Melrose, Bronx

Melrose
Neighborhood of the Bronx

Looking west across St Ann's Avenue and along East 156th Street
Melrose

Location in New York City

Coordinates: 40°49′28″N 73°54′37″W / 40.8245450°N 73.9104143°W / 40.8245450; -73.9104143Coordinates: 40°49′28″N 73°54′37″W / 40.8245450°N 73.9104143°W / 40.8245450; -73.9104143
Country  United States
State  New York
City New York City
Borough Bronx
Founded 19th century
Named for Melrose Abbey
Area[1]
 • Total 1.06 km2 (0.408 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 24,913
 • Density 24,000/km2 (61,000/sq mi)
Economics
 • Median income $21,828
ZIP codes 10451, 10455, 10456
Area code 718, 347, 646

Melrose is primarily a residential neighborhood geographically located in the southwestern section of the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Predominantly German-American in the 19th century it is home to the Haffen Building and was home to Haffen Brewing Company. The German population waned especially post-WWII. The neighborhood until the 1960s was mostly Irish and Italian.[2] It is now primarily Latino. It adjoins the business and one-time theater area known as the Hub.

The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 1. Melrose is rectangular-shaped, being bordered by Prospect Avenue on the east, 149th Street on the south, Park Avenue on the west and 161st Street to the north. Melrose Avenue and Third Avenue are the primary thoroughfares through Melrose. ZIP codes include 10451, 10455 and 10456. The area is patrolled by the NYPD's 42nd Precinct[3] located at 830 Washington Ave., the 40th Precinct[4] located at 257 Alexander Ave. and the 44th Precinct[5] located at 2 E. 169th Street. New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property in the area is patrolled by P.S.A. 7 at 737 Melrose Avenue.

Grupo TACA operates a Bronx-area TACA Satellite at 570 Melrose Avenue.[6] Melrose is considered part of the socioeconomic South Bronx.

Demographics

Melrose is a high-density neighborhood with a population of around 24,913. The neighborhood has a relatively diverse population consisting primarily of Latin Americans and African Americans. Almost half of the population lives below the federal poverty line.[7][8]

Land use and terrain

Melrose is dominated by large residential housing complexes of various types, primarily public housing, and tenement style apartment buildings. Most of the original housing stock which consisted of older multi-unit homes and tenements were structurally damaged by arson during the citywide fiscal crisis and eventually razed by the city. In the last decade, construction of modern 2 and 3 unit row-houses and apartment buildings have increased the percentage of owners versus renters. The neighborhood contains one of the highest concentrations of NYCHA projects in the Bronx. The terrain is somewhat hilly.

The Hub-Third Avenue Business Improvement District

The Hub-Third Avenue BID is a major local retail district located where five major thoroughfares converge: East 149th Street, Westchester, Willis, Melrose and Third Avenues. The area is served by the 2 and 5 lines at East 149th Street and Third Avenue. One of The Bronx's largest shopping areas (eclipsed only by Fordham Road).[9]

Low-income public housing projects

  1. East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue; two buildings, 11 and 12-stories tall.
  2. Jackson Houses; seven, 16-story buildings.
  3. Melrose Houses; eight, 14-story buildings.
  4. Morrisania Air Rights; three buildings, 19, 23, and 29-stories.
  5. South Bronx Area (Site 402); four buildings, 3-stories tall.

History

Melrose Community Reformed Church at E 156th Street and Elton Avenue
Looking northwest at apartment building on Melrose Avenue and E 154th Street

Originally a dense working-class neighborhood, the housing that was often hastily built to capitalize on the turn of the 20th century immigrant escape from Manhattan soon became unsuitable to all but the poorest. A mass exodus soon took place as New York City policy–induced arson soon ravaged the neighborhood throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the City of New York dismantled the Third Avenue El (an original draw to the neighborhood) due to low ridership. By the 1980s the neighborhood had decayed severely, and much of the original housing stock was lost. Vacant buildings and then lots became commonplace.[11]

Since the mid-1990s, but especially in the 2000s, significant renewal has taken place. A prominent player in the revitalization efforts has been the group Nos Quedamos which in English means "we stay". Many abandoned structures have been renovated and many lots have been constructed on. In most recent years the area has seen a significant "Green" construction boom. Leading the borough in the number of LEED certified apartment buildings, the largest being Via Verde, winner of the 2013 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence silver medal. Melrose is also home to The Bronx campus of Boricua College. Despite lingering social problems due to a continued significant poverty presence, Melrose has come a long way from a previously "forgotten" neighborhood.[12][2]

Four historic Melrose churches date to before 1900. The German Methodist Church (1878) 790 Elton Ave., The German Reformed Church (1885) (seen in the distance with white steeple picture above) 744 Elton Ave., Immaculate Conception Church (1887) 389 E. 150th St. and the German Lutheran Church (1895) 376 E. 156th St.

The Melrose neighborhood has grown since Jimmy Carter's famous visit to the Bronx in 1977[13] and will continue to do so as the city's last parcels are sold for development. Many parcels are still in the development phase, but will skyrocket the Melrose population.[14]

In 2012, residents expressed concern regarding the Melrose Metro-North station in the neighborhood. Residents would like to see more frequent service, but track and capacity limitations hinder the amount of service available for the stop. Other concerns regarded the lack of handicap access, and the past closure of the main entrance to the stop. The main entrance was closed when the community was at the height of its turmoil, but as the community has regained its footing the desire to have the station open to the primary commercial street, East 161st Street, has grown.

Alfred E. Smith High School on East 151st Street
Melrose branch, NYPL

Media

The Mott Haven Herald is a news outlet that reports in Mott Haven, Melrose, and Port Morris. It is produced by students at the City University Graduate School of Journalism and edited by Joe Hirsch.

Education

All are public schools.

Transportation

Melrose Metro-North station

References

  1. 1 2 "Melrose neighborhood in New York". Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Jackson, Nancy B. "LIVING IN/Melrose Commons, the Bronx; The Sound of Construction". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "42nd Precinct".
  4. ↑ "40th Precinct".
  5. ↑ "44th Precinct".
  6. ↑ "TACA Offices." Grupo TACA. Retrieved on January 27, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Bronx Community District 1" (PDF). Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Center for Urban Research". Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Hub 3rd Avenue BID".
  10. ↑ "NYCHA". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "The Bronx County Historical Society". Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Nos Quedamos Community Development Corporation". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Carter Takes 'Sobering' Trip to South Bronx: BY LEE DEMBART. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 06 Oct 1977: 1.
  14. ↑ "Construction In Melrose Continues Despite A Weak Economy". Retrieved 30 September 2015.

External links

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