Real Estate

The Rent Really is Too Damn High: Affordable Housing Not So Affordable After All

The Daily News just released an exclusive report on how some affordable tenants are paying high rents—something we’ve been saying all along how “affordable housing” isn’t truly affordable.

Just this year Courtlandt Corners, an “affordable housing” development in Melrose (built by Phipps) began calling one of their buildings The Upton in a media campaign that would pop up in online ads calling it “affordable luxury”.
“Nearly half of the affordable apartment tenants in a new survey say they’re now spending more than 30% of their income on rent — a level considered “rent-burdened.”

A stunning 14% say they’re spending more than 50% of their income on rent, which makes them “severely rent-burdened.”

The findings emerge in a report to be released Wednesday by the housing advocates Real Affordability for All.

South Bronx Rebranding Begins With Billboard Proclaiming ‘The Piano District’

Developers Somerset Partners and the Chetrit Group who are planning as many as six 25 story residential market rate towers (of which 3 have already been filed with the Department of Buildings for construction) has put up a new billboard proclaiming the area of Port Morris as the ‘Piano District’.

The billboard is prominently aimed at Manhattan and drivers who are heading home to the posh suburbs of Westchester County and Connecticut as they head on home, easily viewing the sign.

The billboard promises, luxury waterfront living, world-class dining, fashion, art, and architecture in a neighborhood where the majority are living well below the poverty line and are fighting for their very lives as they suffer health disparities disproportionately more than others across the city.

Exclusive Gentrification, Um Halloween Party Being Held in The Bronx By Developer; Celebrity A Listers Lending Names To Event

The gentrification wars in the South Bronx have taken an interesting and pretty repulsive turn for the worse.

An exclusive Halloween party is being planned for the Harlem River waterfront right across from Mott Haven Bar and Grill by Somerset Partners and the Chetrit Group at one of their recent purchase where 3 of reportedly six 25 story residential market rate towers have been filed for with Department of Buildings for construction.

Melrose Construction Boom Hits Neighborhood Again; First Market Rate Development Coming to The Neighborhood

In the first wave of construction in Melrose, over 3,000 units of “affordable” housing were constructed bringing thousands of new residents into the area and making the neighborhood the fastest growing neighborhood in The Bronx and 3rd fastest in New York City as per the 2010 census.

Now Melrose is experiencing its second wave of major construction as the last remaining parcels of what was once empty lots filled with the rubble of burnt out and abandoned buildings are being filled in with new affordable developments and even market-rate developments with over 2.1 million square feet of developments are in various phases of construction

Developers of Port Morris Waterfront Towers Say 1 Bedroom to Rent for $3,750; Begin to Snatch Up Retail Spaces in the Area

In a pro-gentrification piece written by The New York Times, it was announced by one of the developers of the three 25 story residential towers (of 6) planned for the South Bronx Harlem River waterfront, that 1 bedrooms would rent for a mind-blowing $3,750.

Bronx Photo League Documents The People of Jerome Avenue; Exhibition Opens October 3rd

From a 3rd generation Jewish shopkeeper, to a Salvadoran auto worker, to an African hairdresser and a Latina nail salon worker, these are the people that the Bronx Documentary Center’s Bronx Photo League have been documenting for many months now for their upcoming exhibition, ‘Jerome Avenue Workers Project’.

Last year, New York City Department of City Planning announced that they were studying the “Cromwell-Jerome” area of The Bronx—an area that doesn’t exist which spurred fears of rebranding and gentrification—for possible rezoning due to rise in population and projected increases in population over the next several decades.

South Bronx Gentrification Begins: Plans Officially Filed for Three 25 Story Residential Towers

Barely a year since we reported properties on either side of the Third Avenue Bridge approach were purchased for obscene and speculative amounts, three of the lots have had recent plans filed for three 25 story residential towers which, if approved, will bring what appears to be 1,661 market rate units to the area.

Come Party With the Bronx Musical Heritage Center In Melrose With A Big Block Party

Enjoy outdoor festivities on a car-free street as WHEDco and the Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC) shut down the streets for live performances, face painting, games, free health screenings, arts activities, and much more! Lets wrap up the summer in proper block party fashion.

Re-Imagining The Grand Concourse Tonight At The Bronx Museum

Tonight at the Bronx Museum between 6:30PM and 9:00PM, the community has a chance to envision what the Grand Concourse should and can look like.

The Grand Boulevard and Concourse, as it was originally known, is The Bronx’s most treasured thoroughfare as well as the closest we have to a “Main Street”. We were able to preserve part of the Concourse by pushing for landmark status which it received in 2011.