Category: Transit-Oriented Development

New Sites On Your Commute: Manne Institute At Bronx Science

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By Joseph Morales

         The Bedford Park-Lehman College area is one of the largest transit hubs in The Bronx. The area has access to 6 bus lines as well as the 4, B and D trains also within a 10 minute walk.  Many of the major destinations here are educational institutions including the Bronx High School of Science, Lehman College and High School Of American Studies at Lehman College. Transit is very important to the community thriving as many students who attend these schools come from all over the city and use transit to get to the area.

          Outside of students, the area is largely frequented by those transferring from bus to bus. When transferring at the Paul Av/W 205th St stop, across the street from The Bronx High School Of Science, many riders may notice what appears to be a massive construction site. Look a little closer, and you will notice a unique, modern building with glass windows around it. So many riders may wonder, what will this building be used for?

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What Is The Future Of Broadway Junction?

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By Joseph Morales

   When we think of a transit hub in New York City, we generally think of thriving commercial and cultural centers with a plethora of small businesses, department stores, street vendors and occasionally even street performers. One of the city’s most famous transit hubs is Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, which in addition to being a hub for subways and buses is also known as the crossroads of the world.  Downtown Jamaica in Queens and The Hub in The Bronx are some notable examples of such hubs in the outer boroughs. 

                One of the city’s largest hubs and the largest transit hubs in Brooklyn, Broadway Junction is located at the crossroads of Eastern Brooklyn, bordering six diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include Brownsville, Bushwick, East New York, Cypress Hills, Ocean Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant(Bed-Stuy). Broadway Junction is served by five subway lines, six bus routes and the LIRR. Broadway Junction is also not that far from other major business districts. According to the NYCEDC (New York City Economic Development Corporation), Broadway Junction is a 15 minute subway ride from Downtown Brooklyn, Downtown Jamaica, or Williamsburg, 20 minutes to Lower Manhattan and 35 minutes to Midtown Manhattan or JFK Airport. It is also in the vicinity of the East New York Industrial Business Zone which hosts over 100 industrial businesses, making it one of the largest industrial business hubs in the city.  The local bus routes also connect Broadway Junction with other parts of Brooklyn.

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How is Transit-Oriented Development Supporting Harrison, New York’s Development Goals? Where Might It Fall Short?

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By Joseph Morales

            Downtown Harrison, NY is a part of the Town Of Harrison and has very strong connections to regional transportation routes. With 3 interstate highways nearby as well as being a 35-40 minute Metro-North ride from Manhattan, Downtown Harrison has the transportation connections to be a vibrant suburban downtown and be attractive to both visitors and residents alike. However, between the nearby Downtowns of Rye and Port Chester having some of the same services and then some as Downtown Harrison along with the cities of New Rochelle, White Plains and Stamford, CT all being with a 10-20 minute drive from Downtown Harrison, Harrison has felt the need to set itself apart from these areas. This task is made even more imperative by the fact that Harrison is the 326th most wealthy municipality in the U.S. and most residents have access to a car, so residents have many choices on where to spend their money. Thus, Harrison is now attempting to revitalize its Downtown primarily by increasing the variety of businesses, increasing the amount of residential presence Downtown and creating a stronger sense of place. While Transit-Oriented Development may support these goals to an extent, it may have some shortcomings.

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What has happened to the  Clove Rd Plaza Proposal in Crown Heights?

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By Joseph Morales

              Clove Road is a small street in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn,(not to be confused with Clove Rd in Staten Island), that has a rich history but is abandoned in the present. Clove Road was far more significant in Brooklyn’s transportation network during colonial times(when horseback was the main mode of transportation), as Clove Rd ran from modern-day Fulton St to what is now Empire Blvd, and then continued as Canarsie Avenue to the west of Holy Cross Cemetery and then east on what is know known as Cortelyou Rd and entering Canarsie. Clove Rd got its name from the Dutch word “kloven” which means cleft, which meant that the road was originally in a valley in between two hills that have since been flattened.

              However, in the present day the road is just a dilapidated one block segment between Montgomery St and Empire Blvd. The road is extremely uneven and has the appearance that makes the road look like it may have not been repaved in an unusually long time. The road is inaccessible via Montgomery St as there is a lamp post with street signs as well as a sidewalk running directly through the intersection. Since the street is one way toward Empire Blvd, cars  pretty much cannot drive through it. Overgrown shrubs and cars in angled parking take up much of the street space and there are little curbs or sidewalks, making the street dangerous for pedestrians.  Vacant lots are present on both sides of the street, with part of the street being directly behind a supermarket parking lot. 

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Affordable Housing in Inwood Is Being Built Around Strong Connections to Transportation

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By Joseph Morales

           Inwood, Manhattan is the northernmost neighborhood in Manhattan. Inwood is known for its vibrance and plethora of small businesses. It is also known for being a large immigrant community particularly for immigrants from the Dominican Republic.  Inwood is also one of Manhattan’s most affordable residential neighborhoods. According to the New York Times, the average rent in Inwood in July 2021 was $2,069/month, which is 50% less than the Manhattan average.  In addition, 80% of apartments in the neighborhood are under some type of rent regulation.

           The mass transit network in Inwood is a major asset to both residents and visitors alike, as Inwood has multiple subway and bus connections to many neighborhoods in Manhattan and The Bronx. Inwood is also well connected to the rest of the NY Region by car as Inwood is near major highways such as the Harlem River Drive, Henry Hudson Pkwy and Major Deegan Expressway. Now, more affordable housing developments in the neighborhood mean that even more residents will be able to take advantage of these assets. Having affordable housing near quality mass transit allows residents to have better access to jobs, schools and many other resources needed to thrive. Too often across America, affordable housing is placed in communities where such resources are not available, making it so that many residents who are already living below the poverty line have less opportunity for social advancement than residents of other communities.

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MTA is Getting Set to Build First Of Its Kind Electric Bus Charging Facility On Site Of Former Golf Course in The Bronx

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By Joseph Morales

The MTA is getting set to build a first of its kind electric bus charging facility on the site of the former Bronx Golf Center. Over the years, the site at 1825 E Gun Hill Rd  owned by the MTA  has grown to be abandoned and dilapidated with overgrown shrubs and golf balls from years ago still sitting on the property which once was a golf course. After years of many plans for the space being proposed, the MTA has finally prepared a request for proposal(RFP) to bring an electric bus charging facility to the site which hopefully can turn the site from an abandoned eyesore to a vital piece of  EV Charging infrastructure that will benefit many Bronx communities.

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Developers Of Massive Residential Development at Queensboro Plaza Station Will Also Make The Busy Station Accessible

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By Joseph Morales

                   The Queensboro Plaza subway station in Long Island City, Queens is one of the busiest subway stations in the borough. It is located in one of Queens’ busiest neighborhoods, as about 14,000 riders passed through the station on a daily basis pre-pandemic. Now, developer Grubb Properties has proposed to replace a stretch of stores outside the station with a 26-story residential building that would host about 410 apartments as well as 7,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.  The towers will be connected to the current bridge that exists in the current retail building, giving residents easy access to three subway lines that provide one-stop access into Manhattan as well as many areas in Queens. This will give new residents great access to jobs, recreation and so much more.

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