This past Friday, the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced along with the Departments of Housing Preservation and Development and Parks and Recreation a massive affordable housing project in the South Bronx just north of the 145th Street Bridge, called Bronx Point.
The project, which will include 600 units of affordable housing in phase one of the total 1,045 units, will be built on a parcel of city-owned land right on the waterfront of the Harlem River. Not only that, but the housing complex will also feature an food hall, outdoor theater, and the nation’s first hip-hop museum, officially to be named Universal Hip Hop Museum.
The $300 million-plus plan is being developed by L+M Development Partners who will in phase one create housing units for extremely low- to moderate-income New Yorkers, with two- and three-bedrooms being built specifically for families.
As for the Universal Hip Hop Museum, it was originally planned for the Kingsbridge Armory (which will instead be a national ice center). The museum, in partnership with Google, Microsoft, and other tech companies will create an immersive experience featuring music, artifacts, video and photography, research areas, and a performance stage, explained Executive Director Rocky Bucano to DNAinfo.
Chairman Kurtis Blow explained “The Universal Hip-Hop Museum may be the single most important project for the preservation of hip-hop culture. This new cultural institution will be a great new tourism destination for NYC and the Bronx. What a great day for hip-hop!” Other notable members of the museum include Ice-T on its founding board of directors and LL Cool J as an honorary advisory board member.
Beyond becoming the site for an important cultural institution, the housing complex looks to help one of the city’s most underserved populations. Other phase one amenities include a new 2.3 acre waterfront esplanade and park that will connect to Mill Pond Park, a public plaza, space for educational programming, and an outdoor performance space.
The local community board, City Planning, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. are all on board with the project. Phase one of Bronx Point is slated to be complete by 2022.
