A Borough Amid Transition

When you think of The Bronx what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the iconic Yankee Stadium, the beautiful botanical garden, or the locally loved Bronx Zoo? 

It seems more New Yorkers are expanding their horizons and venturing out to The Bronx to discover all that the diverse borough has to offer. Those who are new to the city can easily find sky-high rent prices in Manhattan right along with those skyscrapers. Brooklyn and parts of Queens are just as intense; big city dreams come with big-city prices. But hop on the subway uptown to The Bronx and in no time you’ll find yourself emerging in raw culture and your new favorite community. The Bronx offers a variety of housing such as single-family and multi-family houses, mid-rise apartment buildings that offer spacious pre-war units, co-ops, and post-war condos, and new developments such as affordable housing projects. The city has planned for the affordable housing incentive to contribute to the transformation of neighborhoods while keeping housing affordable for locals who reject gentrification and have dedicated years to investing in their communities.

You’ll find that The Bronx has a ton to offer, such as fantastic shopping areas, delicious food options from restaurants built from scratch from around the world. Looking for entertainment and exciting nightlife? Look no further because the promising borough has got that too! From alehouses that carry local beer on draft, happy hour deals too tempting to resist, sports bars filled with an undeniable energy that brings fans together, to lounges that offer the perfect vibe for dancing the night away and museums for your local art fix.

Top 4 Bronx Neighborhoods to Call Home 

Fordham Road

Probably one of the most popular areas in The Bronx thanks to the prestigious Fordham University. According to usnews.com, the private university ranked at #66 in the nation in 2021 so naturally, the Fordham area is filled with students living both on and off-campus. In addition, you’ll find an array of retail stores all within walking distance of each other, no need to go far if you are looking for electronics, clothing, or jewelry just to name a few. Be sure to stop for a slice of pizza in “little Italy”, it’s an absolute must! This is also where you’ll find The Botanical Garden and the select bus which will take you directly to Orchard Beach in the summer.

You can easily reach Fordham by subway - take the B, D, and 4 lines, or the Metro-North. If you are looking to buy in the Fordham area expect to pay from the least expensive $80,000 for a one-bedroom to approximately $255,000 for a three-bedroom. Renters can expect to pay $1,619 for a one-bedroom.

Riverdale 

Here is one location where you can find a lot of green in the middle of a big city. Described as the perfect hybrid of “suburb and city”, Riverdale is approximately 80% co-ops, some even offering private parking which is almost unheard of in the city in comparison to Manhattan and Brooklyn. You will also find plenty of single-family homes on oversized lots leaving plenty of space to build a beautiful estate. Riverdale is where you will find the third largest park in NYC, Van Courtlandt Park, a nature lovers’ dream. Filled with playing fields (such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and golf to name a few), playgrounds, barbecue areas, hiking trails, and the borough’s largest lake - there is never a lack of activities for those who love the outdoors and staying active. 

Taking into consideration the slightly limited option of the subway (mainly the 1 train) for commuters, most locals opt for local busses and their cars. Riverdale seems to be attracting more buyers and renters on a budget. Those who are looking for a suburban feel without having to leave the big city will find the perfect balance here. Realtor.com reported as of May 2021, homes for purchase range from $117,000 to $1.9 million. Renters can find a one-bedroom apartment starting at $1,400 to $2,700. A three-bedroom unit can be found for about $2,950 to $5,800.

The Concourse

Also known as The Grand Concourse, a boulevard that is 5.2 miles long. The most popular neighborhood in The Bronx thanks to the Yankee Stadium. You can actually hear the roaring cheers from the stadium in your living room if you are close enough! In this neighborhood, you will find an endless row of Art Deco mid-rise apartment buildings filled with spacious units, many that offer high ceilings and sunken living rooms. Filled with bars and restaurants within walking distance of each other, there is also The Bronx Museum of Arts and 2 large parks.

You’ll find the true convenience lies in its unlimited access to the subway. Just the opposite of Riverdale you can easily find the B and D train on what feels like every corner, the 4 train is always close by, and on the southern end of the concourse on 149th street the 2 and 5. This area is in high demand for many reasons but mainly because of the abundance of public transportation options and how quickly you can travel into Manhattan (30 minutes and you’ll be in midtown). In 2018 and 2019 co-ops sold for a record-breaking $600,000 but you can find studios for $165,000 and up to three bedrooms for $499,000. StreetEasy reports rentals of one-bedroom apartments at a medium price of $1,675 and two bedrooms for $1,950.

Pelham Bay

Pelham Bay Park is the largest in the city at 2,772 acres long alongside the northeastern edge of The Bronx, it is the main attraction in this neighborhood. The surrounding areas of the park get significantly less attention than those mentioned before. But that might be exactly what you are looking for! Pelham Bay has “suburbs meets urban” architecture with a lot of brick and wood-framed houses lining most side streets and mid-rise apartment buildings sprinkled in. New multi-family developments are going up along the 6 train line, the only subway station within walking distance. Most locals however prefer getting around by car while still enjoying the affordability of the neighborhood.

As reported by Brickunderground.com, in the 1920s this area was mainly populated by Italians and Polish and there are plenty of delicious authentic Italian restaurants and pizza shops to choose from. Today you can find a growing Latino community and many Albanians as diversity starts to thrive. This change can be seen as more local businesses begin to open up that cater to the growing community. Realtor.com lists a multifamily home at $899,000 as the most expensive and a two-bedroom co-op at $149,500 as the least expensive. Those who are looking to rent should expect studios at $1,300 and three bedrooms at $2,300.

The best is yet to come

Even though these popular Bronx neighborhoods are being favored by newcomers, it is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more locations throughout The Bronx that have tons to offer. This is only the beginning as we see more and more New Yorkers being priced out of boroughs like Manhattan and Brooklyn and we see The Bronx rising, as new affordable housing developments and businesses continue to call it home. Now is the time to invest in such a historically rich and diverse community as we continue to uplift the locals and shift the narrative. 

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Written by:

Crystal Mercedes

Crystal Clear Copy LLC

crystalclear-copy.com