Children Unaccompanied at US-Mexico Border to Be Housed at University Heights Home

By DAVID CRUZ

A social services nonprofit is slated to operate a federally-funded home in University Heights that’ll house unaccompanied children found illegally crossing the US-Mexico border, the Norwood News has learned. The move caught every elected official representing the neighborhood by surprise. In a letter intended for Community Board 7, but initially sent to neighboring Community Board 5, Catholic Guardian Services (CGS) will look after a maximum of 24 kids aged 12 to 17 at a residential three-family home at a sleepy section of University Heights. The letter does not indicate when the children will be placed. Such an announcement is rare

Officials Usher the Kingsbridge Heights Residence, a Model of Integrated Housing

By SHA-NIA ALSTON

City and state officials joined in celebrating the grand opening of Kingsbridge Apartments, a $70 million supportive/affordable housing residence financed by both city and state agencies. “This is a game changer because so many supportive housing developments have typically focused on homeless, singles, individuals, and those are very important homes to provide, but we also need to be providing housing for these children,” Deputy Mayor Vicki Been, who manages the city’s housing policies, said in her remarks on May 22. The modernized residence–which includes a 24-hour attended lobby, a children’s library, fitness room, laundry room, a children’s playground and 17

With Live-in Super, Stagg Tenants Scratch Off Major Grievance

By JOSE A. GIRALT

After an unrelenting pressure campaign on the owner of 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster avenues to provide a live-in super to respond to complaints quickly, tenants finally got one, rectifying one of their biggest complaints spoken about over the last few months. In a growing list of grievances by tenants against the Stagg Group, owner of the three-building complex, collectively known as Bedford Park Manor, many of those revolved around the lack of an on-site super to attend to maintenance and repair issues in a timely manner. Austin Graham, director of business development at the Stagg Group, said, “We want

Stagg Group, and its Tenants, Make Their Case Before Community Board 7

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

In a packed, standing room only office of Community Board 7, the Housing, Land Use, & Zoning Committee heard heated arguments about the lack of repair and maintenance services for tenants of 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster avenues. It was the result of a long-awaited meeting between tenants and representatives from the Stagg Group. The realty firm’s representatives were present defending their recent actions in improving response time to complaints about repairs and maintenance work. The buildings, collectively making up The Bedford Park Manor, opened in 2015, the first such properties to open following the 2011 rezoning of a large

By JOSEPH KONIG, DAVID CRUZ, and CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

A non-profit housing developer is open to reducing the size of planned projects on long-contested lots on East 202nd and East 203rd streets after pushback from Community Board 7, according to a revised proposal draft obtained by the Norwood News. The new proposal would shorten the building on East 202nd Street from 11 stories to 9 stories, shrinking the number of units from 164 to 139. In the original proposal, the East 203rd Street building was planned to be 8 stories with 164 units. It is unclear if the revised proposal will reduce the size of the 8-story building, but

By DAVID CRUZ

The holiday season is coursing through the Bronx this year, with several Yuletide events meant to brighten you up. It first began with the Festival of Lights, with Mosholu Montefiore Community Center lighting up the Menorah for the first day of Hanukkah. Councilman Andrew Cohen and Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz helped light the traditional candles on the second day of Hanukkah. There have been several events courtesy of Bronx Community Board 7, which held its annual tree lighting ceremony. Photographer Jose Giralt was there to catch the action. Carolers from PS/MS 20 laid the soundtrack to the nighttime event that also

By DAVID CRUZ

Community Board 7 rejected a plan by a social services developer to build two buildings on properties where single homes once existed. The rejection opens the possibility the developer to drastically alter the buildings. Though advisory, the vote to send a letter to the city’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) agency represents no confidence in the building projects by Brooklyn-based CAMBA Housing Venture. Over the summer several homes were knocked down at East 202nd and East 203rd streets to make way for the projects, representing the ongoing deterioration of single-family homes in Bedford Park. Two weeks before the vote, neighborhood

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

In response to the fire that started two days before Thanksgiving at 3210 Hull Ave. in Norwood, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, who represents the neighborhood, is hosting a clothing drive for the families. The drive will be held at the Community Board 7 Office at 229A E. 204th St. Displaced families are in need of men, women, and children’s clothing and shoes, or gift cards. The collection of clothing and other personal items for the families will be held at least until the end of the week. The four-alarm fire happened on Nov. 20 around 2:15pm. Helicopters and 200 firefighters responded

Editor’s Pick Holiday Tree Lighting Bronx Community Board 7 presents its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. on the Mosholu Parkway Lawn at the intersection of Mosholu Parkway and Bainbridge Avenue. Featured will be caroling, hot apple cider, holiday cookies, goodie bags giveaway and local elected officials. For more information, call (718) 933-5650. Onstage Lehman College for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd., W., presents José Feliciano in Feliz Navided, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. (tickets: $50 to $65; $100/VIP which includes pre-concert reception at 6:30 p.m.; $10/to age 12); and Soweto Gospel Choir,