New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, Feb. 27, that the Bronx neighborhood of Greater Morris Park will receive an unprecedented $20 million in funding after the neighborhood was announced as the New York City winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and the third round of the NY Forward program.

NY Forward and DRI are distinct programs, though NY Forward builds upon the success of the DRI by focusing on revitalizing smaller and rural downtowns, while DRI focuses on larger, more dense downtowns. Previous funding received by The Bronx in this regard was capped at $10 million, officials said. Previous funding received by The Bronx under the program was capped at $10 million.

The 2024 cycle marked the eighth round of DRI applications with $100 million set to be invested in 10 new communities that were selected by the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC). The Bronx is located in the New York City REDC. According to the Office of the Bronx Borough President, the program is a cornerstone of the State’s economic development program, led by the governor, to transform downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers that offer high quality of life, and are magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, and economic and housing diversity.

Officials from the borough president’s office said The Bronx received a previous DRI award in 2018 for the Bronx Civic Center in the South Bronx. The 2024 cycle marked the eighth round of DRI applications, and an investment of $100 million in ten new communities selected by the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC). The Bronx is located in the New York City REDC. According to the Office of the Bronx Borough President, the program is a cornerstone of the State’s economic development program, led by the governor, to transform downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers that offer high quality of life, and are magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, and economic and housing diversity.

 

Bronx officials from the borough president’s office said the borough received a previous DRI award in 2018 for the Bronx Civic Center in the South Bronx. Addressing local elected officials and various stakeholders gathered at Morris Park public library for the announcement, the governor said the DRI was one of her favorite programs, because it gives back to a community that believes in itself.

 

“It gathers leaders and elected officials and everybody who cares about their neighborhood, brings them together to come up with an idea, a concept, for many ideas,” Hochul said. “And what we do at the state level, we evaluate it, we process it, we think about it, but we fund it, and we have not done this before. It’s normally a $10 million announcement and people get very excited about that, but this time, this is a very special [box?]. We are going to make it $20 million!” Cheers and applause ensued.

 

The governor said 32 proposed projects may benefit from the funding, but they have not yet been selected for funding under DRI. “Sometimes, they all fit in with their budget, but these [undisclosed projects] will deal with transit, infrastructure, sidewalks and crosswalks, community beautification, park improvements, all kinds of shuttles and public events, and everything that makes this community even better,” she said.

Hochul said she looked forward to coming back to announce the final selected project, after the required review process and then “get them shovels in the ground.” She said coming from Buffalo, she understood what it meant to come from “a community that sometimes is a little knocked down.” She added, “It just gives you that sense of confidence that you matter, that people believe in you and just as I do believe in this community.”

The Greater Morris Park DRI area has general boundaries of Pelham Parkway to the north, Hutchinson River Parkway to the east, East Tremont Avenue and Westchester Avenue to the south, and Bronx Park and White Plains Road to the west. It includes the neighborhoods of Morris Park, Van Nest, Westchester Square, Indian Village, and Pelham Parkway.

 

Existing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) within the Greater Morris Park DRI include the Morris Park, Westchester Square, and White Plains Road BIDs. According to the Office of the Bronx Borough President, the area is a top 10 employment center for New York City and, as reported, will soon see two new Metro-North stations opened as part of the Penn Station Access project. A recent rezoning plan was approved along with $500 million in capital to support the community.

Reacting to the news, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson described the funding as a significant investment in The Bronx, and a huge win for the borough. “We have an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to position the Greater Morris Park community as a critical intermodal transit hub that will drive future growth, and dramatically enhance the economic vitality of The Bronx,” she said.

She thanked “the governor’s continued leadership in recognizing that The Bronx is a thriving economic generator” that Gibson said will continue to create job growth and career opportunities for its residents. She added in part, “We are excited to see this $20 million financial commitment and are grateful for our Bronx Economic Development Corporation (BXEDC) team, led by our President Rob Walsh, our Bronx Tourism Council, and our Planning & Development team.”

She added, “We remain committed to advocating for funding that supports all our communities, ensuring the Bronx continues to strive and thrive in 2025 and beyond.” For his part, Walsh described the funding as “a transformative moment” for Greater Morris Park and The Bronx. “It will fuel small businesses, improve infrastructure, and drive lasting economic growth,” he said.

 

“BXEDC, alongside the Bronx Borough President’s Office, is committed to ensuring this funding creates real opportunities for businesses and residents alike,” he added. We thank Gov. Hochul for her leadership and vision in empowering communities across New York City.”
According to the borough president’s office, the 32 capital projects identified for funding total around $105 million in capital-requested funding. Gibson said the wide range of projects includes beautification projects, public park improvements, and transit, traffic, and pedestrian infrastructure. She said the funding aligns with her vision to enhance and revitalize The Bronx’s commercial corridors.

Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, also said the benefits of the funding are huge. “This type of state funding, especially when they’re giving $20 million, talk about the investment in our borough!” she said. “We knew we’re growing. We’re expanding things like this, and the vision of our leadership within the borough, both at the borough level, in our states, is incredible.”

Meanwhile, Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. said in part, “We know the Downtown Revitalization Initiative is something that is critical to local communities, and today, The Bronx is the first community, particularly here in Morris Park in my district, to receive a $20 million grant. We got the Metro North coming, and there’s so much exciting things happening in this community.”

 

For her part, State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34) said the news was amazing. “There’s so many things that we’ve been looking at working on over the last decade, with myself and other elected officials past and present,” she said. “This is just such great news to know that we’re finally going to get the boost that we’ve been asking for to revitalize our community, to make sure that the business corridor is strong, that our amenities, like our parks, are in the best condition they can be.”

She said she was looking forward to hearing about the process and gathering more ideas from the community. Asked if the funding was separate from designated funding for the new Metro North Stations, the senator said, “Yes.” She said some of the possible projects floated revolved around parks, including Matthews Playground and Loreto Park, which she said needs investments, and mentioned possible “sensory playgrounds.”

Fernandez added, “I know Camilla has always wanted to see the power lines go underground. I don’t know if this can do that, but it certainly is an opportunity to have maybe our storefront improvements, to see our sidewalks all improved without a cost to the businesses, to see connectivity brought in like these link towers. Yeah, there’s a lot we can do.”

Sorin summed up the win, saying, “What we’re looking at is what we’ve always deserved. Our businesses and residents have a lot to be proud of, and this money is being put to use and being executed by some of the best people in our borough.” She spoke of a Bronx renaissance. “We’ve been heading in that direction, and what I love to say is Brooklyn and Queens and everybody did their part. It’s the Bronx’s turn, and we’re ready to take it all on and leave everybody else behind!”