SOUTHERN BLVD the BRONX Commercial District Needs Assessment
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SOUTHERN BLVD THE BRONX Commercial District Needs Assessment COMMERCIAL DISTRICT NEEDS ASSESSMENT Bill de Blasio Women’s Housing and Economic Mayor in partnership Development Corporation (WHEDco) Gregg Bishop with Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice Commissioner Southern Boulevard BID ABOUT SOUTHERN BOULEVARD Background Southern Boulevard is a 1.4-mile transit corridor connecting the Bronx neighborhoods of Crotona Park East and Longwood. Bisected by Westchester Avenue, Southern Boulevard serves as the center for commercial and transportation activity for the mid-rise residential neighborhoods to The Neighborhood 360° the east and west. The elevated 2 and 5 trains serve as the main transportation lines for the area, program was created by the NYC running along Westchester Avenue until turning north along Southern Boulevard at Simpson Department of Small Business Street. The elevated train structure dominates the built environment, influencing the sights and Services to identify, develop and sounds of the streetscape below. launch commercial revitalization projects in partnership with The area around Southern Boulevard, once considered part of the historic Morrisania local stakeholders. Through neighborhood, flourished in the 1930s and 1940s as working- and middle-class families settled proactive planning and targeted investments, Neighborhood 360° along new transit lines. The neighborhood’s growth also increased the area’s cultural offerings supports projects that strengthen along Freeman Street, Southern Boulevard, and Boston Road, with theaters throughout the and revitalize the streets, small neighborhood becoming destinations for New Yorkers from other boroughs. businesses, and community- based organizations that anchor From the 1950s to the 1970s, an economic crisis depleted the housing stock. Banks and the real New York City neighborhoods. estate industry reduced their support of the South Bronx on a historically unprecedented scale. The Neighborhood 360° Southern Boulevard and the surrounding neighborhoods saw a devastating loss of population and Commercial District Needs investment, which led to rampant arson, severe infrastructure damage, and deterioration of the Assessment (CDNA) highlights community’s built and environmental landscape. Despite these challenges, the corridor is rich a neighborhood’s existing business landscape and in cultural history, particularly in influential music styles such as jazz, Latin jazz, salsa, and hip-hop. consumer characteristics. Following the arson and massive disinvestments that decimated the area in the 1970s, a new generation of local innovators — including Grandmaster Flash, Cold Crush Brothers, KRS-ONE, This CDNA features Southern Boulevard, Boston Road, 174th and many others — sparked the hip-hop movement. Street, Louis Niñé Boulevard, and Westchester Avenue Due to the leadership of dedicated community activists and organizers, the South Bronx began commercial corridors in the a new wave of rebuilding and revitalization in the 1980s. Today the neighborhood is experiencing Bronx, and was conducted in positive change thanks to the work of numerous community organizations, and new public and partnership with the Women’s private investments will continue to bring opportunity to the neighborhood and its residents. Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco), Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, and Neighborhood Demographics See more on page 16–17 the Southern Boulevard BID between May and December 2017. Key issues and opportunities Celebrated for its cultural diversity, the Southern Boulevard area is home to more than 57,000 identified through this residents, the majority of whom are Hispanic or Latino (71%). The most common languages spoken assessment will help prioritize in the area are Spanish and English, illustrated by the fact that the majority of neighborhood SBS-supported local investments, and serve as an storefronts and retail offerings advertise in both languages. While most of the foreign-born informational and marketing population is from Latin America, there is a small but growing African immigrant population (11%) resource for the neighborhood. that lives in the area and is a part of the entrepreneurial community. Residents of the neighborhood have a considerably low median household income of $22,503 compared to the Bronx ($34,284) and New York City ($52,737). However, many neighborhood- In This Report based organizations, committed to economic justice and ensuring access to affordable housing Existing conditions, business and healthcare, create a vital network that supports area residents and works to improve the data, and qualitative depictions overall quality of life. of the neighborhood were gathered from more than 759 surveys and various stakeholder meetings with neighborhood Future Opportunities See more on page 5 merchants, shoppers, workers, property owners, and residents. Despite the area’s challenges, Southern Boulevard and its surrounding neighborhoods connect Jump to... diverse and active groups of residents, entrepreneurs, organizers, and community-based Key Findings 4–5 organizations. The area has seen population growth of more than 17% since 2000, partly due to Business Inventory 6 new housing development. Community members support local businesses, and visitors travel to What Merchants Say 7–10 Business Outlook 12–13 nearby Crotona Park to enjoy an oasis of quiet green space in the midst of a busy borough. The What Shoppers Say 11, 13 City is currently undertaking the Southern Boulevard Neighborhood Study, which is an opportunity Physical Environment 14–15 to address longstanding issues and to think about long-term solutions for the future. Local Data Appendix 16-19 residents, community stakeholders, elected officials, and City agencies are helping to realize the area’s fullest potential and continuing the tradition of grassroots level engagement throughout the neighborhood. 2 Neighborhood 360° Commercial District Needs Assessment NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT Southern Boulevard Notable Places E 179 ST 1 CROTONA PARK N CROSS BRONX EXPY E TREMONT AV E 175 ST 3 BATHGATE AV Bronx PARK AV Crotona Park River Art Center Casita Maria 5 E 171 ST CROTONA AV 2 E 174 ST Seabury Playground BOSTON RD LOUIS NIÑÉ BLVDChildren’s Aid E 170 ST Society HOE AV 3 AV Starlight Bronx Music and Heritage Center E 172 ST Park 6 E 169 ST LONGFELLOW AV JENNINGS ST 3 SOUTHERN BLVD Bronx Music Heritage Center 2 FRANKLIN AV E 168 ST SHERIDAN EXPY Bronx River Art Center EVERGREEN AV BOSTON RD ELDER AV HOME ST FOX ST 4 E 166 ST E 167 ST Field of Dreams Concrete Park W FARMS RD Plant CLOSE AV Park Urban Health 4 E 165 ST Plan WESTCHESTER AV SOUTHERN BLVD BRONX RIVER AV FAILE ST UNION AV HOEAV INTERVALE AV INTERVALE Concrete Plant Park PROSPECT AV 6 E 163 ST Hunts Point 5 Workforce1 Career Center TINTON AV E 160 ST 2 5 Casita Maria 1 0 0.15 0.3 Miles BRUCKNER BLVD ° Crotona Park Points of Interest 6 Assessed Commercial Corridors Arts, Culture, & Educational Institutions Public Facilities Healthcare and Community Facilities Parks and Public Spaces Business Improvement District Starlight Park Merchant & Business Groups Southern Boulevard Women’s Housing and Economic Business Improvement District (BID) Development Corporation (WHEDco) Southern Boulevard Merchant Association Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice Southern Boulevard 3 KEY FINDINGS & OPPORTUNITIES Strengths Good transit accessibility, with the elevated 2 and 5 Home to a variety of parks, community gardens, and other trains running along Westchester Avenue and Southern public spaces that are used by the community Boulevard, as well as 10 different bus lines that connect High volume of institutions, including community-based residents to other areas of the Bronx and Manhattan organizations, cultural centers, schools, and medical Strong sense of culture and history that is fostered through facilities, that create employment opportunities and arts and music by community-based organizations contribute to the district’s customer base Local businesses are supported by loyal customers and Comprised of a diversity of small businesses, many run by offer affordable goods and services, as well as employment immigrant entrepreneurs who enhance the character of opportunities the neighborhood and its responsiveness to the hopes and desires of local community residents Engaged and diverse community members with a long- standing record of participation in neighborhood activities Commercial spaces feature rents that are notably more affordable than other districts Challenges Long-term construction projects along Southern Boulevard High proportion of storefronts are in need of physical disrupt traffic, reduce parking, block sidewalks, and create improvements chaotic and unpleasant conditions along the corridor Early evening closing hours for many institutions and retail High retail vacancy rate and several vacant lots disrupt businesses reduces foot traffic the continuity of the corridor, and result in sections of the Desolate and poorly lit streets contribute to the poor corridor that are very dark at night perceptions of safety, especially at night The elevated train produces a considerable amount of Lack of healthy food options and full-service restaurants noise and contributes to the area’s overall lack of lighting, absence of street trees, and unsafe pedestrian crossings Insufficient trash management and litter removal Many ground floor uses along Southern Boulevard between Lengthy blocks and minimal crosswalks along Southern