Housing

Concourse: HPD Launches Housing Lottery for Units at 1169 River Avenue

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) has launched a housing lottery for units at 1169 River Avenue in Concourse, a 19-story mixed-use building in Concourse, The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY.   Designed by Aufgang Architects and developed by Community Access, an NYC supportive housing and social service non-profit, the structure yields 245 residential units. Available on NYC Housing Connect, HPD’s online portal, are 96 units for residents earning 60 to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $31,852 to $132,400.   According to HPD, amenities include a community center,


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Feds Recall Chinese-Manufactured Lithium-Ion Batteries as Mayor Devises New Plan to Curb E-Bike Fires

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 7,250 units of Chinese-manufactured RELiON InSight Series® lithium batteries, due to “thermal burn and fire hazards,” the commission announced on March 2. Meanwhile, following a number of Bronx and New York City fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined other elected officials on Monday to announce the signing into law of the latest package of City fire legislation regulating the sale of lithium-ion batteries, as well as a new action plan targeted at education around the use of such batteries and the prevention of future fires caused by


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Bedford Park: Building Applications Filed with DOB for Building at 225 Bedford Park Boulevard

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 9-story, residential building at 225 Bedford Park Boulevard in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY.   Located at the intersection of Valentine Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard, the corner lot is near the Bedford Park Boulevard subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Vilson Lumaj is listed as the owner behind the applications.   The proposed 84-foot-tall development will yield 48,480 square feet designated for residential space, according to YIMBY. The building will yield 73 residential units, most likely


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Torres Introduces New Federal Safety Laws and Feliz New City Laws on Litihum-Ion Batteries and E-Bikes

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) joined City fire officials and local elected leaders in Fordham Heights on Tuesday, March 7, to announce new federal legislation mandating consumer product safety standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The announcement by the congressman, who represents a large swath of The Bronx, including Norwood, Fordham, and much of the northwest of the borough, comes on the heels of a 5-alarm supermarket and food plaza fire at 2096 Grand Concourse in Fordham Heights, caused by the explosion of lithium-ion batteries powering an e-bike on Sunday morning, March 5.

UPDATE Yonkers: Michigan Developer Gets $56.8M in Incentives to Build Affordable Housing for Low-Income Seniors

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Michigan-based Verus Development, will receive a $56.8 million incentives package to facilitate the completion of a new, affordable, rental property for low-income seniors at 345 McLean Avenue in Yonkers, New York, as reported by YIMBY.   The 12-story building will feature 105 apartments in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts, all reserved for seniors of 62 years and older with an income at or below 60 percent of the area median income, according to YIMBY.   Amenity spaces will include a community room equipped with computers, a library, recreational space, a shared laundry room, and bike storage. Residents will also have


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Williamsbridge: Affordable Housing Lottery Open for Units at 3029 & 3031 Bronxwood Avenue

By SÍLE MOLONEY
NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) is reminding residents that an affordable housing lottery is open for units at 3029 and 3031 Bronxwood Avenue, a pair of four-story, residential buildings in the Williamsbridge section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY.   According to NYC Housing Connect, HPD’s online portal, the building, described by HPD as a “luxury building,” with “gorgeous large apartments,” was designed by Badaly Architects and developed by Mike Bonfiglio, and the structures yield 16 residential units in total, eight at 3029 Bronxwood Avenue and eights at 3031 Bronxwood Avenue. Available on NYC Housing Connect are


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John Zaccaro Jr. Sworn in as Assemblyman of A.D. 80

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  The Rotunda of Jacobi Medical Center in Morris Park was filled with some of New York’s political constellation on Saturday, March 4 for the inauguration ceremony of Democratic Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (A.D. 80). The guest list included U.S. Sen. and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15), among many others. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was scheduled to attend three other events the same day, sent well wishes, via video message, to Zaccaro Jr., profiled last year by Norwood News.   Before administering the oath of office, State Assembly


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Gibson Hails Bronx “Borough of Opportunities” in First State of the Borough Address

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The following is an extended version of the story which appears in our latest print edition.   Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, the borough’s 14th president, delivered her first State of the Borough address in sparkling attire at Manhattan College on Wednesday, March 1, outlining the accomplishments of her administration during 2022 and unveiling her strategic agenda for 2023.   With the college celebrating its 100th year this year, its president, Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC, said college officials were honored to host the event. “We recognize that The Bronx is a special place and look forward to partnering


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UPDATE Fordham Heights: 7 Injured, 2 Seriously, following Supermarket Fire Caused by E-bike

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A 5-alarm supermarket fire which broke out on Sunday morning, March 5, in the Fordham Heights section of The Bronx has injured a total of seven people, two of whom incurred serious injuries.   Fire officials said the alarm regarding the blaze, described by the FDNY as a “hazmat incident,” meaning it related to hazardous material, and which broke out at a supermarket located at 2096 Grand Concourse in the vicinity of East 181st Street, was raised at at 10.41 a.m. on Sunday morning. According to the FDNY, the fire began in the rear of a one-story building (100 ft


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