LATEST NEWS

Albert Einstein and The Bronx: Happy Pi Day!

Here’s a favorite tidbit of Bronx history we’re reposting in honor of Albert Einstein!

Happy π Day! Not only is this a day we celebrate the mathematical constant known as Pi (thus 3.14) but it is also the birthday of the late Albert Einstein…what a wonderful coincidence that he was born on this day!

One day after his 74th birthday, he agreed to attach his name to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine right here in the Bronx which opened its doors in 1955.

It was a wonderful moment for the Bronx to have the honor of becoming home to the first medical college to open in NYC since 1897 back at that time.
Since then, the institution is renowned for its excellence and leadership in several medical areas.

Celebrate the Bronx!

Protecting Our History, Protecting Our Landmarks in The Bronx

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15th, at the District Office of Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson for a meeting with the Historic District Council and how they can help us help our beloved Bronx landmarks (official and unofficial). Space is limited so PLEASE RSVP to auntermyr[at]hdc[dot]org!

HDC’s Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach, Kelly Carroll and Deputy Director Adrian Untermyer will be attending this meeting and training.

Help Make The Bronx’s New York Botanical Garden #1!

Our beloved institution, The New York Botanical Garden, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year we have a shot at bragging rights for making NYBG the top out of 10 botanical gardens for USA Today!

All you have to do is go and vote for NYBG at the following link and you can do so every day (the countdown clock will tell you when your next chance to vote is).

We already know it’s #1 so why not make sure that the world knows it?!

Exclusive: First Market Rate Condos Planned for E 138th Street in Lower Concourse Rezoning Area

The gentrification of the South Bronx is in full swing despite denials by our borough president, Ruben Diaz Jr, that it isn’t happening.

Yesterday we reported on the expansion of the landmarked Clocktower Loft Apartments and today we share the exclusive story of the first market-rate condominiums coming to the Lower Concourse Rezoning Area.

The old 2 story factories at 221 E 138th Street at Canal Place has been torn down and in its place will rise a 7 story, 50 unit condominium development with ground floor commercial space according to Anthony Gurino of Tahoe Development which purchased the buildings for $2,800,000 in September 2015.

Rendering of Landmark Clocktower Expansion in Port Morris Revealed

Rising adjacent to the historic Clocktower Loft building is a new 6 story, 128,340 square foot residential expansion adding 190 units to the 95 unit loft building—oh and did we mention the enclosed pool?

The rendering is from architectural firm Karl Fischer Architect who is the architectural firm listed on NYC’s Department of Building’s database. One has to scratch their heads as to why a firm that is so despised in NYC was chosen for the project.

LATEST NEWS

The Bronx is Close to Breaking Its Population Record Set in 1970

In 1970, The Bronx registered a historic population record of 1,471,701 residents—and then the great decline led to a 20% drop by 1980 as over 300,000 people fled the chaos our borough was thrown into by government officials with planned shrinkage, landlords torching their properties, redlining, and a host of other systemic issues that plagued our borough of which we still feel the impact today.

Now, as of 2014 census estimates, The Bronx has an estimated population of 1,438,159—just 33,542 shy of our historic high in 1970.

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Plans Filed for Yet Another Affordable Housing Development in Melrose

Development doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon in Melrose, The Bronx’s unofficial downtown neighborhood.

After a lull in construction for a few years, developments are either in the process of breaking ground, in the middle of construction, almost complete or just filing applications in the neighborhood.

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Four Bronxites Talk About Growing Up in Co-op City & Other parts of The Bronx

Curbed has launched its new series called ‘New York Narratives’ which takes a look at “Lifelong New Yorkers share stories commemorating, celebrating, and reflecting on the lived experience in New York City” and with its first series, 4 Bronx residents talk about growing up in Co-op City, Mott Haven, Highbridge, in the East Bronx along the 6 line, and living in Morris Park.

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Bronx Woman Helen Kane Was Inspiration For Betty Boop

Born in 1904 in The Bronx and attended St Anselm’s Roman Catholic school on Tinton Avenue, Helen Clare Schroeder would eventually become the inspiration for one of the most iconic and lasting cartoon characters, Betty Boop.

Little did Helen Kane, a German-Irish Catholic woman from The Bronx (as she later became known), know that her likeness would set the globe ablaze as one of the first and most famous of all sex symbols in all the world of animation.

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A Riot of Color Awaits As the Orchids Are Back in ‘Orchidelirium’ at The New York Botanical Garden!

This year’s Orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden, ‘Orchidelirium’ is just a riot of color in all shapes and sizes.

From tiny orchids the size of a mosquito to the larger, more “traditional” ones we’re used to seeing, NYBG’s 14th annual orchid show delivers not just a visual feast for the senses but one chock full of knowledge and tales of conquests by the hunters who discovered some of these species.

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Popular East Harlem Bakery Opens Bronx Location in Melrose

In the heart of El Barrio aka East Harlem is Capri Bakery on 116th between Lexington and 3rd Avenue since 1984.

Now, after working on opening their second location for over a year, Capri is open for business and is already a hit having only opened this past Thursday.

As I sit here eating a typical Cuban and Puerto Rican pastelito de guayaba con queso—guava filled pastry with cheese—and a nice warm cup of tea, dozens of people have come and gone happily after purchasing their fresh baked delights.

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