By NORISHA MENSAH

Editor’s Note: Norisha Mensah is a dynamite intern working for the Norwood News on behalf of the Riverdale Neighborhood House.

Residents of the Bronx are engaged in a debate over Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to rezone 73 blocks of Jerome Avenue in favor of affordable houses.

Some residents on Jerome Avenue disagree with the de Blasio Administration over the plan while others agree since they see this project as an opportunity to build new affordable housing for all income levels. Residents also believe that this will benefit people who are living there today and children who are growing up in the neighborhood. For the past few months, community meetings have taken place, with leaders asking residents for input on the rezoning.

The de Blasio Administration’s plan of improving 73 blocks on Jerome Avenue from 167th to 184^th streets—which make up the neighborhoods of University Heights, Mount Hope, Morris Heights and Mount Eden–has brought both negative and positive impacts among residents in these areas. This project is to improve Jerome Avenue, a tightly packed low-income corridor boasting mechanic shops underneath the elevated 4 subway train, by making it more of a residential area. Minorities, mainly of black and Hispanic residents, make up most of the Jerome Avenue neighborhoods. There are currently 350,000 low-income residents living in those neighborhoods.

“The De Blasio Administration would preserve and protect tenants with $37 million tenants who currently live there,” said Carmen Rivera-Vega of CASA in an interview on BronxTalk with Gary Axelbank March 17.

“It’s not that we don’t want change,” said Rivera-Vega. “We are looking for affordable housing for this area with a median household income of $30,000. The question for us and the community is who is it changing for and is it affordable?”

Rivera-Vega noted the group wants to see “preservation of existing buildings and businesses.”

Some of the residents in these areas do not agree with the de Blasio Administration on this proposal.

“I have been here for 36 years,” said Cesarina Solla, who works with her husband, the owner of Three Radiators mechanic shop. She said, ” My husband does not want this plan and if they should improve something, it shouldn’t be here but another place.”

Other residents also support rezoning because they believe it will benefit the people as well as the community.

“I have lived here for a long time, 25 years. Whatever change it is, it’s better for the people living here,” said Luis Rosario, a resident of Jerome Avenue.

For many longtime residents, the changes are something of a rarity in the corridor. It’s one reason why some are resistant to the changes.

But the city believes that this change includes affordable housing and more opportunities in this area. Even though the City understands the risks and economic rewards rezoning can reap, seeing it as a vehicle for attracting higher earning New Yorkers, they assure residents that this project will not affect the local economy.

“Investment brings fear into the neighborhood,” said the Department of City Planning’s Bronx Director Carol Samol in a recent appearance on BronxTalk.

For now, meetings over the vision of Jerome Avenue have taken place, with many providing input from all sides.

“Having a community with zone vision, there could be many different visions in the community,” said Carol Samol. She also quoted that “They should hold their feet in the fire and stay to the table.”