Image credit: New York City Council.
On August 15, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in collaboration with critical stakeholders celebrated New York City Council’s approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan. Four new Metro-North stations will be coming to the Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City neighborhoods in the Bronx by 2027. The plan complements the construction of these stations by adding more housing, job opportunities, and enhanced public spaces around the Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest stations.
This plan involves creating approximately 7,000 homes, some of which will be permanently income-restricted affordable housing, 10,000 permanent jobs, improving public spaces, and enhancing access to mass transit. This program will enhance public space, transportation access, public safety, and environmental resiliency for Bronx residents.
Other infrastructure and amenities upgrades include enhancing pedestrian safety, transportation access, and traffic circulation. This will be achieved by conducting intersection and streetscape improvements near the Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest stations; creating a new bus turnaround near the Co-op City Station at Erskine Place; and building a new public plaza at the Morris Park station and pedestrian crossing improvements along Eastchester Road. A lighting study will help improve access to the Hunts Point Avenue station.
As part of the Council’s negotiations to approve the plan, the Adams administration committed to invest $498.5 million for improvements in the surrounding areas. This investment includes almost $119 million for local park and playground renovations, $12 million for upgrades for local schools, infrastructure improvements to streets and sewers to address flooding concerns, and repairs and upgrades for the NYPD’s 49th Precinct.
Mayor Adams said, “Today, the Bronx bought a ticket to the future, creating thousands of new jobs and affordable homes while embracing mass transit, all by saying “yes.” The Bronx is saying ‘yes’ to more housing in our backyards, communities, and neighborhoods, and serving as a model to the rest of our city on how to lead from the front. With our administration’s neighborhoods plans and our “City of Yes” proposal, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build our way out of this housing shortage and affordability crisis. I am calling on our partners in the City Council to join us in this fight and deliver on the promise that working-class families are asking us to do: build more and make this city more affordable.”
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer said, “Today marks a significant milestone for our city as we celebrate the passage of the Bronx Metro-North Area plan, bringing millions in new funding, approximately 7,000 homes — including permanent affordable housing — and 10,000 new jobs to the Boogie Down Bronx. Our administration was laser focused on delivering a plan that ensures Bronxites will see the most benefit from the coming stations.”
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams stated, “Confronting the housing and affordability crisis in our city requires creating more new homes for New Yorkers. The opening of four new Metro-North stations in the Bronx presents a unique opportunity to develop affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, while delivering critical infrastructure investments that benefit surrounding neighborhoods for generations. This project will have a lasting positive impact for the residents of the Bronx and our entire city. I thank Majority Leader Farías, Land Use Chair Salamanca, Zoning and Franchises Chair Riley, and Council Member Marmorato for their partnership to get this major project across the finish line.”
By: Chelsea Ramjeawan (Chelsea is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.) and Veronica Rose (Veronica is the Editor of CityLand and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)