The Bronx

August 17, 2023

Plan to bring Van Cortlandt Park’s Tibbetts Brook above ground moves forward

A plan to unearth parts of a body of water in the Bronx that has been covered for more than a century is moving forward. The New York City Public Design Commission on Monday unanimously approved the preliminary design plan for the Tibbetts Brook Daylight and Greenway Project in Van Cortlandt Park, a project that will help remove the brook's clean water from the sewer system and ultimately reduce flooding and sewage overflow into the Harlem River. The $133 million project could face delays due to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the land that is part of the construction project, according to the City.
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August 16, 2023

Two Bronx parks with fascinating NYC history may become landmarks

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar two Bronx parks with unique New York City history for possible landmark status. The Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved African Burial Ground is a colonial-era burial ground that includes the long-forgotten site of a cemetery for enslaved people. The Old Croton Aqueduct Walk is a popular walking path on top of the famous aqueduct that brought the city its first direct source of water in 1842.
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August 8, 2023

Redevelopment of historic armory in the Bronx moves forward

Plans to redevelop the historic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx have been revived after nearly three decades of discarded plans. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said a request for proposals will be issued next month to develop the landmark, which was built for military use in 1917 and has been largely vacant since the 1990s. In addition to a combined $200 million investment from the city and state, Adams and Hochul unveiled the "Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan," which includes the goals of the project as envisioned by the community and local stakeholders. With proposals due by the end of the year, construction could begin in 2027.
Details here
July 31, 2023

14 ways to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in NYC

On August 11, 1973, when DJing his sister's back-to-school party at an apartment building in the Bronx, DJ Kool Herc tried something new on the turntables, switching back and forth repeatedly between the same record. The pioneering technique, now known as the breakbeat, led to the creation of hip-hop. Now 50 years later, the genre has become a cultural phenomenon beyond music. As the birthplace of hip-hop, New York City has a ton in store for the genre's 50th anniversary, from massive concerts and block parties to immersive art and film screenings.
All the hip-hop happenings here
July 14, 2023

Lottery opens for 164 luxury rentals in Mott Haven, from $1,576/month

A two-building luxury rental development in the South Bronx opened a housing lottery this week for 164 mixed-income apartments. Dubbed Estela, the complex includes 544 brand-new units across a pair of buildings at 445 Gerard Avenue, located within a burgeoning stretch of Mott Haven. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 percent and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,576/month studios to $3,260/month two-bedrooms, with a concession of one month free on initial leases.
Find out if you qualify
July 7, 2023

85 brand-new affordable units available in Morris Heights, from $532/month

Applications are now being accepted for 85 affordable units at a new residential development in the Bronx. Located at 1544 Shakespeare Avenue in Morris Heights, St. Francis Commons offers residents brand-new apartments and a variety of amenities. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 50, and 70 of the area median income, or between $21,155 for a single person annually and $122,570 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $532/month one-bedrooms to $2,188/month three bedrooms.
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June 15, 2023

22 middle-income units available next to the Bronx Zoo, from $2,890/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 22 middle-income units in a new residential development across the street from the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo. Located at 2279 Barker Avenue in Allerton, the newly constructed luxury building offers residents spacious units with state-of-the-art appliances. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $99,086 annually for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the units, which include $2,890/month studios, $3,059/month one-bedrooms, and $3,599/month two bedrooms.
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June 13, 2023

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated two Bronx buildings associated with New York City's fire department as individual landmarks. Not only are the Engine Company 88/ Ladder Company 38 firehouse in Belmont and the Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office in West Farms architecturally significant, but they represent a period of evolution and growth for the city's fire department. The new landmarks also recognize a piece of Bronx history that has largely gone underappreciated.
Details here
May 24, 2023

1920s Riverdale estate has magnificent indoor pool house and landscaped grounds for $7.25M

A cliffside estate in one of New York City's most exclusive neighborhoods is now available for $7,250,000. Located at 700 West 247th Street in Riverdale, the 1920s Georgian home sits tucked away from the Hudson River waterfront on over an acre of flourishing landscape. In addition to containing five bedrooms and a six-car garage, the main house has a stunning fitness center with an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi.
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May 9, 2023

Lottery opens for 106 senior units at 100% affordable development in the Bronx

A new 16-story tower at a public housing development in the Bronx launched a housing lottery for 106 senior apartments last week. Located within NYCHA's Sotomayor Houses in Soundview, Casa Celina includes 205 units for low-income seniors, with 30 percent reserved for formerly homeless New Yorkers, community facilities, and amenities, including a rooftop terrace. Applicants must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older, qualifies for Section 8 benefits, and earns no more than $60,050 annually. Eligible New Yorkers will pay 30 percent of their income for the available studio and one-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
May 2, 2023

Live above the nation’s first hip hop museum in the Bronx, from $465/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 432 mixed-income units at Mott Haven's major waterfront project, Bronx Point. Located at 575 Exterior Street, Bronx Point is a 22-story mixed-use development with over 1,000 apartments, retail space, and the country's first permanent museum dedicated to hip hop. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 80, and 120 percent of the area median income, or between $18,515 annually for a single person and $198,600 for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $465/month studios to $3,332/month three bedrooms.
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April 13, 2023

Apply for 79 affordable apartments in the South Bronx, from $410/month

Applications are now being accepted for 79 affordable units at a new residential development in the South Bronx. Located at 1007 Union Avenue in Morrisania, Victory Commons offers residents supportive services, amenities, and a church sanctuary housed within the preexisting Victory Baptist Church. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $17,452 annually for a single person and $132,400 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, which range from $410/month studios to $2,252/month three bedrooms.
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April 5, 2023

City designates these NYC neighborhoods as ‘rat mitigation zones’

New York City this week named eight rat-prone neighborhoods as part of Mayor Eric Adams' quest to control the rodent population. According to a notice posted by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monday, the "rat mitigation zones," which are areas with "high levels of rat activity," include Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, Grand Concourse in the Bronx, and Chinatown, the East Village, the Lower East Side, and Harlem in Manhattan. As Crain's reported, these identified zones will be the focus of a multiagency effort to address the rats and the conditions that cause them, according to the city.
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March 30, 2023

Ride a vintage subway car to Yankee Stadium for the home opener

Yankee fans headed to the team's home opener on Thursday can arrive in the Bronx in style. The New York Transit Museum will run its historic 1917 IRT Lo-V train and the beloved Train of Many Colors from Grand Central-42nd Street to 161st-Street Yankee Stadium. The trains will depart at 11 a.m. sharp, giving eager baseball fanatics plenty of time before the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.
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March 29, 2023

A new stinky corpse flower will soon bloom at the New York Botanical Garden

New York City's famed foul-smelling flower is preparing to bloom. The Amorphophallus titanum, known as the "corpse flower" for the rancid odor it emits, is expected to bloom in the "next week or so" at the New York Botanical Garden. The unique flower, the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, takes years to form flower buds and has a bloom life cycle of just one or two days.
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March 22, 2023

7-mile Harlem River Greenway expansion connects Randall’s Island to Van Cortlandt Park

New York City is expanding the Harlem River Greenway to the Bronx. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced plans for a seven-mile continuous walking and biking path linking Randall's Island and Van Cortlandt Park. The new greenway aims to reconnect Bronxites to the Harlem River waterfront, which has been largely inaccessible since the construction of the Major Deegan Expressway in the 1930s.
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March 14, 2023

Two historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx may become city landmarks

Two Bronx buildings associated with the Fire Department of New York may become New York City landmarks. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the Firehouse, Engine Company 88/Ladder Company 38 in Belmont, and the Fire Alarm and Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office, both of which are architecturally significant and represent historic moments in the development of the city's fire department.
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March 8, 2023

156 affordable apartments available at 16-story Bronx rental, from $397/month

An affordable housing lottery opened this week for 156 apartments in the Bronx. Located at 1923 West Farms Road in West Farms, the 16-story rental dubbed Compass Six offers tenants spacious units and outdoor space. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $16,183 annually for a single person and $132,400 annually for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $397/month studios to $2,273/month three bedrooms.
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February 23, 2023

South Bronx development Bankside opens lottery for 145 middle-income units, from $2,525/month

Applications are currently being accepted for newly-constructed middle-income apartments at the massive mixed-use development Bankside in the South Bronx. As part of the project's second phase, Lincoln at Bankside contains 921 apartments, 145 of which are rent-restricted and available through the housing lottery. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between $86,572 annually for a single-person household and $215,150 annually for a household of seven can apply for the apartments, priced from $2,525/month studios to $4,373/month three-bedroom apartments.
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February 21, 2023

Lottery opens for 127 affordable apartments at sustainable, supportive development in the Bronx

A major new housing development in the Bronx is currently accepting applications for 127 newly constructed affordable apartments. Designed by Aufgang Architects, The Bronx Grove consists of two sustainable 11-story buildings in Bedford Park, a neighborhood home to Fordham University and the New York Botanical Garden. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments. For a handful of apartments available through the lottery, eligible residents will pay 30 percent of their income.
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February 15, 2023

NYBG’s 20th annual orchid show is inspired by ancient Chinese garden design

The New York Botanical Garden's treasured orchid show returns this month for its 20th year. Designed by guest artist Lily Kwong, The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with thousands of orchids and a fantastical landscape inspired by ancient Chinese garden design and artistic principles. Tickets are on sale now for the show, which opens Saturday, February 18, and runs through April 23.
See more here
January 25, 2023

The best local chocolate shops in NYC

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to crave chocolate. But the sugar-coated holiday certainly provides a good excuse to indulge. Far beyond the red-wrapped drugstore box, creating the sweet (or bitter) treat is now recognized as a craft all its own. Chocolate purveyors range from the old-fashioned to the eco-conscious to makers who hand-mix exotic ingredients and flavors. If you're really hooked, you can make an event of it at a chocolate-themed restaurant, factory tour, or private tasting. Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift for someone special or just a sweet snack, the New York City establishments listed here have something for every chocolate lover–and you can order online or visit the source right in your borough.
Find the chocolate of your dreams, this way
January 23, 2023

This $4.5M historic Riverdale home overlooks the Hudson River from an elegant veranda

Known as the Henry Atherton Villa, this extraordinary home at 5247 Independence Avenue was known at the turn of the 20th century as a gathering place for artists, poets, and society notables. Looking out over the Hudson River and the Palisades beyond, the property is 15 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan, surrounded by the verdant historic Bronx neighborhood of Riverdale. Built in 1830, the Gothic Revival style home received a Colonial Revival addition at the turn of the century. Asking $4,500,000, the home spans 10,000 square feet, with nine bedrooms, gracious lawns, a solarium, and a veranda with breathtaking river views.
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December 29, 2022

Snøhetta-designed Bronx library features a green glass facade inspired by trees

World-renowned architecture firm Snøhetta last week unveiled its design for a new library in the Bronx. The 12,000-square-foot Westchester Square Library, which will sit next to the historic Huntington Free Library on Glebe Avenue, will feature a striking green glass facade with abstract views of the neighborhood's trees, a way to pay homage to the Bronx's status as the city's "greenest borough," according to the firm. The library is being developed with the city's Department of Design and Construction and the New York Public Library.
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December 14, 2022

$87M restoration of historic Orchard Beach Pavilion kicks off in the Bronx

Construction kicked off this week on a project to reconstruct the historic bathhouse and pavilion at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. The city's Parks Department and the Economic Development Corporation on Tuesday broke ground on the $87 million reconstruction of the 140,000 square-foot landmarked pavilion, which includes a major renovation of its historic architecture, new amenities for the community, and increased accessibility.
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December 6, 2022

Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

Since 1992, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx has held its Holiday Train Show. The magical exhibit recreates 190 of New York City’s landmark buildings in miniature using plant materials like bark, leaves, and seeds. Twenty-five model trains zoom in and out of the cityscape over bridges and under tunnels, just like in the real-life city. The pieces of art are created by the team from Applied Imagination, which was founded by Paul Busse in 1991. The following year, he brought his creations to the NYBG. To learn more about this iconic holiday event, we spoke to Joanna Groarke, vice president for exhibitions and programming at NYBG.
Everything you need to know
November 17, 2022

Lottery opens for 72 affordable co-ops in Soundview, available to buy from $183K

A housing lottery opened for 72 newly-constructed co-ops available for purchase in the South Bronx. Located at 1715 Lacombe Avenue in Soundview, the apartments are available to New Yorkers earning 80, 83, and 90 percent of the area median income, or between $61,030 for a single person and $148,950 for a household of seven. The homes are priced between $183,700 for a one-bedroom and $275,000 for a three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify