The Economic Engine of Affordable Housing in the Bronx

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By JOLIE MILSTEIN

From the Mill Brook Houses to Lafayette Boynton, families in the Bronx have always been on the front line of fighting for affordable housing. That fight has only taken on greater importance as the borough gets less and less affordable for low- and middle-income families who are struggling to make ends meet. Thankfully, the borough of the Bronx – and all of New York – has taken a huge step forward in combating our state’s dire housing crisis, as the Governor and State Legislature recently approved $2.5 billion for affordable and supportive housing. With over 88,000 New Yorkers still homeless

"Villa Gardens" to Bring 52 Affordable Units to 204th Street and Villa Avenue

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Excavation is under way to bring 52 units of affordable housing to Bedford Park by mid-2018, continuing the trend of more neighborhood development. Ground broke on the complex at 16 E. 204th St., at the corner of Villa Avenue, just east of Jerome Avenue, earlier this year. Galaxy General Contracting Corp., which develops properties throughout the five boroughs, is planning to call the mixed-income rental building “Villa Gardens.” As standard practice, those hoping for an apartment will need to enter a lottery through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Richard Sica, Galaxy’s vice president, said the

By DAVID GREENE

With the recent closings of several popular stores in Norwood, we asked residents what types of stores the community needs. I think the neighborhood could use a gym and some more clothing stores. I just moved out here, maybe a movie rental store. Millie Sanchez Norwood Of course I noticed the stores closing. The butcher shop is not the same as they used to be. I don’t think the quality of the products is there because they no longer have the clientele of the community, so there’s not as much traffic to the store. So there’s less business.

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers, The freshest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of Bronx community news you can use. In it, you’ll find 16 pages full of good stuff that can make you the smartest person in the room. As usual, we begin with page 1, and a story that while on the surface can be boring, but has major impacts in your quality of life. We’re talking about zoning and the findings of a preliminary study that determines whether it’s doable to have future developers build smaller buildings. The answer, according to the study, is yes. As an

Getting Into Nitty Gritty of Kingsbridge Ice Project Loan

Have you ever had a conversation on what zoning is as it relates to New York City? Unless one is an urban planner, I doubt many can give a comprehensive version of the power behind zoning. In a nutshell, zoning governs how neighborhoods look across the city using a set of regulations or zoning codes that tell developers what’s allowed to be built in a neighborhood. Understanding the nitty gritty aspects of zoning poses major hurdles for anyone looking to gain control of their neighborhood’s fate, and it was pretty evident at a special Community Board 7 Land Use/Zoning and

How Big Do You Want Your Buildings in the Bronx?

By DAVID CRUZ

For residents attending a presentation on the feasibility of downzoning two neighborhoods in the northwest Bronx, tech-heavy jargon such as “Floor Area Ratio,” “compliance,” and “sky exposure plane” admittedly caused confusion for a topic focusing on the size of buildings. “Is this too complicating?” asked Paula Caplan, an independent urban planner hired by Community Board 7 to study the possibility of downzoning the two neighborhoods and present her ideas to the city. Residents answered “no,” with some shrugging their shoulders. A handful responded “yes.” Such is the subject of zoning, a topic that, if presented dryly, can confound and perplex

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 will hold its general board meeting on April 18 at North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Ave., 17th Floor, at 6:30 p.m. CB7 committee meetings will be held on the following dates at the board office, 229A East 204th St., at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Traffic and Transportation Committee on April 13; Veterans Committee on April 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Housing, Land Use and Zoning Committee on April 19; Economic Development Committee on April 25; Community Relations & Long Term Planning Committee on April 25 at 7:30 p.m.; and Website Acknowledgement & Media Committee on April

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers about a proposal to close the Rikers Island jail complex and move the prisoners to smaller jails throughout the five boroughs. Yes, close Rikers Island because it is rampant with corruption. Just as failing schools were closed down, so should this jail. Break it into smaller facilities so there’s no more bureaucracy and chaos and more order. They should also hold those officers accountable for failing in their jobs and taking part in the chaos. Rosanna Delgado Pelham Parkway I guess if they find a good place for them where they’ll be safe and

By ANTHONY ALI

The Norwood News and WFUV complete their five-part series profiling ongoing challenges impacting the Bronx. With the Bronx experiencing the highest rates of poverty and the lowest median income of all the five boroughs, money is tight. Compounding the problem is education on how to use that money wisely. After all, New Yorkers do not have to learn about personal finance in order to graduate high school — something required in only five other states. The end result is that many Bronx residents are on their own when learning how to properly manage their finances. A lack of understanding personal