Image Credit: New York City Department of Transportation

Bronx Park East will be getting new bike racks in addition to pedestrian and cyclist improvements. On March 5, 2021, the Department of Transportation began the installation of bike racks along Bronx Park East in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx. This begins the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation’s, Hank Gutman, goal to install 10,000 new bike racks by the end of 2022. (more…)

75-block rezoning protects low density in some areas, but increases density in others. On July 19, 2006, the City Council approved City Planning’s rezoning proposal for portions of Pelham Parkway and Indian Village, two northeastern Bronx communities characterized by low density residential development. The proposal will reduce the permitted density of development on 67 blocks and increase the permitted density of residential construction on eight blocks along Williamsbridge Road and Pelham Parkway South. 3 CityLand 91 (July 15, 2006).

At the July 17, 2006 hearing before Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises, City Planning’s Purnima Kapur, director of the Bronx office, spoke about the controversial up-zoning to an R5D district along Williamsbridge Road. The rezoning would allow all types of residential development, but restrict the scale of development by setting a 40-foot height limit and restrictive parking requirements. Subcommittee Chair Tony Avella criticized Kapur for showing a diagram of potential development in the R5D zone that he believed rested on “assumptions” rather than realistic development schemes and called the diagram “unprofessional given the controversy that exists.” (more…)

Commission approves 75-block rezoning despite some opposition. On June 21, 2006, the Planning Commission approved City Planning’s rezoning proposal for portions of 75 blocks of Pelham Parkway and Indian Village, two northeastern Bronx communities characterized by low density residential development. The proposal would reduce the permitted density of development on 67 blocks and increase the permitted density of residential construction on 8 blocks along Williamsbridge Road and Pelham Parkway South. On the six lots along Williamsbridge Road to be up-zoned, Planning proposed to map the newly created R5D district, which allows all types of residential development but limits the scale of development by setting a 40-foot height limit and more restrictive parking requirements.

Nine residents and Council Member James Vacca testified in opposition to the rezoning at the Planning Commission’s public hearing due to Planning’s proposal to up-zone six lots along Williamsbridge Road. The opposition told the Commision that the up-zoning would only increase the area’s traffic problems. (more…)

New plan for Pelham Gardens, Laconia and Baychester. The City Council approved the proposed rezoning of 163 blocks in the Bronx, covering portions of Pelham Gardens, Laconia and Baychester located north of Pelham Parkway and east of Williamsbridge and Boston Roads. The new zoning is designed to preserve the existing neighborhoods’ character with lower density and contextual zoning districts and to prevent out-of-character development.

The neighborhoods’ zoning (R3-2, R4 and R5) has allowed for rowhouse development and multifamily apartments which the Planning Department found incompatible with the scale of existing homes in the neighborhoods. The Planning Department proposed down-zoning some areas and slightly increasing the permitted size of development in other areas primarily along Gun Hill Road and in proximity to the No. 5 Subway Line station, which could support increased density. The commercial zoning along Gun Hill Road was also modified to increase the type of retail uses permitted as of right and encourage new mixed-use development. (more…)

Meisha Porter is the new DOE Chancellor. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

Bronx Executive Superintendent Meisha Porter is the incoming Chancellor. On February 26, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Meisha Porter as the next Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”), the largest school system in the nation. Porter was appointed after Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced his resignation. (more…)