What The Future Holds For The Bronx
http://www.bronx.com/news/articles/145/1/What-The-Future-Holds-For-The-Bronx/Page1.html
Barbara Akowuah
Barbara Akowuah is a writer and aspiring journalist. She was born in Manhattan, raised in the Bronx and currently resides in Queens. In her spare time she enjoys writing, listening to music and watching and playing sports. By Barbara Akowuah
Published on 02/18/2008
Within the last two decades the Bronx has had its fair share of vice. From crime sprees in the south Bronx to disputes over real estate in the north Bronx.
Within the last two decades the Bronx has had its fair share of vice. From crime sprees in the south Bronx to disputes over real estate in the north Bronx.
Than there is the environmental pollution and a fledgling transportation system. With all of these ongoing issues many New Yorkers have cast the Bronx down as the least popular borough with no significant contributions to the city other than Yankee Stadium, and even sometimes that’s up for debate.
Despite the lackluster reputation of the Bronx there are still some people who would agree that the Bronx is in the process of making a much needed comeback. The borough which boast more than 40 districts, is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Vacant lots are being dug up in order to make space for retail stores. Former crime ridden spots are undergoing extreme makeovers with the aid of the NYPD which has made its presence felt within the past 5 years.
The changes are most noticeable in the South Bronx where drugs, prostitution and deserted blocks have hindered its progress for years. Various projects that are in progress include the 8 million dollar Pelham Bay Park waterfront development and the implementation of the greenway within the northern portion of the Puglsey Creek Park and the connections between Castle Hill Park and Ferry Point part- they are all apart of the Soundview to Ferry Point project.
As apart of the Priority Bronx projects, which began in 2005, some 27 Regional Recreation Facilities and 23 Neighborhood parks are scheduled for improvements.
Places like Aqueduct walk, Orchard Beach Pavilion, Crotona Park and Roberto Clemente State Park will all experience substantial restorations in the coming years.
When confronted with the question what do you think the future holds for the Bronx? Tony who is a 22-year-old student from the Bronx said, “20 years from now as people pack into the new Yankee Stadium, they'll walk back to their luxury condos built by Trump on Grand Concourse (since those will be the only people able to afford going to Yankee Stadium), as the rest of the South Bronx continues to be the new hot spot (kind of like what Long Island City is going through now.) for luxury apartment buildings, lofts and businesses. The Second Avenue Line will help bring more public transportation to the region”.
Not everyone was as optimistic as Tony when confronted with the question, there was the occasional response of “I don't see much good happening there soon” and “the future is so bright, well.... not so for the Bronx”.
Overall most people agreed that the future of the Bronx lay in the hands of the people from the Bronx, and the rest of the city for that matter. The destiny of the Bronx is depended upon how much the city is willing to invest in the Bronx. In the last fiscal year during the city’s annual budget some 3 billion dollars was spent on the city and 1/3 of that went into funding programs in the Bronx. If the city continues to spend more money on the Bronx than other people will begin to see the potential the Bronx has had for many years.
Than there is the environmental pollution and a fledgling transportation system. With all of these ongoing issues many New Yorkers have cast the Bronx down as the least popular borough with no significant contributions to the city other than Yankee Stadium, and even sometimes that’s up for debate.
Despite the lackluster reputation of the Bronx there are still some people who would agree that the Bronx is in the process of making a much needed comeback. The borough which boast more than 40 districts, is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Vacant lots are being dug up in order to make space for retail stores. Former crime ridden spots are undergoing extreme makeovers with the aid of the NYPD which has made its presence felt within the past 5 years.
The changes are most noticeable in the South Bronx where drugs, prostitution and deserted blocks have hindered its progress for years. Various projects that are in progress include the 8 million dollar Pelham Bay Park waterfront development and the implementation of the greenway within the northern portion of the Puglsey Creek Park and the connections between Castle Hill Park and Ferry Point part- they are all apart of the Soundview to Ferry Point project.
As apart of the Priority Bronx projects, which began in 2005, some 27 Regional Recreation Facilities and 23 Neighborhood parks are scheduled for improvements.
Places like Aqueduct walk, Orchard Beach Pavilion, Crotona Park and Roberto Clemente State Park will all experience substantial restorations in the coming years.
When confronted with the question what do you think the future holds for the Bronx? Tony who is a 22-year-old student from the Bronx said, “20 years from now as people pack into the new Yankee Stadium, they'll walk back to their luxury condos built by Trump on Grand Concourse (since those will be the only people able to afford going to Yankee Stadium), as the rest of the South Bronx continues to be the new hot spot (kind of like what Long Island City is going through now.) for luxury apartment buildings, lofts and businesses. The Second Avenue Line will help bring more public transportation to the region”.
Not everyone was as optimistic as Tony when confronted with the question, there was the occasional response of “I don't see much good happening there soon” and “the future is so bright, well.... not so for the Bronx”.
Overall most people agreed that the future of the Bronx lay in the hands of the people from the Bronx, and the rest of the city for that matter. The destiny of the Bronx is depended upon how much the city is willing to invest in the Bronx. In the last fiscal year during the city’s annual budget some 3 billion dollars was spent on the city and 1/3 of that went into funding programs in the Bronx. If the city continues to spend more money on the Bronx than other people will begin to see the potential the Bronx has had for many years.