Despite overwhelming disapproval and community opposition, New York City Department of City Planning has approved the Jerome Avenue Rezoning Plan and has been sent to the city council for a vote where it is pretty much guaranteed to pass.
You can begin to say goodbye to the neighborhoods along the rezoning area as they will undoubtedly be forever changed as developers will begin to knock down and build up.
City Limits writes:
“De la Uz voted against the rezoning. While acknowledging the benefits of the Certificate of No Harassment pilot program and the creation of a universal right-to-counsel for low-income tenants in housing court, she said the city’s proposal “lacks a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the increased displacement risk for the existing rent-stabilized housing stock.”
She also said that while she supports “activating the corridor and limiting conflicting uses,” she felt the city didn’t have an adequate plan in place to support the relocation of auto-sector businesses that she says will be displaced by the rezoning. “No comprehensive analysis was done of how those auto-businesses are interdependent and who is in those jobs,” she said. “The city continues to reduce areas zoned for manufacturing throughout the city without a comprehensive assessment of how those changes may cumulatively impact goods and services New Yorkers need and the decent jobs [that could be] lost, [employment accessible] often to immigrants and individuals with limited education. This is inconsistent with the mayor’s 100,000 jobs plan.”
With the City Planning Commission’s sanction, the plan now moves to the City Council, which has 50 days to take action on the proposal. All eyes are now on Bronx councilmembers Vanessa Gibson and Fernando Cabrera, whose districts cover the rezoning footprint, to negotiate the plan’s final details.
It’s a sad day when the city ignores the will of the people who will be directly impacted by such a poorly thought out rezoning.
Destination Tomorrow Expands LGBTQ Service Portfolio and Moves Forward with Bronx LGBTQ Center Expansion
The Bronx, NY – Destination Tomorrow, the Bronx’s leading trans-organization, in partnership with LGBTQ funders and the Bronx LGBTQ Caucus have announced plans to construct the Bronx LGBTQ Center in the Melrose section of the South Bronx. The creation of the Bronx LGBTQ Center fills a void in the Bronx, which for nearly one decade has been the only borough in New York City without an LGBTQ Center. The Bronx LGBTQ Center will expand Destination Tomorrow’s mission to serve the entire borough by providing holistic services in the areas of health and human services as well as wrap around programs to address workforce development, bullying, educational and vocational training, arts and cultural equity, housing, and economic development capacity building. This organizational growth, developed after significant strategic planning, will close the New York City LGBTQ equity gap and provide services for Bronxites by a grassroots Bronx-based organization.
A new LGBTQ Center for The Bronx may soon occupy the upper floors of the old Sachs building on Third Avenue in The Hub./ Rendering courtesy of AQC Architects
The Bronx LGBTQ Center will develop innovative solutions for the Bronx’s LGBTQ population throughout the lifespan as the Center seeks to:
work to end homophobia and transphobia,
provide a home, safe space, and holistic service model for the Bronx LGBTQ community,
and to advocate for equality.
Renderings for the new center, stemming from an LGBTQ Community Needs Assessment were released in November and signaled the organic expansion of Destination Tomorrow’s service portfolio. The momentum behind the planning efforts was confirmed during the organization’s annual gala where elected officials and leaders in the Bronx LGBT movement signaled their support of Destination Tomorrow’sefforts.
In a recent letter the Mayor Bill De Blasio, the New York City Congressional Caucus stated, “[T]he Bronx remains without an LGBTQ Community Center, and continues to be the sole borough in New York City without one. As you may know, community centers play a vital role in enriching the lives of residents and the neighborhoods they call home. Whether providing easy access to quality, safe programs and services or directing families to the appropriate channels to receive the much-needed assistance they are seeking, community centers are a crucial safety net for many. We strongly believe that no one should be forced to travel outside of their neighborhood in order to obtain essential care readily accessible in neighboring communities. For these reasons, we ask that you work to improve LGBTQ services in the Bronx by helping open an LGBTQ community center.”
“Destination Tomorrow has consistently provided evidence-based programs and wrap around services to the Bronx LGBTQ community,” said Sean Coleman, Executive Director of Destination Tomorrow. “After significant planning, listening to input from our community throughout the entire borough, and building relationships with funders, the business community, and fellow LGBTQ service providers, we decided the new center was not a want, but rather a need – and Destination Tomorrow is fully equipped to fill that need by providing services to our community from a brick and mortar LGBTQ Center.”
A rooftop memorial garden for Bronx LGBTQ residents who have perished due to HIV/AIDS, transgender and anti-gay violence./Rendering courtesy of AQC Architects
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has been very supportive of Destination Tomorrow and their inroads to creating a holistic LGBTQ service model dedicating his assistance to the organization during its December 2017 Gala. Additionally, the Bronx Borough President has committed support to LGBT initiatives in the borough providing $600,000 to the SAGE project and $100,000 to the Callen-Lorde clinic, “These are two projects that I am very excited about,” adding they are “unique projects that provide much needed help in the LGBTQ community.”
Over the next three months Destination Tomorrow will release its strategic plan, expand the base of its Board of Directors, and work to identify appropriate staffing to accommodate growth into the Bronx center. In tandem, construction of the LGBTQ Center will launch in the second quarter of 2018.
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About Destination Tomorrow:
Destination Tomorrow is a grassroots agency located in the South Bronx that provides services to and for the LGBTQ community. It is our belief that no one should have to leave their neighborhood to access LGBTQ specific services. It is our belief that all LGBTQ young people deserve a space to grow, learn and flourish. It is our belief that people, regardless of their sexual identity or gender expression deserve a space they can call their own.
Destination Tomorrow has comprehensive programs and services both in house and referral based. We also offer capacity building to agencies who wish to work with LGBTQ communities but lack the cultural competency and expertise. We strive for excellence as an agency and for our community.
An amazing 91 year old Bronx man still goes to work everyday at the multi-million dollar manufacturing company he founded in Hunts Point which is one of the largest black-owned manufacturing companies in America.
According to the video below from NY1, Leon Eastmond has been working since the tender age of 12 and eventually built the current business from his father’s welding and repair business that was started back in 1926.
Eastmond talks about how by the 1940s, when the business had turned into manufacturing fuel tanks, potential clients turned him away because of his skin color but he eventually won their support.
Because of these early hardships, he’s gone on to make sure he gives back to the community by providing opportunities to those who typically wouldn’t get any like the formerly incarcerated and unskilled workers.
Watch the video below and let’s celebrate this amazing man and his entrepreneurial spirit, the stuff The Bronx is made of!
Leon Eastmond has been working since he was 12 years old. At age 91, he has no plans to step away from the multi-million dollar manufacturing company that he built in the Bronx. “You know why so many people are anxious to retire? They don’t like what they do,” Arlington Leon Eastmond said.
Each year, New York City’s Historic District Council selects that they believe, “…merit preservation…” and become priorities for the organization over the course of the year for advocacy and consultation.
We’re super excited that for 2018 they have selected two Bronx locations steeped in history: Westchester Square and Arthur Avenue home of New York City’s REAL Little Italy.
The landmark St Peter’s Episcopal Church rises above the Westchester Square Station on the 6 subway line and was built between 1853 and 1855. It is also the home of the Bronx Academy of Art and Dance.
HDC writes about Westchester Square:
Westchester Square, now a major transportation hub in the northeast Bronx, was once home to a critical location in the birth of our nation. Hidden in plain sight, sites such as Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Westchester Creek were crucial to American victory in the Revolutionary War. Other sites such as the Huntington Library and above-ground subway station serve as vestiges of the early 20th century innovation and architectural character that continue to anchor the neighborhood today. The Westchester Square Business Improvement District is working to rebrand the area with a focus on its rich history. This public awareness campaign will involve formally documenting its history and commemorating important events through the installation of plaques in and around the Square.
On Arthur Avenue:
Arthur Avenue, the long-time home of The Bronx’s Little Italy, has been a haven for Italian-Americans, Italophiles and curious tourists seeking an authentic shopping and dining experience for generations. In a city that is constantly evolving, its family-run businesses offer consistency, quality and a connection to the past on a storied and historic street. To capture the essence of this place, the Belmont Business Improvement District will undertake a series of oral histories with key constituents and develop an official tour of the area. These place-making initiatives will serve to enhance the public’s experience of and appreciation for Arthur Avenue, as well as ensure that its history is not forgotten. The group also seeks to investigate zoning tools to protect the character and scale of the neighborhood.
It is because of organizations like HDC that we’re able to preserve historic places in New York City for future generations and without their hard work side by side with local residents, New York City just wouldn’t be the same.
These two neighborhoods offer distinct views into our borough’s past, present and a peek into our future which is why it’s important for preservation of these neighborhoods lest they fall under a greedy developer’s crane.
414 Gerard Avenue, just south of 149th Street is slated to be complete within 18 months.
An economically diverse neighborhood is crucial for its financial stability and that is something we won’t deny. In a perfect world, low-income families can co-exist with middle and high-income families in the same neighborhood without fear of displacement or lacking services geared towards their economic demographics but sadly in the real world, that’s not how it works.
So as great as it sounds that housing is being being planned for the middle class in the South Bronx (after all, this demographic does exist within the neighborhoods of the South Bronx) it simply makes one cringe as little to nothing is being done for the absolute most vulnerable who are not only facing severe rent burdens and being one paycheck away from homelessness but oftentimes find themselves in overcrowded apartments to help ease the rent burden or from having taken in friends or family that may have recently become homeless themselves.
Treetop Development is bringing two buildings to the Lower Concourse area in Mott Haven which was rezoned back in 2009 to allow a transition from manufacturing and industrial towards residential, something which for years didn’t pick up much steam until the past 3 years when construction on the first developments in the area finally began.
414 Gerard Avenue will have an 11 story building with 134 units according to plans filed this week and will eventually be accompanied by a 14 story building across the street with 300 units. According to the developer, both buildings will have a mix of “affordable” housing along with market-rate units.
In an article in the Real Deal, developer Azi Mandel was quoted as saying, “We’re excited and I hope we start a trend for new construction for the middle-class.”
We need a strong middle-class, but what about excitement for the most vulnerable in our communities and building truly affordable housing for them?
A survey done last year of New York City playgrounds revealed the presence of Toxocara eggs from a parasite that can cause blindness, respiratory problems, liver function, and negative impact on cognitive abilities especially in children.
The survey was conducted at 21 parks across the city with 9 testing positive for the eggs but more startling was that 75% of samples from Bronx parks revealed eggs in the larval stage that are considered to be more infectious according to The New York Times. Manhattan parks tested revealed in this stage.
The article goes on to say that these parasites are typically found in cats and dogs but more prevalent in strays than our furry friends at home and the parasites are generally transmitted via fecal matter, which of course, can pretty much be found everywhere thanks to our feral populations.
More worrisome is that as many as 85% doctors do not know much about the infection beyond basic understanding of it and not even half correctly diagnosed this infection according to The New York Times.
This one made me laugh when it came across my desk. Apparently $1,900 is “affordable” for a two bedroom in The Bronx according to a new offering on NYC’s Housing Connect.
There are currently 5 units available for residents making 130% of the Area Median Income which ranges from $49,715 – $86,840 for a single person looking for a $1,450 1 bedroom unit to a family of four making anywhere from $65,143 – $124,020 for a two bedroom unit at $1,900.
The apartments are located at 2548 Cruger Avenue and right around the corner from the Allerton Avenue stop on the 2 train pretty much centrally located to the area’s bustling shopping district and a stone’s throw away from Pelham Parkway and White Plains Road shopping district as well.
If you want to apply, head on over to NYC Housing Connect and do so. Good luck!
If you are a Bronx resident who identifies as LGBTQ then please take this needs assessment survey which will be used by the Office of the Bronx Borough President to better understand the needs of our community.
As you are perhaps painfully aware, our borough has been lacking an official LGBTQ center of its own for over 5 years but we’re working to change that and have a vision of getting one at The Hub in Melrose back where it once was.
During this time, however, Destination Tomorrow has stepped up to the plate and has filled the void by serving as our “unofficial” LGBTQ Center so it is important that we support them because without Destination Tomorrow, The Bronx LGBTQ community would truly be without a strong voice.
The Bronx coalition of Business Improvement Districts have issued a joint statement on the selection of top New York City Council leadership posts strengthening our borough and placing Bronx council members at the head of some of the most powerful committees in the city.
The statement issued by the Bronx BIDs is as follows:
New York City Council Leadership Posts Announced
Bronx Business Improvement Districts Support Committee Leadership Appointments
Salamanca, Gjonaj, Torres, Gibson, Cohen, Ayala, and Cabrera build the Bronx’s power-base
The Bronx, New York – The Bronx Business Improvement Districts, a coalition of nine (9) business improvement districts representing over one thousand five hundred (1,500) small businesses in the borough, strongly support the New York City Council Committee Leadership appointments announced today by Speaker Corey Johnson. Speaker Johnson, a Manhattan Democrat, outlined his leadership team and Council committee chair and membership assignments during this afternoon’s Stated Meeting. The Bronx Business Improvement Districts noted that the shift in the number of Bronx-led committee leadership positions strengthens the borough and places Councilmembers with significant experience in their respective industries as leaders of some of the Council’s most powerful committees. Similarly, the committee leadership announcements create a more equitable voice for outer borough stakeholders.
Council Member Mark Gjonaj’s selection as Chair of the Council Committee on Small Business was unanimously supported by the Bronx Business Improvement Districts as Gjonaj brings on the ground small business experience to the position and has worked tirelessly to improve his district’s economic development capacity, first as Assembly Member and now as Council Member. Likewise, the selection of Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. as the Council’s Chair of the Land Use Committee highlights Councilmember Salamanca’s experience in working with all stakeholders on land use matters first as District Manager and later as Councilmember with district boundaries including a diverse array of uses; including two (2) business improvement districts, large industrial properties, and rapidly emerging housing developments.
Council Member Vanessa Gibson brings a tremendous amount of experience and intellect as she becomes Chair of the Subcommittee on Budget. This is especially significant as the Bronx has a pipeline of large scale capital projects scheduled for the next five (5) years.
The creation of new leadership positions and committees continues the New York City Council’s plan to modernize and more robustly engage with community stakeholders. In addition to key Council Committee positions, Speaker Johnson named Council Member Laurie Cumbo as Majority Leader. Council Member Fernando Cabrera as Majority Whip, Council Member Robert Cornegy, Jr. as Chair of the Democratic Conference, Council Member Rafael Espinal, Jr. as Deputy Leader for Digital Communication, and Council Member Brad Lander as Deputy Leader for Policy. Councilmember Ritchie Torres has been named as Chair of the Council Committee on Oversight and Investigation, a newly created committee.
“Speaker Johnson’s Council committee and leadership announcements provide insight into his leadership style and future of the New York City Council,” noted the Bronx Business Improvement Districts in a statement. “By selecting committee chairs and leadership with on the ground experience with real world challenges, Speaker Johnson has positioned the Council to bring the conversation of equity to a new level. The Bronx Business Improvement Districts are heartened by the announcement and look forward to working with the Council’s leadership team.”
Since it was first announced as the Cromwell-Jerome Study area, thousands of local residents and business owners have joined together in protest against the rezoning citing concerns of displacement and that City Planning will just pave the way for gentrification of the area.
The vast majority of the corridor, dominated by the elevated 4 subway line, is made up of primarily low-density commercial buildings, many of which are home to hundreds of mom and pop businesses including dozens of auto shops providing a pathway to a strong working middle class existence in this city.
But all that is now threatened as the city moves forward to likely approve this rezoning from industrial to mixed-use residential and commercial that is projected to create 3,250 new residential units, 723,000 square feet of space dedicated for community use, and approximately 35,000 square feet of retail.
And at what cost you may be asking yourself? The cost goes beyond simply losing 47,000 square feet of industrial space and 98,000 square feet of auto-related businesses but the skilled middle-class jobs that are currently housed in these spaces many of which have been in families for generations and are immigrant and people of color owned and operated.
CityLimits is producing a series of videos on the topic as we get closer to New York City Council voting (and undoubtedly approving) on the Jerome Avenue Rezoning which is scheduled for next Wednesday, January 17th.
In the first video we have Bronx resident Carmen Rivera-Vega who has lived in the area for 37 years and is also a local tenant activist and a leader over at CASA (Community Action for Safe Apartments).
The second video features Frank Amato, a recent transplant to The Bronx who has only lived here for 3 years and, you guessed it, is for the rezoning (I guess that’s an easy position to take when you don’t have ties to the area like residents who’ve lived there for generations).
But, he also has concerns about the displacement of the autoshops and workers.
Watch both videos below and let us know what you think:
Six students from Bronx Alliance Middle School in Edenwald are raising money to attend the Envision Summer STEM Program this summer.
The six-day program will immerse these bright young Bronxites in the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with hands on simulations and workshops as they plan for a “Mission to Mars.”
According to the program description, “Few fields are more important to the future of mankind than STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—and few show as much promise for future career opportunities. Virtually all career fields today require a solid foundation of STEM, and that’s precisely why these are the fastest growing areas of study—and the reason that STEM professionals are in the highest demand throughout the world.”
To that end, the kids have a gofundme campaign to raise $11,200 to cover tuition, housing and other costs associated with the program so kindly donate or share this to help these kids.
If you all donatedjust even $1 we can get these kids there and ensure that they have a bright future!
650 Bronx properties entered first time foreclosure in 2017 representing a 44% increase over the previous year.
The majority of foreclosures were located in the East Bronx with the 10469 zip code, covering neighborhoods like Williamsbridge, Allerton, Baychester, and Pelham Gardens, leading with 84 foreclosures.
According to PropertyShark who put the report together and has the most comprehensive database of foreclosures for New York City, there was a 58% increase in such first time foreclosures across New York City with Staten Island leading the pack with a 134% increase over 2016.
