Holy Smokes! South Bronx's Grand Concourse Set for Redevelopment (New York: 2009, lofts)

[samyn on the green]

Booku organics at those parties DITC and all his friends from college are over the moon at his street cred. He lives in the the Boogiedown is that cool or what?

Originally Posted by DITC

I can answer that question.

But its all good because Dexter from Iowa will have organic food parties at his loft in Hunts Point and A-Roid gets to make millions playing a child's game in Taxpayer Stadium.

[DITC]

No way! He lives in the Bronx? I heard they used to set fire to that place years ago. That is just so hip, I wish I could get a dive apt there and make music. The scene here in Dubuque is just so lame.

Originally Posted by samyn on the green

Booku organics at those parties DITC and all his friends from college are over the moon at his street cred. He lives in the the Boogiedown is that cool or what?

[SobroGuy]

Hehe DITC not sure why you believe every imrpovement in the South Bronx is about gentrification. Why is fresh organic food viewed by you as negative and gentrification...do we not deserve fresh food or are we just sell outs b/c we are not happy with Kool-Aid and mac and cheese? Do we not deserve new parks, or are we sell outs for not being happy with playing in the hallways? Do we not deserve a diversified economic /social community, or are we sell outs for not ONLY allowing poor people of color? DITC, I think your rants would be better served in the 4 other boroughs, but not in the Bronx. What is occuring here is tailored for the most part to the community, and not for wealthy transplants. Your tirades are just the same old story with no thought...you see a buzz word and shout gentrification and evil whitey every third word without knowing what is actually happening in the community. Do you even live in the South Bronx? South of 161st that is...

[StrugglingMusician91]

Originally Posted by SobroGuy

Hey glad to see so much discussion about the changes coming to the neighborhood. No the rezoning does not mean instant revitalization with Parks and new housing, but it is continuing the changes that we ahve been seeing. It is a sign to NYers that despite the challenging climate the city is not stepping back from its obligations, or retreating and ignoring neighborhoods, and that is understands that we cannot move forward as a society by ignoring communities. Here is a better link to what will actually be occuring in the community: Lower Concourse - Department of City Planning This won't be happening tomorrow, but it repositioning the South Bronx, as I have stated before, to a sustainable working/middle class community, with the transportation, amenities, and parkland to sustain it and thrive.

Not stepping back from its obligations? Where in a deep recession and Bloomberg is throwing out things like laying off 23,000 city jobs. Yea really no stepping back from its obligations. This project has to cease.

[SobroGuy]

The project does not have to cease because there is nothing to cease...it is just rezoning! The city committed $300 million of its own money to improve the corridor, which includes upgrading the infrastructure, greening, and parkland, all of which is needed anyway in the community. This rezoning is setting the stage for PRIVATE investors, in conjunction with the city and other community organizations, to revitalize and reposition the area....the city is not the one pouring billions into it...not yet at least. The city will likely provide tax incentives for development at this point. So what's the problem here?

[BlackJack09]

Looking forward to this construction project.

[StrugglingMusician91]

Originally Posted by SobroGuy

The project does not have to cease because there is nothing to cease...it is just rezoning! The city committed $300 million of its own money to improve the corridor, which includes upgrading the infrastructure, greening, and parkland, all of which is needed anyway in the community. This rezoning is setting the stage for PRIVATE investors, in conjunction with the city and other community organizations, to revitalize and reposition the area....the city is not the one pouring billions into it...not yet at least. The city will likely provide tax incentives for development at this point. So what's the problem here?

300 million dollars for a city that is struggling financially is not a good move. And yes I understand it makes the way for private investors but it also makes way for more projects the city can spend millions of dollars on. I do not argue the fact that development is good. This type of development I don't think is right for the Bronx however. They need to be building more middle class housing not trying to turn it into "The Next SoHo". It worries man when a city announces the possibility of laying of thousands of city workers(the most vital part of the city's fabric) and then spends 300 million on another way to bring expensive condo's into the city.(Which by the way those city workers cannot afford)

[Lital_The_Best]

I think much of the lower parts of the grand concourse can use this. It's a shame that so much of the Bronx has been neglected. There's two Yankee Stadiums and the newer one of the two is going to cost an Mod cut: language of money for tickets, parking etc but the surrounding area still suffers.

I hope this comes through.

[SobroGuy]

Musician they are not trying to make it into a SOHO..that analogy is wrong. They are going to build a DIVERSE housing stock, with affordable housing for the working/middle class as the primary housing, as they are doing all over the South Bronx. It is becoming a working/middle class enclave, thats what the local residents want and the city wants...and the city is creating the infrastructure, transportation, parkland, and amenities/retail to sustain that class and help it thrive. The Bronx, and South Bronx in particular, is being repositioned back to its original purpose, as the premiere choice for the working/middle class of NY, with quality housing, parkland, open space, excellent transportation, and affordability...all the driving forces that people came to the Bronx for before...they are now coming to the Bronx again for the same reason.

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by SobroGuy

Musician they are not trying to make it into a SOHO..that analogy is wrong. They are going to build a DIVERSE housing stock, with affordable housing for the working/middle class as the primary housing, as they are doing all over the South Bronx. It is becoming a working/middle class enclave, thats what the local residents want and the city wants...and the city is creating the infrastructure, transportation, parkland, and amenities/retail to sustain that class and help it thrive. The Bronx, and South Bronx in particular, is being repositioned back to its original purpose, as the premiere choice for the working/middle class of NY, with quality housing, parkland, open space, excellent transportation, and affordability...all the driving forces that people came to the Bronx for before...they are now coming to the Bronx again for the same reason.

Read the article. It's a direct quote that they are touting it as the next SoHo.