13 spans connecting the two boroughs, of which two are exclusively for rail (Metro North and Amtrak) and one pedestrian-only bridge, aka The High Bridge, which also happens to be the oldest bridge in New York City.

No other borough comes even close, and the second runner-up is Brooklyn, with only three bridges.

City of The Bronx

*With a population of 1,472,654, The Bronx would be the seventh largest in America if it were an independent city.*

As of the 2020 census, The Bronx’s population has finally surpassed its original high of 1,471,701, which was set in 1970 just before the great decline where over a quarter million Bronxites fled the borough, and the population dropped by over 20% in just a decade.

By 1980, the population was just 1,168,972, leaving neighborhoods and blocks across the South Bronx just shells of their former selves.

Now, the population is 1,472,654, and if The Bronx were a city, it would be the 7th largest city in the United States based on population. Not too shabby for 42 square miles, huh?

The Greenest Borough of New York City

*One of the many trails in the Bronx River Forest section of Bronx Park just north of the New York Botanical Garden*

While many may already know that The Bronx is the greenest borough of New York City, with just over 25% of the land in the borough dedicated to parks, did you know that we also have the largest park in New York City?

It’s not just visitors to New York who assume that Central Park is the city’s largest park, but many who live within our own city don’t know that that honor actually goes to Pelham Bay Park, tucked away in the northeast corner of The Bronx.

At 2,765 acres, it’s more than three times the size of Central Park!

Also, besides Pelham Bay Park, three of the top ten largest parks in New York City are right here in The Bronx, with Van Cortlandt Park coming in the 3rd spot and Bronx Park, which includes The Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, coming in at 7th place on the list.

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

One of the best ice creams out there, at least according to us, started right here in The Bronx. Back in the 1920s, Häagen-Dazs^® made its debut here in our borough and was sold out of horse-drawn wagons!

So as you can see, this is just a small list of the many things that make The Bronx a special place. There are many more, but we’ll save that for another day!