NORWOOD & BEDFORD PARK THE BRONX Commercial District Needs Assessment in partnership Mosholu Preservation Corporation with ABOUT NORWOOD & BEDFORD PARK Background Avenue NYC is a competitive Norwood and Bedford Park are located in the Northwestern section of the Bronx. Nestled grant program created by the NYC between the Woodlawn Cemetery and Conservatory to the north and the New York Botanical Department of Small Business Services to fund and build the Garden to the south. On the west is the Mosholu Parkway serving as a connector to Van capacity of community-based Cortlandt Park and the Botanical Garden. The parkway abuts key commercial corridors that development organizations to gives this historic community a “Main Street” feel. Extending from the Williamsbridge Oval execute commercial revitalization initiatives. Avenue NYC is funded down Bainbridge Avenue through East 204th Street and swinging westward on Webster through the U.S. Department of Avenue towards Fordham Road, the 1.5 mile commercial corridor running through Norwood Housing and Urban Development’s and Bedford Park hosts an active small business community, supporting unique shopping Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which and dining options that showcase the diverse cultures of Northwest Bronx residents. Its targets investments in low- and proximity to the Metro-North Railroad, the local D subway line, and various bus routes provides moderate-income neighborhoods. convenient access to Manhattan, areas of New York State, and Connecticut. Anchor Bronx Avenue NYC Commercial institutions including Montefiore Medical Center, Fordham University, the New York Botanical Revitalization grants provide Garden, and the Bronx County Historical Society, as well as the vast parkland throughout the multi-year commitments aimed area contribute to the vitality of these two communities. One example of this is Frank Frisch at building the capacity of partner organizations to better understand Field, named after baseball player Frankie Frisch — the “Fordham Flash” — who played with neighborhood needs, develop the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from 1919 to 1937. The park is one of the many impactful programs, and sustain green spaces that helps maintain the “small town” feel of this Bronx neighborhood. their work in the community for at least three years. The rich history of the Norwood and Bedford Park communities is illustrated by distinctive The Commercial District Needs architecture, long-standing community organizations, and stories of immigration and Assessment (CDNA) highlights a neighborhood’s existing business resettlement. This area went through a series of changes throughout the turn of the century. landscape and consumer During the Civil War, the area was Westchester County farmland and was later transformed characteristics. into suburban counties. With the arrival of Irish immigrants, the Norwood community became This CDNA features the Webster known as “Little Belfast,” while Bedford Park had an even mix of both an Irish and Italian Avenue, Bainbridge Avenue, and population. Today, traces of “Little Belfast” can still be found along Bainbridge Avenue. The East 204th Street commercial Irish taverns of Bedford Park are now home to a growing Latin, Bangladeshi, and Albanian corridors in Norwood and Bedford Park, and was conducted in communities.Both neighborhoods served as a refuge for immigrants in the late 20th century. partnership with the Mosholu Preservation Corporation between August 2018 and January 2019. See more on page 12 Key issues and opportunities identified through this assessment Neighborhood Demographics will help prioritize SBS-supported local investments, and serve as an informational and marketing More than 73,624 residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds call Norwood and Bedford resource for the neighborhood. Park home. Its convenient access to transit and affordable housing make it a destination for newcomers and long-term New Yorkers. About 66% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, and 40% of Norwood and Bedford Park residents were born outside of the United States, demonstrating the area’s long-standing tradition of supporting immigrant and foreign-born communities. In This Report See more on page 5 Existing conditions, business data, and qualitative depictions of the neighborhood were gathered from more than 253 Future Opportunities surveys and various stakeholder meetings with neighborhood merchants, shoppers, workers, In 2011, the Webster Avenue/Bedford Park/Norwood Rezoning was adopted, allowing for property owners, and residents. residential development along the Webster Avenue corridor where it previously was not Jump to... permitted and preserving the existing character of the adjacent residential areas. The rezoning Key Findings 4-5 also addressed the commercial needs of the community today, allowing for neighborhood- Business Inventory 6 serving retail, specialty stores, and office uses, and would preclude the semi-industrial uses What Merchants Say 7-8 that were previously allowed. It also included a commitment to promote inclusionary housing Business Outlook 9-10 What Shoppers Say 8, 10 practices within the Norwood community to incentivize development and improved access to Physical Environment 11 affordable housing through the Inclusionary Housing Program. Data Appendix 12-14 2 Avenue NYC Commercial District Needs Assessment NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT Norwood & Bedford Park Notable Places ! E 211 ST BRONX BLVD 1 "1 Montefiore Medical Center "6 The Keeper’s House E GUN HILL RD E 208 ST "5 Bronx Historical Society JeromeW Park 205 ST Williamsbridge Oval Harris Park BAINBRIDGE AV BAINBRIDGE " E 206 ST Lehman College "2 ! HULL AV Montefiore Medical Center GOULDEN AV MOSHOLU PKWY E 205 ST ! E 203 ST ! E 204 ST BARKERAV 4 BRONX RIVER PKWY 2 PAUL AV BEDFORD PARK BLVD BRIGGS AV ! UNIVERSITY AV E 197 ST E 201 ST ADEE AV W 195 ST 4 NYPD 52nd Precinct D E 199 ST ! VALENTINE AV Mosholu Parkway ! WEBSTER AV E 197 ST JEROME AV BRONX PARK E PARK BRONX BAINBRIDGE AV ! DAVIDSON AV St. James GRAND CONCOURSE " Part of the Solution 3 Park Poe WHITE PLAINS RD Park E 194 ST E 190 ST B New York ! Botanical Garden 5 "3 Workforce1 Career Center NYC Business Solutions Center Bronx Park 2 ! " Fordham University E 184 ST New York Botanical Garden E 188 ST E 191 ST BRONX RIVER PKWY TIEBOUT AV SOUTHERN BLVD 3 AV 3 4 0 0.15 0.3 0.6 Miles ! E 185 ST ° ! Points of Interest Neighborhood Events NYPD 52nd Police Precinct Assessed Commercial Corridors Octoberfest-NYC DOT Weekend Walk Belmont Business Improvement District Summer Streets-NYC DOT Weekend Walk 5 Community Institutions & Landmarks Webster Avenue Halloween Parade Fordham Road Business Improvement District Green Space Merchant & Community Groups Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District 52nd Precinct Community Council The Bronx County Historical Society Public Facilities Bedford Mosholu Community Association Friends of Mosholu Parkland 6 Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval Guerinos Against Graffiti Northwest Merchants Association Part of The Solution (POTS) The Keeper’s House Norwood & Bedford Park 3 KEY FINDINGS & OPPORTUNITIES Strengths Long-standing local businesses throughout the New development with retail space along Webster Avenue commercial corridor create a strong sense of identity creates an opportunity to attract new businesses and community in Norwood High population density along and adjacent to the Highly accessible transit options, including Metro North, commercial corridor, including nearby Montefiore the D and 4 subway lines, and multiple bus lines, help the Medical Center, supports the vitality of the district corridor serve as a as a major transportation hub for the Community-based organizations, property owners, Northwest Bronx and local merchant groups are active and engaged in Well-preserved architecture celebrates the history of the Norwood community and dedicated to supporting the Northwest Bronx and contributes to the walkability place-based improvements of the neighborhood Challenges Perceptions of safety are poor, especially at night, acting Many local merchants lack marketing knowledge and as a detriment to walkability and small business stewardship experience and do not have an online presence There is a lack of affordable, healthy food options within Limited retail options along the corridor fail to meet the the corridor, leading residents and consumers to dine needs of residents outside of the commercial district Amid increasing commercial rents on the corridor, Clusters of vacant storefronts along Bainbridge Avenue and some merchants report that landlords are unwilling to E. 204th Street disrupt the continuity of the retail corridor give leases of more than a year and negatively impact the walkability of the neighborhood Underused local parks and plazas suffer from a lack of Lack of parking and traffic congestion along the commercial recreational activities and community programming corridor deter consumers from shopping in the district Webster Avenue Mural 205th Street Subway Station Bainbridge Avenue Storefronts 204th Street Storefronts 4 Avenue NYC Commercial District Needs Assessment Williamsbridge Oval Bainbridge Avenue Storefronts Botanical Garden Metro Station - Metro-North Railroad New York Botanical Garden Opportunities Improve lighting along the commercial corridor to tackle Support merchant collaboration efforts across the corridor safety concerns. Partner with the police precinct located to organize small business owners and reduce turnover