
Rendering of the Betances Family Apartments. Image Credit: HPD.
Supportive services will be offered to all households. On September 28, 2021, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the finalization of a deal to bring 101 new affordable apartments to the Mott Haven neighborhood in the Bronx. The Betances Family Apartments project, located at the corner of East 146th Street and Willis Avenue on NYCHA’s Betances VI campus, will be 100 percent affordable. The new mixed-use building will replace a vacant retail building. (more…)
Bridge spanning Harlem River to be built adjacent to outdated bridge. DOT sought a City Map amendment to delineate a new bridge easement and bridge corridor facilitating construction of the Willis Avenue Bridge replacement, connecting First Avenue and East 125th Street in Manhattan with Willis Avenue and East 132nd Street in the Bronx. The replacement bridge will be located directly adjacent to and south of the existing bridge and will also require landfill removal along the Bronx waterfront.
The existing swing-span bridge, over one hundred years old, fails to meet current structural and seismic requirements or geometric design standards and has sharp, curving, substandard entrance ramps that slow traffic flow. Major changes to the existing bridge’s alignment would be needed to meet current standards. (more…)

Willis Avenue Bridge. Image Credit: Google Maps.
Construction work on the Willis Avenue Bridge caused flooding on adjacent property. In March 2007, the City acquired by condemnation property adjacent to the property owned by 82 Willis, LLC. The condemnation was in connection with the City’s reconstruction of the Willis Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River. (more…)

Rhinelander Avenue in Morris Park, Bronx, one of many streets open to pedestrians and cyclists under the Open Streets program. Image Credit: CityLand
The plan will aim to add 100 miles of open streets, widened sidewalks and protected bike lanes. Note: This article has been updated to continuously reflect the added streets as those announcements are made. Please continue to check back for further updates.
On April 27, 2020, the Mayor’s Office announced a plan along with Council Speaker Corey Johnson to implement street closures, sidewalk widening, and the addition of bike lanes as part of the City’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The plan aims to close off streets to cars to provide more space for social distancing for pedestrians and cyclists as the weather gets warmer and more people are expected to go outside. (more…)

Rendering of Betances VI. Image Credit: NYC CPC
The building will feature supportive housing with in-building staff to provide services. On January 30, 2019, the City Planning Commission voted to approve an application for the development of a 15 story mixed-use building in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The building will have approximately 100 residential units and will be located at 472-474 Willis Avenue between East 146th and East 147th Streets. The development site will be leased to the development team by NYCHA. (more…)