EXCLUSIVE: Amid Re-development of Kingsbridge Armory, Rents To Double For Some In August

By David Cruz The Norwood News has learned rents have doubled for small business owners just across from the Kingsbridge Armory, in a move that’s considered a first major push to weed out retailers on the eve of the Armory’s redevelopment. The move foreshadows a possible trend in the working class neighborhood that could see an exodus of existing retail tenants. Retailers at over a dozen diners, stores and other retail establishments were sent a letter by New Kingsbridge LLC informing them that rents will double come August 1. The news has stunned many business owners in the working class

by David Cruz The latest of the Norwood News is out, found at nearly 200 locations throughout the northwest Bronx. Here we highlight several stories worth reading: First up, the fate of the Shrine of St. Ann’s Church on Bainbridge Avenue is up in the air following a financial review by the Archdiocese. Our own Pamela Segura followed that story. We also take you to Fordham and a lobby newsstand allegedly forced to withdraw from its coffee sales after a Starbucks opens in the same building. Check out what the coffee giant had to say about the move. And finally, we offer

Job Fair Slated For July 10 At DeWitt Clinton HS

By the Norwood News The unemployment rate still stands in the double-digits in the Bronx, earning the distinction as the most jobless or underemployed county in the state. Efforts have been made to curb the numbers, with job fairs happening throughout the borough. The latest is set for tomorrow, Thursday, July 10, as Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, representing the Bedford Park/Norwood communities, will host the 2nd annual Bronx Job Fair at DeWitt Clinton High School at 100 West Mosholu Parkway South. The job fair will feature over four-dozen employers from the healthcare, retail, transportation and administrative sectors. Adding to the push to

By PAMELA SEGURA There is speculation that Shrine Church of St. Ann’s, a neighborhood staple in Norwood, could shut its doors. The church, on Bainbridge Avenue at Gun Hill Road since 1927, serves as the foundation for St. Ann’s School, a middle school located above the church.

Bronx 100 Scavenger Hunt Slated For July 12

By the Norwood News So how knowledgeable are you about the Bronx? You can put that knowledge along with your hunting skills to the test with the Bronx 100 Scavenger Hunt, a promotional event by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Tourism Council. On July 12, a total of 40 teams will be vying for first place as they scour the Bronx to identify key landmarks of the borough through a series of clues revealed that day. The event serves a two-fold purpose–allowing residents to understand the Bronx more while advancing the Borough Office’s Bronx Centennial celebration. “Throughout our

by David Cruz Business at this coffee shop’s been grounded. Profits have tanked for the operator of a newsstand in the lobby of One Fordham Plaza, the enormous 12-story complex that’s home to offices occupied by city, state and medical agencies. That’s because the owner of the stand was ordered to stop selling coffee following a deal struck between the management company and the newly-opened Starbucks coffeehouse in the building’s ground level. The Starbucks opened last month, considered somewhat of an encore for the Seattle-based coffee company. Several years ago a Starbucks had opened on West Fordham Road, then closed.

By LAWRENCE HELLER At the Escape Restaurant, the newest eatery in the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District, the BID’s Board of Directors held its annual meeting on June 10 to outline its hits and future ambitions.

The Norwood News is once again proud to present the latest edition of Bronx Youth Heard, a special publication reported, researched and written solely by Bronx high school students. The students were part of a 12-week program that exposed them to the basics of journalism, the mechanics of writing and the empowerment of civic mindedness. Our instructor, Katina Paron, worked closely to harness their talents, which are here for Norwood News readers to see. Before we close, we want to thank several folks: Councilman Fernando Cabrera and former Councilman Joel Rivera for allocating the funds needed to keep the program running, Hostos Community College

By DAVID CRUZ Editor’s Note: The Norwood News presents part two of a special two-part report on the nature of limited liability corporations and its relation to housing matters.