Melrose, Bronx
Encyclopedia
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.
-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).
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.
operates a Bronx-area TACA Satellite at 570 Melrose Avenue. Melrose is considered part of the socioeconomic South Bronx
.
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 1
Bronx Community Board 1
Bronx Community Board 1 is a local government unit of the city of New York, encompassing the neighborhoods of Mott Haven, Melrose, and Port Morris in the borough of the Bronx...
. 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. 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 HubThe Hub, Bronx
The Hub is the retail heart of the South Bronx, located where four roads converge: East 149th Street, Willis, Melrose and Third Avenues. It is primarily located inside the neighborhood of Melrose but also lines the northern border of Mott Haven. The Hub has been called "the Broadway of the Bronx."...
-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. Horizon Juvenile Center, located in the Melrose section of the Bronx, opened on January 18, 1998.Low-income public housing projects
- There are eight NYCHA developments located in Melrose.
- Adams Houses; seven buildings, 15 and 21-stories tall.
- Bronxchester Houses; one 18-story building.
- East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue; two buildings, 11 and 12-stories tall.
- Jackson Houses; seven, 16-story buildings.
- Melrose Houses; eight, 14-story buildings.
- Morrisania Air Rights; three buildings, 19, 23, and 29-stories.
- Saint Mary's Park Houses; six, 21-story buildings.
- South Bronx Area (Site 402); four buildings, 3-stories tall.
History
IRT Third Avenue Line
The IRT Third Avenue Line, commonly known as the Third Avenue El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City. Originally operated by an independent railway company, it was acquired by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and eventually became part of the New York subway...
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 TACAGrupo TACA
TACA is the trade name "brand" comprising a group of five independently IATA-coded and -owned Central American airlines, whose operations are combined to function as one and a number of other independently owned and IATA-coded regional airlines which code-share and feed the TACA brand system...
operates a Bronx-area TACA Satellite at 570 Melrose Avenue. Melrose is considered part of the socioeconomic South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the 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 stationThird Avenue-149th Street (IRT White Plains Road Line)Third Avenue – 149th Street is a station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. It is located at Third Avenue and East 149th Street in Mott Haven, Bronx and is served by the 2 and 5 trains, the latter of which does not stop here during late night hours...
or Westchester Square stationWestchester Square-East Tremont Avenue (IRT Pelham Line)Westchester Square – East Tremont Avenue is a local station on the IRT Pelham Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of East Tremont and Westchester Avenues in the Bronx, it is served by the 6 train at all times except weekdays in the peak direction...
(via Westchester Avenue) - Bx15: to Fordham Plaza or West Harlem (via 3rd Av)
- Bx19: to New York Botanical Gardens or Riverbank State ParkRiverbank State ParkRiverbank State Park is a park built on the top of a sewage treatment facility on the Hudson River, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
(via East 149th St-Southern Blvd) - Bx21: to Westchester Square or Mott HavenMott Haven, BronxMott Haven is a primarily residential neighborhood in the Southwestern section of The Bronx in New York City. Zip codes include 10451, 10454, and 10455. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 1...
(via Boston Rd-Morris Park Av) - Bx41: to WakefieldWakefield, BronxWakefield is a working-class section of the northern borough of the Bronx in New York City, bounded by the New York city line with Westchester County or 243rd street to the north,and 222nd Street to the south, and the Bronx River, Bronx River Parkway and Metro-North Railroad tracks to the west...
(via Webster Av) - Bx55: to Fordham Plaza or Williamsbridge-Gun Hill Rd stationGun Hill Road (IRT White Plains Road Line)Gun Hill Road is an express station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. Located in the Bronx at the intersection of Gun Hill and White Plains Roads, it is served by the 2 train at all times while the 5 train provides additional rush hour service in the peak direction.This...
(via 3rd Av Limited) - Melrose (Metro-North station)Melrose (Metro-North station)The Melrose Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of the Melrose section of The Bronx via the Harlem Line. It is 6.1 miles from Grand Central Terminal and is located in an open cut beneath Park Avenue at its intersection with East 162nd Street, six tenths of a mile from Yankee Stadium...
(Harlem Line) - Prospect AvenueProspect Avenue (IRT White Plains Road Line)Prospect Avenue is a local station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Prospect and Westchester Avenues in the Bronx, it is served by the 2 train at all times, and by the 5 train at all times except late nights and rush hours in peak...
- Jackson AvenuJackson Avenue (IRT White Plains Road Line)Jackson Avenue is a local station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Jackson and Westchester Avenues in Melrose, Bronx, it is served by the 2 train at all times, and the 5 train at all times except late nights and rush hours in peak...
- Third Avenue-149th StreetThird Avenue-149th Street (IRT White Plains Road Line)Third Avenue – 149th Street is a station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. It is located at Third Avenue and East 149th Street in Mott Haven, Bronx and is served by the 2 and 5 trains, the latter of which does not stop here during late night hours...