The Buzz of a New Mural, Courtesy of UNHP

By MICHAEL TURAY

Alfredo Bennett, commonly known as the Royal KingBee, led the ceremonial ribbon cutting that unveiled his eye-catching mural on a brickwall at 45-57 W. Tremont Ave., a 51-unit apartment complex near Kingsland Plaza in Tremont, on June 19. A round of applause and loud cheers followed as the Bronx native grinned proudly. The mural–a kaleidoscopic honeycomb that includes KingBee’s signature metallic-style bee–included with phrases such as “Reclaim” and “Save our Swarm” spray painted. In a way the mural captures the story of the apartment building, which, in the 1990s, had been completely rundown. This new display is a far cry

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s thirteenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s almost something happening in this corner of the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story focuses on more additions slated for the Jerome Avenue Men’s Shelter, which will now see a drug treatment center offered to those not housed at the shelter. Read the story by Jose A. Giralt. Read why the move has irked Community Board 7. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on a barely

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The Bronx shoreline along the Harlem River is poised to undergo a massive change within Community Board 7’s (CB7) borders if developers win approval for their projects. But the city has already said this will be a complicated process. The area just south of the University Heights Bridge was bought for $31.5 million by Dynamic Star, a Connecticut-based developer headed by CEO Gary Segal. Their goal is to invest $3.5 billion in 5 million square feet that will include 2,800 residential units, with 30 percent set aside as affordable. A 700,000 square-foot Life Science Center, esplanades, and a stadium for

State Legislature Passes Rent Reform Laws. How Will This Impact Bronx?

By DAVID CRUZ

New layer of protections to safeguard about 1 million rent stabilized apartments in the city, with a majority of them in the Bronx, have now been hammered out after the State Legislature announced reforms to the state’s existing rent laws. The measure is now headed to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk, who announced he will “sign it.” The measures aim to prevent de-regulation of rent stabilized apartments, which are much more affordably priced than market rate apartments priced beyond $2700. Deregulation has long been blamed for aggressive displacement of low-income tenants, a problem that’s very familiar for the Bronx, which is

The Long Fight: Advocates Push Long-Sought Rent Reform Package

By SILE MOLONEY, DAVID CRUZ, and EMILY SUZANNE LEVER

In the cramped venue of The Sanz in Allerton on May 30, a feeling of optimism and empowerment infused the room. Passionate residents waved protest signs and chanted refrains of, “Fight, Fight, Fight! Housing Justice is a Right!” as they urged Norwood Assemblywoman, Nathalia Fernandez, and State Sens. Jamaal Bailey and Alessandra Biaggi, to pass all nine proposed bills on universal rent control when the state’s rent stabilization laws expire on June 15. The event was hosted by Bronx Park East Community Association, which also drew Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to offer her take on housing issues. Housing activists, including Northwest

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s twelfth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s almost something happening in this corner of the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story captures the conclusion to the New York City Department of Education’s plan to co-locate another school at the DeWitt Clinton Campus. Read the story by Jose A. Giralt. Read what Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said about the hard fought, yet unsuccessful, campaign by the opposition. Inside the cover

Officials Usher the Kingsbridge Heights Residence, a Model of Integrated Housing

By SHA-NIA ALSTON

City and state officials joined in celebrating the grand opening of Kingsbridge Apartments, a $70 million supportive/affordable housing residence financed by both city and state agencies. “This is a game changer because so many supportive housing developments have typically focused on homeless, singles, individuals, and those are very important homes to provide, but we also need to be providing housing for these children,” Deputy Mayor Vicki Been, who manages the city’s housing policies, said in her remarks on May 22. The modernized residence–which includes a 24-hour attended lobby, a children’s library, fitness room, laundry room, a children’s playground and 17

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s eleventh edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s almost something happening in this corner of the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story analyzes the ongoing construction happening in Norwood and Bedford Park. It’s part of a larger trend of construction happening in the city. Read the story by me and Alondra Vasquez. Also, you maybe want to check out our map outlining some projects. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece

By DAVID CRUZ and ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Along the neighborhoods of Norwood and Bedford Park, jackhammers can be heard repeatedly jutting concrete. It’s the sound many have heard before, though in the last few months, as warmer temperatures climb, it’s become the norm. Yes, Norwood and Bedford Park are undergoing another wave of construction. And it’s not just multi-story projects that have swept the neighborhoods, but smaller-scale projects that have either knocked out spots, forced residents to walk in the street, or pose the question, “What is happening?” The projects add to the 1,020 residential construction or infrastructure projects changing the overall landscape of Norwood and Bedford