HPD Officials Seek To Revitalize Areas Of South Bronx
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City officials are working with three development teams on plans to revitalize certain areas of the South Bronx. NY1's Shazia Khan filed the following report.More than 30 years ago, arson and abandonment reduced much of Melrose Commons and other sections of the South Bronx to ash and rubble.
But for the past two decades, the neighborhood, once the epicenter of devastation and population decline in the borough, has been experiencing a resurgence under the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Area, a 46-acre plan driven by community residents, the city and private investment.
"There have been 1,600 units of housing constructed on those sites to date, there's another 1,100 units in construction right now," says Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Rafael Cestero.
Still more housing is planned for the area.
"Right behind me, we will have 81 units of senior housing and then next to that we will have about 119 units of family housing rentals," says James Riso of the Briarwood Organization.
HPD officials recently selected the development teams to transform the last large city-owned parcels in Melrose Commons. The remaining three sites are near the soon-to-be-finished Boricua College Building and sit between 161st and 163rd Streets between Courtlandt, Melrose and Elton Avenues.
The 5.5 acres are slated for retail, parks and recreation and nearly 800 units of mixed income, energy-efficient housing.
"It really is the final frontier of the Melrose commons urban renewals
area and really completes the revitalization and rejuvenation of this
neighborhood," says Cestero.
Three development teams will bring this transformation to
fruition. Phipps Braggs House will develop one plot, while the team
of Blue Sea and WHEDco will build on another. The Briarwood Organization, CPC Resources and The Bridge will work together on a third parcel.
Riso admits affordable housing is not as easy to get off the ground as it once was and says securing the projected $65 million to $85 million needed for their part of the project will prove challenging in this economic climate.
"There is more competition. You have to be little smarter because
you don't get the same amount of subsidies as you used too," says Riso. "So you have to build, you have to be little lean and mean to get these projects built."
The city is still working with developers to finalize and approve
plans and has yet to set a groundbreaking date