Victims of Twin Parks Fire Tragedy Remembered on First Anniversary

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The first anniversary of the Twin Parks fire tragedy which ripped through the towering housing development in Fordham Heights on Jan. 9 2022, was marked by a somber ceremony on Monday, Jan. 9. As reported extensively at the time, the tragic event claimed the lives of 17 Bronxites, including 8 children, mostly of Gambian descent. The cause of the fire was found to be a combination of a “malfunctioning space heater” and reportedly malfunctioning self-closing fire doors. With legal proceedings against the Twin Parks building owners still pending, Mayor Eric Adams and other Bronx elected officials attended the private

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 15-story, mixed-use building 1959 Jerome Avenue in the Morris Heights section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between West 177th Street and West Tremont Avenue, the lot is two blocks south of the Burnside Avenue subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Peter Fine is listed as the owner behind the applications, according to YIMBY. The proposed 165-foot-tall development will yield 243,007 square feet, with 170,723 square feet designated for residential space, 42,832 square feet for community facility space, and 29,451 square

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

Police said a 13-year-old boy who is a student at a middle school in Fordham Heights was arrested after he was allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded gun on Thursday. Meanwhile, on the same day, in the Longwood section of the borough, two teenagers were shot, one fatally. An NYPD spokesperson said that on Thursday, Jan. 19, at around 9.20 a.m., police were alerted that there was a gun found inside M.S. 363 (previously M.S. 399) Academy for Personal Leadership and Excellence, located at 120 East 184th Street in Fordham Heights. “Upon arrival, school safety agents stated that

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 8-story, residential building at 3020 Valentine Avenue in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located at the intersection of East 202nd Street and Valentine Avenue, the lot is one block from the Bedford Park Boulevard subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Boris Babakhanov of Bolex GC Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications, according to YIMBY. The proposed 80-foot-tall development will yield 28,685 square feet designated for residential space. The building will yield 42

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 7-story, mixed-use building at 41 North Street in the University Heights section of The Bronx, according to YIMBY. Located between Grand Avenue and North Street, the lot is within walking distance of the 183rd Street subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Belal Hossain of B&H Contracting Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications, according to YIMBY. The proposed 72-foot-tall development will yield 30,581 square feet, with 25,721 square feet, designated for residential space and 4,859 square feet for community facility space.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) announced in August 2022 that construction for Just Home, a housing project for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers with life-threatening medical conditions, was going ahead, as reported by YIMBY. Located at 1900 Seminole Avenue in the Morris Park section of The Bronx, the initiative will create approximately 70 studio and two-bedroom apartments. The existing property at 1900 Seminole Avenue currently sits vacant on the NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Medical Center campus. According to City officials, tenants will have access to intensive on-site social services provided by licensed

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 6-story, residential building at 2758 Creston Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East 196th and East 197th Streets, the lot is closest to the Kingsbridge Road subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Andrea Gjini under 781-783 Elsmere Place is listed as the owner behind the applications. 781-783 Elsmere Place is based in the Crotona section of The Bronx. The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 8,621 square feet designated for residential space. The building will yield

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers their thoughts on 2022 and their hopes for the New Year. “I did not feel safe in 2022 and I couldn’t enjoy my summer. A few people dear to me passed away. Despite the few accomplishments that we had, 2022 was filled with disappointments, empty promises, and uncertainty. I hope that in 2023 we can put an end to the reckless motorcycle and motorized bike riding on the sidewalk and the senseless loud noise coming from passenger cars and SUVs. My hopes are to raise awareness to the needs of our folks with disabilities,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) to expand an existing, 2-story structure into a 5-story community facility building at 1342 Inwood Avenue in the Mt. Eden section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between Clarke Place West and West 170th Street, the lot is near the 170th Street subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Joseph Riegler is listed as the owner behind the applications, who also filed building applications with DOB for an 11-story residential building at the adjacent 1351 Jerome Avenue site in May 2022, as reported. The proposed

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Housing

Victims of Twin Parks Fire Tragedy Remembered on First Anniversary

Morris Heights: Applications Filed with DOB for 15-Story, Mixed-Use Building at 1959 Jerome Avenue

UPDATE Fordham Heights: Boy, 13, Arrested for Loaded Gun Possession at M.S. 363, Two Teens Shot in Longwood

Bedford Park: Applications Filed with DOB for 8-Story, Residential Building at 3020 Valentine Avenue

University Heights: Building Applications Filed with DOB for New, 7-story, Mixed-Use Building at 41 North Street

Morris Park: Controversial ‘Just Home’ Project Moves Ahead on Grounds of Jacobi Hospital

UPDATE Kingsbridge Heights: Building Applications Filed with DOB for 6-Story, Residential Building at 2758 Creston Avenue

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on 2022 and Hopes for the New Year

Mt. Eden: Building Applications Filed with DOB for 5-Story Community Facility with Health Clinic