I just read a fascinating... (Bedford, Kent: apartment, crime, houses)

[rlrl]

online excerpt from a book about a Puerto Rican family that moved to Fordham Bedford (Creston Ave and 196th) in 1978 and how at that time the area was majority Irish and Italian, and how the mother assimilated themselves to resemble Italians as much as possible to avoid being picked on by neighborhood kids. The author talked about lush gardens all over the apartment house with waterfalls coming out of the stone lion's mouth, how they were the only Puerto Rican's in the building though there were a few other Puerto Rican's in the area. The area changed in the early 80's. From all the details i read it seems the area was pretty rough

so as someone who wondered what this little section was like, now i know

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by rlrl

online excerpt from a book about a Puerto Rican family that moved to Fordham Bedford (Creston Ave and 196th) in 1978 and how at that time the area was majority Irish and Italian, and how the mother assimilated themselves to resemble Italians as much as possible to avoid being picked on by neighborhood kids. The author talked about lush gardens all over the apartment house with waterfalls coming out of the stone lion's mouth, how they were the only Puerto Rican's in the building though there were a few other Puerto Rican's in the area. The area changed in the early 80's. From all the details i read it seems the area was pretty rough

so as someone who wondered what this little section was like, now i know

Thanks for sharing. Where did you get the article from?

It seems right. By 1978, the south Bronx "tornado" was up to Morris Heights and Tremont. Areas above Tremont avenue, weren't completely awful yet. By 1979, everything south of Fordham was gone. So, during the early 80's, Fordham-Bedford was the next to go.

[rlrl]

is an excerpt from a chapter"Apartment 5F" of the book below

The website is simonsays.com; it previews the book "Next Stop: Growing Up Wild- Style in the Bronx" by Ivan Sanchez

[Gardier]

Originally Posted by rlrl

is an excerpt from a chapter"Apartment 5F" of the book below

The website is simonsays.com; it previews the book "Next Stop: Growing Up Wild- Style in the Bronx" by Ivan Sanchez

You're right. I personally know Ivan Sanchez. I have a signed copy of his book. He now lives in Va Beach, VA.

[Gardier]

Ivan now does gang work for VBPD. Nothing wrong with that. He is assisting the PD in tracking down senseless murders that take place in the minority communities. He is also mentoring clueless gang members who participate in senseless gang activity.

[Gardier]

Ivan, if you happen to see this, this is J. Gardier (you hired me on the computer contract). No love loss on what happened at the job. One love on what you're doing for the community.

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by rlrl

is an excerpt from a chapter"Apartment 5F" of the book below

The website is simonsays.com; it previews the book "Next Stop: Growing Up Wild- Style in the Bronx" by Ivan Sanchez

Wow, thanks. It was a great read. Shows you how bad the Bronx was back in the 80's and 90's. It wasn't just the south Bronx nabes either, Fordham-Bedford was a drug factory.

I still LOL at the people calling it a nice neighborhood. There is nothing nice about any of the pics below:

Patrick "Pinhead" and James "Clark Kent" in the Bronx - 2008-05-11

[NJ Chutzpah]

what is the "tornado"

So in two years, it went from mostly irish and italians to Puerto Ricans?

Wow that seems kinda fast, I mean back then things did not move as quickly as they do now

where did all the irish and italians go then?

[rlrl]

the pics of Creston and 196 showed some decent bldgs and houses but the Decatur and 197th/Valentine and 196th showed the more run down part of the area

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by NJ Chutzpah

what is the "tornado"

So in two years, it went from mostly irish and italians to Puerto Ricans?

Wow that seems kinda fast, I mean back then things did not move as quickly as they do now

where did all the irish and italians go then?

The urban blight, decay, arson, poverty and crime started in Mott Haven, the southernmost neighborhood in the Bronx and proceeded north, engulfing those areas and leaving a trail of destruction. Similar to what a tornado does.

For eg:

Hunts Point was done in 1971

Morrisania and Melrose by 1973

Highbridge and Concourse 1974-1975

etc etc....

by 1979 all the neighborhoods south of Fordham were shot. So yes, in a span of a couple of years the areas above Fordham suffered the same fate in the 1980's.

Today the poverty line goes up to Bedford Park BLVD.

The whites left the borough or moved to more affluent areas in the Bronx such as Riverdale, Throggs Neck, Country club etc