Housing

SSA Announces Most Popular Baby Names for 2020, Encourages Use of Social Security Accounts

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SAA) recently announced the most popular baby names in New York in 2020, with Liam and Olivia topping the list. At the same time, the agency is encouraging residents to create a My Social Security account online.   The top five girls’ names for 2020 in New York were Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Ava and Isabella, while the top five boys’ names were Liam, Noah, Lucas, Jacob and Ethan. The agency began compiling the baby name list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880.  At the time of a child’s birth, parents supply the name to


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Resident Says Ceiling Fell in during 12th Apartment Flood

  For the twelfth time in 13 years, a Bedford Park senior says he has suffered through a flood of rushing water pouring into his home. However, this time, he said the cascading water brought down the ceiling on top of his head in a spare room adjacent to his living room.   Longtime tenant, Tony Apostolos, 78, of 116 East Mosholu Parkway South, invited Norwood News to inspect the damage to his apartment and belongings on Sunday, April 25, a day after rushing water caused his ceiling to collapse, and sent Apostolos on a day trip to the hospital.


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Update: Homeless Man in Bedford Park Alleges Illegal Eviction from NYCHA Housing

This is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. On more than one occasion during April, Norwood News observed an old, frail man pushing a walker between traffic lanes on Mosholu Parkway on the border of Bedford Park and Norwood, at the entrance to the iconic New York Botanical Garden. On Tuesday, May 4, we spoke to “Jerry,” a self-described panhandler who preferred not to have his surname printed.   As drivers paused for the red light before turning left onto Allerton Avenue, or right onto Fordham Road, Jerry, 63, pushed his walker up


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Neighborhood Notes on Citibike Roll Out, Affordable Housing Lottery, Vaccine Updates

Opening of Lehman College Vaccination Site On Tuesday, April 20, Lehman College, CUNY formally announced that it has partnered with the City to launch the Bronx’s newest COVID-19 vaccination hub, located at the college’s APEX Athletic Center at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West in the borough’s Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood, as reported by Norwood News.    The site is being run by SOMOS Community Care, and will serve up to 300 people a day with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The site is open to New Yorkers aged 16 or older, as well as to non-New York City residents aged 16 or older who


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Update: Fordham Heights Tenants in Receipt of Eviction Notice Fear Long-Term Housing Future

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES, DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
Local elected officials and community leaders rallied alongside tenants at Grand Concourse and East Fordham Road in Fordham Heights, Saturday, March 27, demanding a solution to what they believe may be a wave of inevitable evictions of long-term tenants from one residential building, following the purchase of their apartments by a new owner.   Pierina Sanchez, local resident and District 14 City Council candidate, hosted the rally and was joined by Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), State Assemblyman Kenny Burgos (A.D. 85) and Manhattan Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, to call attention to the issue and help prevent the


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Melrose: Construction Application Filed for 8-Story Building at 414 East 152nd Street

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A building application has been filed with New York City Department of Buildings, for the construction of an eight-story, mixed-use building at 414 East 152nd Street in the Melrose section of The Bronx, according to YIMBY, the architecture, construction, and real estate website on Friday, April 23.   Located between Melrose Avenue and 3rd Avenue, the lot is a short walk to the 3rd Avenue-149 Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Shaya Seidenfeld of MZS Realty Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.   The proposed 75-foot-tall development will yield 43,272 square feet, with


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More Details on Lehman College’s Vaccination Site as CDC Recommends Lifting J&J Pause

  The closure of the Bronx High School of Science mass vaccination site, effective April 15, was a blow to local seniors in the Bronx Community Board 7 district and beyond, as reported last week by Norwood News. A new COVID-19 vaccination site opened at Lehman College on Wednesday, April 14, though details of the new site had initially been scant. Happily, further information has since become available.   On Saturday, April 17, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. confirmed that the following Bronx sites, including Lehman College, would be vaccinating New Yorkers aged 50 and older, without an appointment: Bronx Co-Op


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University Heights: Housing Lottery Launches for Units at 2724 Heath Avenue, June 11 Deadline

By SÍLE MOLONEY
An affordable housing lottery has launched for units at 2724 Heath Avenue, a seven-story residential building in the University Heights section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY, the architecture, construction, and real estate website on Saturday, April 17.   The 51,610-square-foot development was designed by Marin Architects and developed by Stagg Group, and yields 64 units. Available on NYC Housing Connect  are 28 units for residents at 120 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $56,572 to $154,680. Residences will have energy-efficient appliances and name-brand kitchen appliances. Additional amenities include a shared laundry room,


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Williamsbridge: World’s Largest Habitat for Humanity Development Completed

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Sydney House, located at 839-843 Tilden Street in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx debuted as Habitat for Humanity’s  largest completed housing project worldwide, according to YIMBY, the architecture, construction, and real estate website on Friday, April 16.   Designed by Union Street Studios, the seven-story building is the first project to be completed as part of New York City’s “Open Door” affordable homeownership program.   The City’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)’s Open Door program funds the new construction of cooperative and condominium buildings affordable to moderate and middle income households. Where dictated by lot size, the program


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