EXISTING STATIONS FORDHAM

Fordham Road at 3rd Avenue

174 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 175 FORDHAM TAKING THE NEXT STEPS

INTRODUCTION

SYNOPSIS The unique success of the Fordham Station poses its own singular question: how to build on these The Fordham Metro-North Station is located on the strengths? While Fordham Road is identified as a Fordham Road Corridor, a bustling center of activi- Borough Business District for the Bronx in PlaNYC, it ty and one of the primary business districts in the is primarily a retail district.1 The high intensity blend Bronx. A number of significant regional attractions of office, residential and retail uses that characteriz- surround the station area, including the Bronx Zoo, es many successful business districts is not present. the New York Botanical Garden, the Fordham Road With its diverse attractions, retail amenities, and Shopping District and Arthur Avenue/Little Italy. unique transit options, Fordham has the potential to FIGURE 1 | Fordham station entrance. Fordham University is adjacent to the station, add- become a more prominent Central Business District ing pedestrian activity and transit ridership. Addi- for the northern section of the city and surrounding tionally, the surrounding area has been part of three suburbs. Increased coordination amongst major in- recent rezonings which have helped to strengthen stitutions, a nuanced re-examination of land uses, COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS | Fordham Study Area and stabilize neighborhoods and connections. and continued improvements to the walkability and * While most of the existing stations in this study suf- cohesiveness of the Fordham Corridor will make Metro-North Station Weekday Ridership (2011) NYC Subway Station Daily Ridership (2012) fer from lack of ridership, the Fordham Metro-North large strides to this end. This section examines and Fordham Road: 11,521 weekday | 14,157 weekend station is the 3rd busiest station in the system out- identifies improvements that will enable Fordham to 51 inbound passengers D side of Manhattan, serving as a hub for New Yorkers take the next step in becoming a regional hub of ac- 3,055 outbound passengers (New Haven 4 Fordham Road: 12,560 weekday | 14,757 weekend and Harlem lines) who reverse commute. Other station areas struggle tivity, and a stronger economic engine for the Bronx to build complete retail corridors that support large and New York City. • Most residents do not have access to a vehicle and either walk or take public transit to work amounts of pedestrian traffic. The Fordham station • The area has a very high rate of renter occupied units; and a very low per capita income area, however, is a model for how mass-transit sta- AREA CHARACTERISTICS tions can successfully compliment and integrate • The area is predominantly Hispanic, 15% higher than the Bronx overall transit into the fabric of the surrounding communi- Fordham Station provides commuter rail access to ty. The Fordham Shopping District is one of the City’s Manhattan and upstate New York via both the Har- 1,2 most active and vibrant retail stretches, and begins lem and New Haven Metro North lines, and to Con- STUDY AREA THE BRONX NEW YORK CITY immediately outside the station. necticut via the New Haven line. Most significantly, Hispanic 68% 53% 29% Per Capita Income $11,685 $17,992 $31,417 Renter Occupied Units 95% 79% 68% Housing Units with No Access to a Vehicle 75% 59% 56% “ Fordham Road is the third largest commercial corridor in New York City and the With Access to One Vehicle 22% 30% 31% premier shopping destination in the Bronx....Enhancing our public transportation Take Public Transit or Walk to Work 75% 64% 67% system will immediately address the need of the residents and workers, diversify Population Density (per square mile) 35,997 32,536 26,953 visitorship, and boost economic and business growth... ” Unemployment Rate (2010) 15% 12% 11% | Wilma Alonso, Executive Director, Fordham Road BID | TOTAL POPULATION 83,763 1,365,725 8,336,697 1 The study area is based on select Census tracts within a 1/2 mile radius of the Fordham station 2 United States Bureau of the Census, 1006-1010 American community Survey 5-Year Estimates * MTA Subway Ridership, 2012. http://www.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/#chart_s

176 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 177 it is the only Bronx station with direct access to the City, as most residents do not have access to a ve- New Haven Line. The station is located at Fordham hicle. The area’s population density is higher than Road between Third and Webster Avenues. The sta- the Bronx overall. However the areas populations tion house entrance is on the north side of Fordham density is lower than other areas across the city con- 2 Road between Webster Avenue and Fordham Uni- sidered Borough Business Districts, or even more so versity. An additional entrance to the station is in Central Business Districts. Fordham Plaza on the south side of Fordham Road. 5 New York Botanical The Fordham station is the most successful station in KEY FEATURES Garden the Bronx, and the third busiest station in the system Substantial ridership can be partly attributed to ac- Webster Avenue outside of Manhattan in total boardings. Fordham tive commercial and retail uses and nearby attrac- Station is also the busiest reverse commute station tions. The Fordham Shopping District is the 3rd bus- in the system outside of Manhattan. With more than iest in the city and has more than 300 retail stores.2 3,000 total outbound daily riders during the week, Approximately 80,000 pedestrians come through the station has experienced a tenfold increase in Fordham Plaza daily, with 88% of pedestrians ar- ridership since 1982. The station does not have any riving by foot or public transit.3 Arthur Avenue, the parking on-site. home of the Bronx’s Little Italy, is part of the Belmont Fordham 1 University The Fordham area is predominately Hispanic, with BID with 352 primarily food-service oriented busi- nesses.4 Additionally, Webster Avenue is an emerg- FORDHAM a 15% higher Hispanic population than the Bronx Fordham Road Shopping ing commercial corridor. District STATION overall. The per capita income for the area is $11,685, lower than the $17,992 per capita income for the The presence of strong institutions makes the area 4 Bronx. More residents in the area walk or take pub- lively and attractive to visitors. Fordham University Fordham lic transportation to work than in the Bronx and the has over 3,700 students living on campus with an- Plaza Fordham Road

Arthur Avenue 3

Arthur Avenue/ “Little Italy”

Bronx Zoo

. Land Uses Notable Land Uses Features: One and Two Family Homes Manufacturing Buildings 1 Highly active commercial uses along Fordham Road to Multi-Family Walkups Transportation/Utility Buildings the west. Multi-family Elevator buildings Park/Open Space 2 Emerging commercial along Webster Avenue. Mixed Com/Residential Buildings Parking Lots 3 Belmont commercial uses primarily service-based retail Commercial Buildings Vacant Land located on or around Arthur Avenue. Institutional Buildings 4 Major institutional uses along Fordham Road to the east. Transportation 5 Residential uses west of Webster Avenue, with lower den- sities further north. FIGURE 2 | The Fordham Road Shopping District, intersection of Grand Concourse and Fordham Road. With over 300 retail stores, the area is Metro North Harlem Line B/D Subway Lines the third busiest shopping district in the City. Bus Routes

178 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 179 other 3,300 commuting from off-campus.5 The Bronx • The New York City Economic Development Cor- Zoo has more than 2 million visitors annually and poration completed in April 2013 the Webster the Botanical Garden each year has over 825,000 Avenue Vision Plan, proposing to support Web- visitors, making these attractions some of the most ster Avenue as a neighborhood main street. The popular in the borough and in the City (see pgs. 10- recommendations are focused on the following: 11).6,7 support business development and local entre- preneurship, create destinations and enhance EXISTING PLANS & UPCOMING PROJECTS neighborhood centers and to improve pedes- trian connections and mobility.10 The final plan Several current and future projects will help con- can be seen here: http://www.nycedc.com/proj- tribute to strengthening the area. These include the ect/webster-avenue-vision-plan. following: • The Fordham station renovation began in 2013. LAND USE & ZONING This $18 million project will provide vital ameni- Around the Fordham Station area, there is a wide ties for this transit hub including: widening the mix of uses that include a variety of retail uses, signif- FORDHAM platforms, adding new canopies, and installing icant land dedicated to institutional uses, fledgling STATION real-time train information monitors in the sta- office uses, and a mix of residential uses located in 8 tion. neighborhoods off of the retail corridor. Along the • The reconstruction of Fordham Plaza is current- corridor west of the station, generally within the ly under way. The project is a partnership be- boundaries of the Fordham BID at University Ave- tween the Economic Development Corporation nue, the area is characterized by intense retail activ- and the NYC Department of Transportation. It ity. Retail options include department stores such is intended to transform Fordham Plaza into a as Marshalls, Sears, and the recently opened TJ Maxx MTA Harlem Line B/D Subway Lines world-class public space.9 and Burlington Coat Factory, smaller scale clothing RecentCommercial Rezonings Overlays Bus Routes

FIGURE 4 | Zoning map of the Fordham neighborhood.

stores including The GAP, Foot Locker, Dr. Jay’s, Jim- Zoning along the Fordham Road Corridor is mapped my Jazz, Modell’s, and American Eagle, electronic primarily as a higher-density commercial district. The stores like Best Buy and PC Richard and Son, as well station itself and the Fordham University campus are as a variety of smaller retailers focused on consumer zoned as R6 residential. A C4-4 district is mapped on goods. The Bronx Library Center, located on Kings- the western end of the corridor, which permits a 3.4 bridge Road just north of Fordham Road, serves as Commercial FAR and 3.4 Residential FAR. The district the Bronx’s central library and was opened in 2006. has a residential equivalent of R7. Slightly higher To the east of the station along the Fordham Road density C4-5X is mapped south of Fordham Plaza Corridor, major institutional uses are interspersed and C4-5D is mapped along the recently rezoned with a hodge-podge of community facility, auto-re- section of the corridor to the east of the station area. lated services, and sporadic retail space. Along the recently rezoned portions of Webster Avenue, north of the station, contextualized medi- Along Webster Avenue, both north and south of um-density residential with commercial overlays are the station area, a recent rezoning is supporting an mapped. Mid-density residential, in the form of R6 emerging commercial district. West of Webster Ave- and R7-1, is generally mapped south of the Fordham nue, north of the Fordham Road corridor, consists of Road corridor. A mixed-use (MX) district along Third mid to low-density residential uses. Southeast of the Avenue promotes medium-density residential while station, the Belmont neighborhood contains retail still allowing light manufacturing and most com- businesses and services centered around Arthur Av- mercial uses. In recent years, much of the area has enue with low to mid-density residential buildings been rezoned to promote growth along major corri- FIGURE 3 | Metro-North station entrance at Fordham Plaza. The Plaza is currently under reconstruction as part of a EDC and NYC Department surrounding and supporting the corridor. of Transportation partnership. dors and protect neighborhood character.

180 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 181 FORDHAM AREA ATTRACTIONS | By the Numbers* *Sources page 19 FORDHAM PLAZA FORDHAM UNIVERSITY NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 80,000 pedestrians cross through daily 850,000 annual visitors B/D & 4 FORDHAM STOPS 6,869 students (Rose Hill campus) BRONX ZOO 7,602,632 annual ridership (2012) MONROE COLLEGE annual visitors SOHO 2,000,000 48,940 pedestrians cross through daily 4,725 students (Bronx campus -Jerome Ave)

B/D, 2/3, 4/5, & N/Q/R ATLANTIC AVE-BARCLAYS CENTER STOP 11,526,090 annual ridership (2012) LITTLE ITALY | ARTHUR AVENUE

HERALD SQUARE 352 food-related businesses 94,730 pedestrians cross through daily 1,000,000 riders BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN 725,000 annual visitors (2012) LITTLE ITALY | MANHATTAN 41 food-related businesses PROSPECT PARK ZOO FLUSHING MAIN STREET 234,000 annual visitors (2007) FORDHAM SHOPPING DISTRICT 97,290 pedestrians cross through daily BROOKLYN MUSEUM 340,000 annual visitors (2010) 300+ retailers 50 businesses $439 million annual retail spending (1 mile radius of Fordham Plaza) 10,000 pedestrians REZONINGS

shopping district in New 200,000 visitors 3rd busiest FORDHAM STATION 167 blocks in 3 DCP led rezonings York City 3rd Avenue 2,985 weekday boardings Webster Avenue (3rd busiest station outside Manhattan) East Fordham Road

Source: Orthophoto Base Map Copyrighted by the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. All rights reserved. 3

6 FORDHAM STATION 2 4

1 8 East Fordham Road 9

1 B/D Subway Line 6 Fordham Road Shopping District 2 BX12 (Select Bus Service) 7 Little Italy 7 3 Fordham University 8 Fordham Plaza 4 New York Botanical Gardens 9 East Fordham Rezoning 5 The Bronx Zoo 5

182 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 183 FIGURE 5 | R6 Zoning on Decator Avenue. FIGURE 6 | Fordham Road, towards Grand Concourse. Lack of street amenities enhance the shopping experience are one of the major chal- lenges for the Fordham Shopping District.

RECENT REZONINGS Tremont & Third Avenues Rezoning ensure predictable development. Similar to Webster Transportation Bee-Line bus offers connecting ser- Three rezonings were recently completed by DCP In October 2010, New York City Council approved a Avenue and Tremont/Third Avenue, the rezoning es- vice into Westchester County, using a Metro Card, via and approved. Each of these effects major portions rezoning of Tremont Avenue and Third Avenue, two tablished the Inclusionary Housing Program to pro- the 60/61/62 lines, which run down Fordham Road of the study area and contain elements that strength- diverse intersecting corridors. The goal of the rezon- vide incentives for the creation and preservation of and have a stop close to the Metro-North station. en the Fordham Road Corridor. These include: ing was to strengthen these vital avenues, and pro- affordable units along the corridor. The Bronx River Parkway, a north-south commuter mote a mix of uses. Height limits were put in place to route, is also easily accessible from Fordham Road. Webster Ave./Bedford Park/Norwood Rezoning preserve neighborhood character. Along Third Ave- TRANSPORTATION Approved in March 2011, the rezoning covers much nue, an MX district was mapped from 184th to 188th CHALLENGES & RECOMMENDATIONS of the Bedford Park and Norwood neighborhoods street adjacent to the Fordham area which allows for In addition to Metro-North, the area is also accessi- and allows for mid-density housing and retail along new housing and commercial opportunities, with ble by the B/D subway at the intersection of Grand With a wide variety of regional attractions, shopping Webster Avenue. The rezoning is intended to help light industrial uses permitted in limited locations. Concourse and Fordham Road, as well as the 4 sub- options, a cultural and food destination in Arthur this corridor become a vibrant and walkable mixed Finally, the Inclusionary Housing Program provides way at Jerome Avenue and Fordham Road. These Avenue, and 20 minute direct access to Grand Cen- residential and commercial avenue. Under the re- incentives along these corridors to develop afford- subway stations are each about a half mile from the tral Terminal, the Fordham Area should be a major zoning, most new developments are required to able housing. Fordham Metro-North station. The 2/5 Pelham Park- shopping, dining, and entertainment destination for include ground floor commercial to increase retail way stop is about a mile east of the station. East Fordham Road Rezoning visitors, and would be capable of supporting hotels options and services available to the residents on Fordham Plaza is a hub for bus lines, with 15 bus as well. These amenities, combined with easy access Webster Avenue and the neighboring communities. In October 2013, East Fordham road was rezoned lines passing through the station area. The BX12 to Manhattan, upstate New York, and Connecticut Height limits and contextual requirements in the to strengthen its existing commercial character Select Bus Service (SBS), the first SBS in the city, be- should also make the Fordham Area a highly desir- Bedford Park and Norwood neighborhoods shift de- and unify the look and feel of this prominent corri- gan in 2008 providing service along Fordham Road, able place to live and work. However, there are still velopment incentives from these low-density neigh- dor. The area includes a twelve block section of East and the BX41 SBS, the most recent in the city, began opportunities to improve connections and coordi- borhoods to Webster Avenue, helping to strengthen Fordham Road along the Gateway to Arthur Avenue in 2013, providing service along Webster Avenue. nation between institutions and to promote high- it as a mixed-use corridor. Additionally, incentives to and previouse C8 zoning did not permit residential These lines have increased ridership and connectiv- er-density growth in supportive sectors along the develop affordable housing within the corridor are uses. The rezoning promotes opportunities for new ity between the station area and other major corri- corridor. This could help the Fordham area become provided under the Inclusionary Housing Program. commercial and community facility development. Height limits were set to help unify the corridor and dors in the Bronx. The Westchester Department of a more dynamic central business district.

184 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 185 For the purpose of this section, the challenges and eral Department of Transportation (FDOT). This recommendations are discussed in four focus ar- could be coordinated through the Fordham BID. CASE STUDY | University City District, Philadelphia eas: (1) the Metro-North Station and Plaza Area, (2) • Provide intermodal transit schedules and infor- the Fordham Road Corridor West of the Station, (3) mation on electronic boards and clocks on the The University City neighborhood in West Philadel- the Connections to the Fordham Road Corridor, and to community building leverages institutional assets outside of station entrances or in the plaza. phia is home to several world-class institutions in- (4) Area Wide recommendations. The recommen- to improve the entire community. UCD relies on cluding the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel Uni- dations take a look at both short and long term ideas • Identify opportunities to increase station area annual donations from institutional partners. As a versity, the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, that will enable Fordham to take the next step. amenities. This could be at the Metro-North Sta- partner and generous donor, the University of Penn- tion itself as well as part of the Fordham Plaza several major hospitals and the Philadelphia Zoo. In sylvania has become an active participant in the re- improvements and partnerships with DPR to 1997, institutions led by the University of Pennsyl- vitalizing University City Area. (1) STATION AND PLAZA AREA better utilize Rose Hill Park, which occupies the vania created the University City District (UCD), a non-profit organization that is responsible for sever- Fordham Plaza sits at the heart of the Fordham The Fordham Metro-North station is already extreme- northeast corner of Fordham Road and Webster al district improvement programs. UCD started as a neighborhood in the Bronx. The area is home to ly successful, but there are opportunities to build on Avenue. Typical amenities include more indoor/ small organization but has grown to include many many world-class institutions and active commu- this success. The station currently lacks many of the sheltered space, station supportive retail and paid staff and volunteers, and has earned a positive nity organizations. The Bronx Zoo, the New York amenities typically provided at regional transit hubs. information kiosks, and adequate maintenance reputation from institutions and the community. Botanical Garden and Fordham University are al- Currently there is insufficient signage to indicate the and security features. These amenities were de- UCD partners with several organizations, small busi- ready engaged with groups like the Fordham BID direction and distance of area destinations including tailed in Section 1: Strategies for Intermodal Con- nesses, and residents with the goal of improving the and Belmont BID. The planned improvements to the Botanical Gardens, Bronx Zoo, Fordham Univer- nectivity and Commuter Rail Stations. quality of life in the area and creating economic op- Fordham Plaza will help to activate the space, but sity, and shopping and restaurant districts. This kind Provide inbound access to Fordham Station • portunity. To accomplish these goals, UCD maintains management, maintenance and programming will of wayfinding signage would help visitors navigate from Webster Avenue from a new entrance at or clean and safe streets, links institutions to commu- be essential to ensuring its success. A partnership the area and increase awareness of additional desti- around 193rd Street. This would improve con- nity residents for skills training and job placement, of local institutions and businesses around the plaza nations. Lack of signage not only discourages use of nectivity to surrounding neighborhoods, the connects the area to world-class arts and culture similar to the University City District efforts would mass transit, but limits the potential for overlapping Botanical Gardens, and BX41 Select Bus Service amenities, and makes improvements to transit and complement the improvements and contribute to destinations as disoriented visitors may be unaware on Webster Avenue. In combination with the ad- public open spaces like plazas. This holistic approach the neighborhood’s continued success. of or unfamiliar with additional attractions outside ditional station improvements currently under- of their planned destination. way this would improve flow in and out of the Many commuters arriving to the station through station during peak hours. This would require modes other than personal vehicle will require a access through Rose Hill Park. As of this report transfer to their final location once they disembark Metro-North is currently exploring this as part from Metro-North service. There are a number of of the current station improvements and is co- available connections to bus (local and select) or ordinating with Department of Parks and Rec- subway lines; however, a lack of real time informa- reation. tion, schedules and way-finding create a stressful • As a long-term option, an additional east/west connection for visitors unfamiliar with the area. Ad- connection across Metro-North tracks, directly ditionally, there are limited bike facilities and limited connecting Fordham University and Webster connections to the local network of bicycle routes. Avenue, would increase activity and provide Improving these facilities and connections would opportunities for student supportive uses and provide additional access to area institutions and neighborhood retail along Webster Avenue. recreational uses. • Provide sufficient bike facilities and/or a dedi- Fordham Plaza, which is decked over the Met- cated space for the next phase of the City’s bike ro-North Rail line, ends at 189th Street. The street sharing program in a centralized area such as wall along 189th between 3rd Avenue and Park Av- Rose Hill Park. enue is discontintued which discourages activity at • Eliminate gaps in bike routes. Specifically the the south end of plaza. This is an important connec- route that currently terminates at Park Avenue tion to both 3rd and Webster Avenues and the resi- and 187th to connect to the regional bike paths dents entering from the south. at Mosholu Parkway. Explore a neighborhood Recommendations: comprehensive bike plan that links points of in- terest with transportation centers Provide consistent neighborhood way-finding • Identify strategies to extend the street wall on signs depicting contextual location to key area • the south end of Fordham Plaza. Utilize best destinations, transportation options, and in- practices identified by this report in Section 1: formational maps. Fordham would be an ideal Strategies for Intermodal Connectivity and Com- candidate for the new DOT neighborhood sig- muter Rail Stations. FIGURE 7 | University City, Philadelphia. Source: RowEpict/ CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons from Wikimedia Commons nage program which is 80% funded by the Fed-

186 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 187 es, to be explored in consultation with relevant to maintain its character as the area continues to stakeholders. Examples of zoning recently develop. mapped in other borough business districts can Recommendations: be seen along 161Street and in the Hub. • Add sidewalk improvements and additional (3) CONNECTIONS amenities to connect Fordham Road to areas east of the station, between the Station Area Despite consistent high pedestrian volumes along and the Bronx River Parkway. This should in- sections of Fordham Road, other portions of the clude where the on and off ramps cross Ford- corridor to the east, as well as adjacent connector ham Road. streets, lack pedestrian amenities. The vibrant shop- ping district along Fordham Road west of the station • Widen bus lanes along the west side of Webster is disconnected from the regional amenities to the Avenue between 193rd Street and Bedford Park east. New York Botanical Garden and The Bronx Zoo Boulevard to provide flexibility in potential fu- are major destinations that see more than 2.8 million ture sidewalk widening. combined visitors annually. Arthur Avenue and the • Announce area destinations on buses that stop surrounding Belmont neighborhood are regional near the station, specifically on SBS routes along restaurant and food destinations. However, these Webster Avenue and Fordham Road. destinations are difficult to access for pedestrians • Install signage at bus stops indicating direction arriving on public transit or attempting to walk be- and distance of area destinations. tween multiple destinations. • Enforce dedicated bus lanes along Fordham The development of the Select Bus Service (SBS) Road. Automobiles routinely stop in and block along Webster Avenue, in addition to the existing BX the current bus lanes. 12 SBS along Fordham Road, provides an opportuni- Explore opportunities to enhance or develop ty to improve regional connections and local street- • lots adjacent to the rail line on the east side of scape improvements. Sidewalks on the east side of FIGURE 8 | One Fordham Plaza, across from Fordham University. This office building is one of the few C4-4 zoned buildings in the area. Webster Avenue. Utilize strategies indicated in Webster Avenue between 193rd and 197th Streets Section 1: Strategies for Rail Adjacent Lots. are inadequate, and SBS improvements including a (2) FORDHAM ROAD CORRIDOR WEST OF Recommendations: planned 8-foot median could reduce remaining area • Study the Belmont area to identify zoning which THE STATION • Support the Fordham Road BID streetscape within the public right-of-way for future sidewalk preserves neighborhood character and allows it plan. The next step in the plan is to explore widening. continue to thrive as a regional attraction and As indicated, the Fordham Road Shopping District is food destination. one of the busiest in city, but it is lacking the blend of funding opportunities to facilitate implementa- The BX 12 SBS, the first in the city, has boosted rider- retail, office, entertainment, community facility and tion of the un-financed phases. Identify oppor- ship and enhanced commutes along Fordham Road, • Monitor and evaluate Webster Avenue and 3rd residential uses that characterizes many successful tunities to add seating, street tree planting and but heavy traffic and multiple bus lines using the Avenue corridors as new development occurs to business districts. Zoning along the retail corridor green space through this process. same lane often leaves the SBS bus blocked or slow determine effectiveness of re-zoning and sup- west of the station has permitted a variety of ground • Connect the retail corridor as part of a consis- moving, limiting the line’s effectiveness. port development consistent with re-zonings. floor retail uses to flourish. As one of the Borough’s tent neighborhood signage program which Zoning lots along the east side of Webster Avenue three primary business districts, the area should be identifies attractions and transit. (4) AREA WIDE north of Fordham Road abut the Metro-North rail able to accommodate office space or hotel rooms • Identify opportunities to incorporate more di- line and are difficult to develop or undevelopable, without sacrificing retail space on the first and sec- As indicated, the Fordham Area has significant cul- verse uses along the corridor, such as coffee for reasons discussed in Section 1: Strategies for Rail ond story. tural and community attractions that draw tourists, shops or sit down restaurants that will allow for Adjacent Lots. Many of the lots are vacant or unkempt families, shoppers and diners. It has mass transit op- The retail corridor maintains a constant buzz pro- patrons to relax during a shopping visit, and en- and take away from walkability and development tions that provide easy access to other portions of viding an excellent climate for retailers and shops. courage a longer stay from visitors and tourists. potential along Webster Avenue. the Bronx, Manhattan, upstate New York, and Con- However, for shoppers and visitors passing through necticut. While the individual institutions in Ford- • Conduct a feasibility study along Fordham Road The Belmont neighborhood has architectural char- the area, this can at times be an intimidating and ham attract a large number of visitors each year, to examine the market demand for office, retail acter which defines it, but it does not currently have exhausting experience. Difficult crossings across a there is a lack of cohesion between them that would and hotel density. The study could highlight contextual zoning to preserve this identity. A few wide and busy street combined with a steep grade make Fordham a singular destination. There are cur- any retail gaps, and could illuminate why office out-of-context developments could negatively af- add to this experience. There is insufficient green rently few options or incentives for visitors who may space is not more successful. This should be fect this delicate fabric. There have been numerous space, tree plantings or seating to provide a respite be interested in visiting multiple attractions in the done in close coordination with the Fordham rezoning and programmatic efforts to maximize from shopping, and the lack of wayfinding signage area to use the Fordham area as a stay-over or even a BID, local community boards, and residents in contextual development potential in the Fordham discourages visitors from exploring beyond the cor- base for their New York City visit. order to determine how the area can thought- Area. The transition of these zonings into the Bel- ridor. fully take the next step. The results of this study mont neighborhood require careful consideration Fordham Station has more than 3,000 daily out- may suggest future land use and zoning chang-

188 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 189 an Park should include programming such as SOURCES diverse food trucks, pop-up markets, green or 1 PlaNYC. http://nytelecom.vo.llnwd.net/o15/agencies/ fresh food markets, outdoor seating and other planyc2030/pdf/full_report_2007.pdf opportunities to enhance the shopping experi- 2 Fordham Road BID. http://www.fordhamroadbid.org/752.html ence and promote the area’s assets. 3 Fordham Plaza Study. http://www.nycedc.com/resource/ford- • Identify job markets and key destination points ham-plaza-conceptual-design-study along Metro North Rail corridor as opportuni- 4 Bronx Little Italy. http://www.bronxlittleitaly.com/ ties for residents of the study area. Identify in- 5 Fordham University. http://www.fordham.edu/discover_ford- termodal “last mile” improvements to ease the ham/facts_26604.asp commute for Bronx residents. 6 Bronx Zoo. http://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/zoos/ bronx-zoo 7 http://www.nybg.org/about/mission_and_history.php CONCLUSION 8 http://new.mta.info/press-release/metro-north/mta-metro- north-railroad-buy-land-expand-platform-fordham-station The Fordham Metro-North Station is not only ex- 9 http://www.nycedc.com/resource/fordham-plaza-conceptu- tremely successful, it has incredible potential for al-design-study additional growth and to serve as a centerpiece in 10 http://www.nycedc.com/project/webster-avenue-vision-plan the future of the Fordham Area. Popular institutions * Fordham Area Attractions By the Numbers: and attractions, recent rezonings, ongoing improve- Brooklyn Museum Visitors. http://www.nytimes. ments to both the plaza and station, and new SBS com/2010/06/15/arts/design/15museum.html?pagewant- service in addition to existing regional transit op- ed=all&_r=0 tions are all catalysts for the area to take the next Monroe College Students. http://www.campusexplorer.com/ step as regional Business District and transit hub. colleges/E62478E0/New-York/Bronx/Monroe-College-Bronx/ Identifying areas where recent rezonings, station MTA, Annual Subway Ridership. http://www.mta.info/nyct/ upgrades and plaza improvements can dovetail with facts/ridership/ridership_sub_annual.htm pedestrian enhancements will create better con- Prospect Park Zoo Visitors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pros- nections to area attractions. A unified approach to pect_Park_Zoo promote its cultural, educational, retail, and profes- Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitors. http://www.bbg.org/press/ sional attractions, paired with amenities that allow capital_campaign visitors to better take advantage of multiples attrac- FIGURE 9 | Arthur Avenue in the Belmont BID, home to a vibrant Italian neighborhood with over 300 food-related businesses. tions, will benefit the entire area and allow for its bound commuters and is a gateway to job centers tion could establish and oversee the following: continued success. north of the city. There are gaps in transit connec- oo A cooperative parking strategy that better tions for commuters, or “last mile” issues, that slow utilizes unused parking spots between the commutes and discourage additional usage. Identi- various institutions, and their events, sea- fying key destination points for Bronx residents and sons and peak hours which fluctuate be- intermodal “last mile” improvements would ease the tween uses. commute for Bronx residents. PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY | Fordham Study Area oo Offers that incentivize patronage at multi- Community amenities should be considered for im- ple area destinations. provement to support existing regional attractions. oo Oversee establishment of Trolley or shuttle • Strengthen connections between area attractions, surrounding neighborhoods and transit assets by The Edgar Allen Poe Park visitor’s center, northwest system that promotes access to and be- identifying where pedestrian improvements can tie into recent rezonings, plaza and station enhance- of the station along the Grand Concourse, is housed tween regional institutions. ments, and new SBS routes. in a state of the art facility. Unfortunately, it is un- oo Support marketing programs for neighbor- Improve coordination between area attractions to encourage visits that take advantage of the diverse derstaffed and underutilized by visitors. Bryan Park, • hood businesses and promote area as a sin- options the area offers. which sits in the heart of the Fordham shopping dis- gular regional destination. trict, is currently under renovation and could offer an • Identify land use policies which promote additional growth near transit, along important retail corridors excellent break for shoppers. • Explore potential for hotels within the neigh- and includes opportunity for a diverse mix of uses typical of regional business districts. borhood could promote the area as a base to Recommendations: visit multiple attractions city-wide. • Promote the creation of an unaffiliated commu- • Utilize existing open space to meet the needs nity development organization that works with of residents and visitors. This includes Poe Park, existing institutions and encompasses a distinct Bryan Park, and improving connections to Bronx boundary or “Fordham District”. This organiza- River Park and Mosholu Parkway. The new Bry-

190 EXISTING STATIONS - Fordham SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX 191