New market-rate development is finally happening in the South Bronx, and JCAL Development is leading the way with two small buildings under construction near the Major Deegan Expressway in Mott Haven. Now YIMBY has renderings and construction updates for those two projects at 135 and 136 Alexander Avenue, between East 134th Street and Bruckner Boulevard.
Since a vast industrial swath of Mott Haven was rezoned in the South Bronx several years ago, affordable housing developers have slowly begun to build in the area, taking advantage of large vacant lots and cheap, derelict factories. One such developer has filed plans for a 12-story affordable building at 491 Gerard Avenue, a block over from the Major Deegan Expressway and a short walk from the 2, 4 and 5 trains at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
Mott Haven is slowly growing new market-rate apartments, but most construction in the South Bronx neighborhood is still supportive or affordable housing. Now one supportive housing builder has filed plans for two developments at 275 East 138th Street and 2550 Third Avenue, on a lot bordered by East 139th Street and Alexander Avenue.
Preservationists spent years decrying the state of the decrepit, city-owned school at 425 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx neighborhood of Mott Haven, until the city announced that it would demolish the landmarked Gothic building, formerly P.S. 31, in April. Now the Department of Housing Preservation and Development has released an RFP (request for proposals) to redevelop the property into affordable housing.
Residential development has been slow to arrive in the industrial edges of Mott Haven in the South Bronx, despite a boom in hotels and big box stores and a rezoning several years ago. But on Friday, a new building application was filed for a 10-story apartment building with ground floor commercial space at 221 East 138th Street, on the corner of Canal Place.
