Housing

Bedford Park: Phase II Construction Begins at Bedford Greene

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA
  Construction of Bedford Green House II, located at 2880 Jerome Avenue in Bedford Park, the second of a two-phase, supportive housing development, began on Friday, Dec. 9. The first building, constructed under Phase I of the development and located on the adjacent lot at 2865 Creston Avenue, was completed last winter and residents started moving in in January 2022. A formal ribbon-cutting opening ceremony took place in July.   As reported, Mayor Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State. Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), Adolfo Carrión Jr., NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) commissioner, Eric Rosenbaum,


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Fair Chance For Housing Act Divides New Yorkers as Mayor Hails PACT Program in Addressing Needed NYCHA Upgrades

By ARIEL PACHECO
The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   Protestors from across the five boroughs gathered on the steps of City Hall on Dec. 7 to rally against Intro. 632, a bill that, if passed, would prohibit some building owners and landlords from conducting background checks on prospective tenants at any point during the rental process. The bill has been named the “Fair Chance for Housing Act,” and its supporters say it is needed in order to give the formerly incarcerated who have served their time the opportunity to find housing, as


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Parkchester: Building Applications Filed with DOB for 7-Story, Mixed-Use Building at 2039 Westchester Ave

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 7-story, mixed-use building at 2039 Westchester Avenue in the Parkchester section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between Pugsley Avenue and Olmstead Avenue, the lot is within walking distance of the Castle Hill Avenue subway station, serviced by the 6 train. Jai Patel of PHG Construction Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications, according to YIMBY.   The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 19,056 square feet, with 12,923 square feet designated for residential space, 3,138 square feet for commercial space, and 2,994


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Off-Duty NYC Department of Homeless Services Employee Arrested for Menacing

By SÍLE MOLONEY
An off-duty City employee was arrested in The Bronx on Monday, police said.   According to the NYPD, Tonya Simmons, 47, an off-duty employee with NYC Department of Homeless Services was arrested on Monday, Jan.  9, at 9.24 p.m. within the boundaries of the 48th Precinct, which covers the neighborhoods of Belmont, East Tremont, and West Farms, while Fordham University’s Bronx campus is nestled in the precinct’s northern corner.   Simmons was charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.


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Meta, formerly Facebook, Required to Change Ads to Prevent Violation of Fair Housing Act

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Following the settlement of a discrimination case regarding the delivery of housing ads last year, Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., is required to change its ad delivery system to prevent discriminatory advertising in violation of the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”).   Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, along with Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Department’s civil rights division, announced that the department reached a key milestone in its settlement agreement with Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Meta”), formerly known as Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”) on Jan. 9.   As required


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Allerton: Building Applications Filed with DOB for New Building at 2460 White Plains Road

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 6-story, mixed-use building located at 2460 White Plains Road in the Allerton section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY.   Located between Mace Avenue and Waring Avenue, the lot is one block south of the Allerton Avenue subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Zev Mayer of Skyrock NYC is listed as the owner behind the applications.   The proposed 61-foot-tall development will yield 25,917 square feet, with 23,218 square feet designated for residential space and 2,698 square feet for community facility space.


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UPDATE Neighborhood Notes: Weather Warning, Onsite Testing for COVID/FLU/RSV, Lithium-Ion Safety Tips & More!

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Health Commissioner Issues Advisory NYC health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, issued a new advisory on Dec. 9 as NYC faces high levels of a triple onslaught of COVID-19, flu, and RSV cases. New Yorkers are strongly urged to wear masks in public, indoor settings, and crowded outdoor settings, to get vaccinated, test regularly, wash hands regularly and stay home, if sick. For more information, visit here. He said this is especially important for people who are – or are meeting – those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as those age 65


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Fordham Manor: Shelter Resident Says Dead Man Removed from Shelter Had Complained of Chest Pains

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
A resident of a transitional shelter and supportive housing facility located in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx said a deceased 62-year-old man, who died from a heart attack at the shelter on Dec. 10 and was later removed by emergency services, had earlier reported to staff of chest pains. He was later found unconscious and unresponsive in his shared dorm room.   When contacted about the incident on the weekend it occurred, and which took place at the Bowery Residents’ Committee Inc. (BRC) shelter and transitional housing facility, located at 237 Landing Road, which is specialized in providing,


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Norwood: Body of Man “at Least a Few Days” Old Removed from Van Cortlandt Park, Police Said

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
  Police said the body of a man estimated to be between 50 and 60 years of age was removed from Van Cortlandt Park in Norwood on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 17.   The discovery was made in the vicinity of Mosholu Parkway North and West Gun Hill Road. Norwood News witnessed officials from the City’s Medical Examiner’s Office and the NYPD carrying torches and emerging from a wooded area beside the roadway at around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday.   A police spokesperson later told Norwood News regarding the timing of the discovery, “It was a little after 1 p.m., an


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