DHS Moves Forward With Jerome Avenue Shelter

By DAVID CRUZ

The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) announced it plans to contract with a nonprofit to open a homeless shelter at a two-story property on the edge of Norwood. The news will likely be welcoming to parents who worried a shelter would be housed diagonally across PS/MS 20 on Webster Avenue. But while the news will likely be welcoming to parents of the southern Norwood school, the new location has drawn concerns from parents at a school adjacent to the new site. In a joint Op-Ed submitted to the Norwood News, DHS Commissioner Steven Banks revealed that the

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By STEVEN BANKS and ANDREW COHEN

Homelessness is one of the hardest issues we have to confront as public servants and partners in government. But working together to do so is more important than ever because homelessness impacts literally every community across the five boroughs, including our own constituents right here in Bronx Community District 7—often due to rising rents and stagnant incomes, not through any fault of their own. If we’re going to succeed in this fight, it’s because we find ways to tackle these challenges together, collaboratively along with our communities, putting people and neighborhoods first in all that we do. We must make

Norwood Commercial Building To Get Major Facelift (Picture)

By DAVID GREENE

A Brooklyn developer has purchased a parcel of land at the northwest corner of Hull Avenue and East 204th Street, with hopes of transforming it into a modern two-story building featuring medical offices, a fitness center and popular restaurants. Both the Miramar Grocery and Botanica on Hull Avenue closed more than a year ago. The popular Beso Lounge on East 204th Street closed this past June and Liberty Tax closed around the same time. This came shortly before Transition Acquisitions, a family-owned Brooklyn-based real estate firm purchased the 78-year-old, 5,150-square-foot property. Faith Hope Consolo of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers! The latest edition of the Norwood News, largely covering the northwest section of the Bronx, is out with plenty of community news you can use. We pack 16 pages worth of news so let’s get started! We begin, as usual, with page one. There you’ll find a nice human interest story on Nilda Hofmann, a born-and-bred Bronxite who rose to the rank of NYPD Chief of Community Affairs in January. We’ll take you to the ceremony where the 28-year veteran received her gold star from NYPD top cop James O’Neill. You’ll also hear how the NYPD’s Neighborhood

By MARY MELLON

There will finally be a city-funded animal shelter in the Bronx, city officials announced. The 47,000-square-foot Bronx shelter is expected to be built in Co-op City by 2024, and will have room for 70 dogs, 140 cats, 30 rabbits, and 20 animals from other species. The news comes after years of wrangling by animal rights groups in the Bronx, who see shuttling animals to Manhattan as unfair. In a statement, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the shelter will “offer direct adoption because we know how much New Yorkers love their pets, especially those in need of a home.” City-funded animal

Become Civically Engaged Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. encourages New Yorkers to become more civically engaged as part of the “Hour New York Challenge.” Those interested take a pledge to dedicate at least one hour each month throughout 2018. Activities include attending community board meetings, volunteering with a nonprofit, and generally being a more informed and active citizen to improve neighborhoods. For more information, call (718) 590-3543. Catholic Schools Open Houses Bronx Catholic elementary schools are holding “Touring Tuesdays” open houses: Jan. 30, Feb. 13, March 13 and April 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. or by appointment. Local

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the northwest section of the Bronx, is out with plenty of community news you can use. There are 16 pages filled with a lot of useful information intended to make your aware of where you live. We begin, of course, with page one. In one of the more hotly controversial stories of the year (we’re only the second edition of 2018) teachers and staffers of JHS/MS 80 came in the defense of its principal, Emmanuel Polanco. The five-year principal and the school are under investigation for covering up a fight

Number of Chain Stores Grows in the Bronx Again

By REGGIE FRANCOIS

The Bronx has seen an increase in the number of chain stores in 2017, a sign of anticipated economic growth in the borough, according to a newly released report by a think tank group. The news is in lockstep with the rest of the city, which has seen its ninth consecutive year of growth in the number of national retailers and food establishments. The report by the Center for Urban Future (CUF), a research group that focuses on the economy and infrastructure in New York City, found the number of Bronx stores rose by 1.8 percent. There were a total

Michael Cotto of Norwood, along with his wife and two kids, are among those lucky to be alive in the Knox Place blaze that disrupted them and the lives of many others on Dec. 27. They escaped the four-alarm inferno unscathed. When compared to the devastating fire at Prospect Avenue in Belmont that claimed 12 victims a day later, the Cottos were presented with a silver lining. The fire happened at 3414 Knox Pl. a building notorious for its subpar living conditions, according to the New York Public Advocate’s Office. For the last few years, the city has placed the