Tag: Mott Haven

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.

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.

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.

New York Restoration Project Presents Bold Plan Moving The Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan Closer To Reality

Thanks to community residents from Port Morris and Mott Haven in The South Bronx—along with local institutions, community based organizations and businesses—the vision for a sustainable waterfront and access to it by local residents has taken one leap closer to becoming reality and as soon as a 2017 groundbreaking.

Vacant Lot in The South Bronx Sells For Over $15 Million—Is The Area No Longer Affordable?

Let’s face it: We already knew that developers were going to set their eyes on The Bronx, often called “The Last Frontier” by real estate developers and moguls due to The South Bronx’s proximity to Manhattan and excellent transportation network but as speculative purchases are made on properties far more than their actual worth, is it over for those trying to make a quick buck on our back?

198 E 135th Street, which was owned by storage company CubeSmart, was sold on May 12, 2015 for $15,470,000 to Deegan 135 Realty LLC.

Is This The Bronx’s Future? Displaced, Dispersed, Disappeared: What Happens to Families Forced Out of Bushwick?

Coming Soon: Bushwick…If We Let It.

The following is syndicated from CityLimits and is very appropriate and applicable to The Bronx as signs of gentrification continue to manifest itself in the South Bronx. Is this what Bronx residents have to look forward to as developers are given free reign by our politicians to come into our neighborhoods and development with rampant disregard?

New York City has become a sterile, cookie-cutter “suburban” city. Neighborhoods in Manhattan and many parts of Brooklyn no longer have a distinct character or are losing them and becoming more homogeneous. Is this what we really want to happen to The Bronx?

Special Harlem River Waterfront District Visioning Session: Real Grassroots Planning Or Just Business As Usual?

On Tuesday, May 5th, the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation—better known as SoBro—held a “second” visioning session on the Special Harlem River Waterfront District to discuss the issues of developing the waterfront, residential, needs, and gentrification issues.

The reason I say second in quotes is because SoBro held a block party last year where they had a small station in a corner where they collected surveys about the waterfront yet that was never heavily promoted. Many residents were unaware that a “first” session had occurred.

Will Mott Haven Become The Next Williamsburg? We Sure Hope Not

DNAinfo published a piece yesterday that pretty much hyped up the area’s prospects of pending gentrification much to our chagrin.

Unlike a recent piece on Melrose which focuses on revitalization, this piece is more on the pro-gentrification side which will cause much displacement of long time residents.

Right now, rents are so high in the area that those living in rent stabilized unit wouldn’t be able to afford moving in at this point in time.

It also goes on to talk about a lot of what we’ve been reporting in the area about speculative purchases, etc and the money that’s been pouring in.

Bronx BP Proposes Development Over Several Rail Yards

About 3 years ago, Welcome2TheBronx wrote about the possibility of having the Metro North rail yards in Melrose at 149th Street decked over much like the Hudson Rail Yards and have it developed into office space and affordable housing. Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr made a similar proposal along with two other Bronx locations stating that since Queens didn’t want it to happen at the Sunnyside yards, The Bronx would be happy to take those monies.

The other 2 locations identified are the 4 train rail yards by Lehman College in Bedford Park just west of the Grand Concourse and the 1 train rail yards just west of Broadway between Riverdale and Kingsbridge.

Exclusive: BxArts Factory Reveals New Home Just in Time for Their Launch Party Tonight

Many Bronxites and artists have been talking about the new arts organization, BxArts Factory, since we made the announcement last month on the inception of the this endeavor. Now, today, in anticipation of their launch party tonight at the Bronx Museum, they’ve revealed to Welcome2TheBronx their location.

The BxArts Factory will located in the nationally landmarked Brook Avenue Gardens building on 148th Street and Brook Avenue in Mott Haven at the border of Melrose.

Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito Provides Funding For Major Capital Improvements to St Mary’s Park

St. Mary’s Park in Mott Haven, the recreational heart for thousands of residents of the South Bronx, is getting a face-lift thanks to $1.5 million in funds allocated by New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito who’s district covers the park.

The monies will be used to reconstruct the western playground area along St. Ann’s Avenue and the community is being invited to contribute their visions and ideas for their park on Wednesday, March 4th between 6pm – 8pm at Heketi Community Charter School.