Melrose, Bronx

Location of Melrose in New York City

Melrose is primarily a residential neighborhood geographically located in the SouthWestern section of the borough of The Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 1. Its boundaries, starting from the North and moving clockwise are: East 161st Street to the North, Prospect Avenue to the East, East 149th Street to the South, and Park Avenue to the West. Melrose Avenue is the primary thoroughfare through Melrose. Zip codes include 10451, 10455, and 10456. The area is patrolled by the 42nd Precinct located at 830 Washington Ave. New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property in the area is patrolled by P.S.A. 7 at 737 Melrose Avenue.

Demographics

Melrose is a high density neighborhood with a population over 30,000. The neighborhood has a relatively diverse population consisting primarily of Latin Americans, predominantly Puerto Ricans (Melrose has one of the highest concentrations of Puerto Ricans in all of New York City). Like most neighborhoods in New York City the vast majority of households are renter occupied^[1]. Over one third the population resides in units managed by the NYCHA. Over half the population lives below the poverty line and receives public assistance (AFDC, Home Relief, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid). However there is significant income diversity on a block by block basis.

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).

Horizon Juvenile Detention Center

In 1998, the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) opened two secure juvenile detention centers. Characterized by locks on the doors and other hardware designed to restrict the movement of the residents and protect public safety, the facilities were planned with staff input to enhance residents' overall security, while allowing for quality programming.^{[citation needed]} Horizon Juvenile Center, located in the Melrose section of the Bronx, opened on January 18, 1998.

Morrisania Air Rights project of NYCHA

Low-income public housing projects

• There are eight NYCHA developments located in Melrose.^[2]

1. Adams Houses; seven buildings, 15 and 21-stories tall.
2. Bronxchester Houses; one 18-story building.
3. East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue; two buildings, 11 and 12-stories tall.
4. Jackson Houses; seven, 16-story buildings.
5. Melrose Houses; eight, 14-story buildings.
6. Morrisania Air Rights; three buildings, 19, 23, and 29-stories.
7. Saint Mary's Park Houses; six, 21-story buildings.
8. South Bronx Area (Site 402); four buildings, 3-stories tall.

History

Originally a dense working class neighborhood, after a flight of middle and upper income residents the neighborhood of Melrose became quickly a high poverty "ghetto". Arson soon ravaged the neighborhood throughout the 1960's and 1970's. In 1973, the City of New York dismantled the Third Avenue El due to low ridership. By the 1980's and 1990's the neighborhood had decayed severely, much of the original housing stock was lost.

In the late 1990's but especially the 2000's significant renewal has taken place. Many formally 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 of which, Via Verde. 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.

Economy

Grupo TACA operates a Bronx-area TACA Satellite at 570 Melrose Avenue.^[3] Melrose is considered part of the socioeconomic South Bronx.

Schools

• PS 1: Courtlandt (East 152nd St and Courtlandt Av)
• PS 29: Melrose (East 156th St and Courtlandt Av)
• PS 157: Grove Hill (East 156th St and Cauldwell Av)
• MS 162: Lola Rodriguez de Tio (East 149th St and St. Ann's Av)
• William Lloyd Garrison PS/MS.31x: (250 East and 156 street)
• Alfred Smith High School (East 151st St and Courtlandt Av)
• South Bronx High School Campus (St. Ann's Av north of Westchester Av)

Transportation

• Bx4: to 3rd Avenue-149th Street station or Westchester Square station (via Westchester Avenue)
• Bx15: to Fordham Plaza or West Harlem (via 3rd Av)
• Bx19: to New York Botanical Gardens or Riverbank State Park (via East 149th St-Southern Blvd)
• Bx21: to Westchester Square or Mott Haven (via Boston Rd-Morris Park Av)
• Bx41: to Wakefield (via Webster Av)
• Bx55: to Fordham Plaza or Williamsbridge-Gun Hill Rd station (via 3rd Av Limited)
• Melrose (Metro-North station) (Harlem Line)
• Prospect Avenue (2 5)
• Jackson Avenu (2 5)
• Third Avenue-149th Street (2 5)

References

1. ^ Bronx Community District 1
2. ^ NYCHA
3. ^ "TACA Offices." Grupo TACA. Retrieved on January 27, 2009.

Coordinates: 40°49′28″N 73°54′37″W / 40.8245450°N 73.9104143°W / 40.8245450; -73.9104143