New York real estate: Bedford Park, Bronx
Real estate along
| Special
to amNewYork
March 27, 2008
The residents of
Nestled in the northwest Bronx between the
Like most of the Bronx,
Residents tout the area's convenience and accessibility to
"There are a lot of small communities within the community," says
Fernando Tirado, Community Board 7 district manager.
"We have a large family population here and good schools, though the lack
of school space has become an issue."
"The face has changed," says longtime resident Raymond Rivera,
"But it's still somewhat of a hidden gem. [For the most part,] we live in
peace and quiet."
Find it
Bedford Park's boundaries are Mosholu Parkway to the
north, Webster Avenue to the east, Bedford Park Boulevard to the south, and
Jerome Avenue to the west.
To Play
It's not a hotbed for nighttime activity, but
Madden's Pub
This local watering hole (and former speakeasy) has been around for 80 years.
Stop in to say hello to owner Jimmy and order a beer, which he serves in
perfectly frosted mugs.
Shea's Emerald Bar
If the name's not enough to give it away, the
shamrock-centric decor of this classic pub should be enough to give away its
heritage.
Jolly Tinker
Predominately a hang out for the Fordham student set, this bar doesn't have the
local flavor of the first two. In addition to the student-heavy patronage, the
beer Pong tables might be nice for a walk down memory lane. 387 Bedford Park
Blvd. 718-364-8789
Lehman College (CUNY)/Harris Fields
On any given Sunday, the baseball diamonds at Harris Fields are perfect for a
picnic lunch and a full day of baseball – Little League starts in the a.m.,
Men's League in the p.m.
To Eat
One of the only complaints heard from longtime residents here is the lack of restaurants.
So for the four eateries listed below have loyal patrons.
Located directly across from the No. 4 train stop at
Mike's Pizzeria
Pizza connoisseurs should put Mike's on their "must eat" map. The
shop is famous for its sizable Sicilian-style slices, and has a loyal
following.
National Donut and Coffee Shop
This place has a homey feel and a huge menu. In other words, go hungry. Menu
favorites include their donuts, which are made fresh daily. Try the glazed, jelly
or frosted chocolate.
Las Maravillas de
The restaurant, whose name means the marvels of
11
To Shop
There is not a lot of shopping in
Our Lady of Refuge Thrift Shop
Run by the charitable folks of Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church and School,
here's a place where you can feel good about shopping.
2845 Briggs Ave.718-733-9026
Pretty Girl
A well-known store in the
Kids World
It's a one-stop shop for children's apparel. This location features affordable
everyday kid clothing as well as items from designer labels, Baby Phat and Jlo.
39 E. Fordham Rd. 718-733-3900
To Do
This part of the
The
Even before the flowers are in full bloom, the
Botanical Garden offers a variety of ways to get in touch with Mother Nature.
Take a guided tour through the 50-acre native forest, wander through 250 acres
of deciduous trees, or take a tour featuring The Orchid Show (through April 4).
A thriving hub for fine arts,
250 Bedford Park Blvd. West (at Goulden Avenue)
718-960-8833
Bronx County Historical Society Art Deco walking tour
The Bronx County Historical Society provides fun field trips for families,
groups or students with a walking tour of the classic Art Deco architecture in
the area. Other options just outside the neighborhood include visits to The
Museum of Bronx History and the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage.
3309 Bainbridge Ave. 718-881-8900
St. Philip Neri Church
Founded in 1898, the church, with its neo-Gothic building, was built from stone
carried from the Jerome Park Reservoir by Italian immigrants, the church's first
parishioners. It burned to the ground in June 1997, but was restored and
rededicated in January 2002.
3025 Grand Concourse at 202nd Street 718-365-8806
Real Estate
Real Estate in
To Rent
$875 for a studio at Decatur Avenue and 198th Street
$825 for a one-bedroom apartment at 199th Street and Webster Avenue
$900 for a one-bedroom apartment at 192nd Street and Grand Concourse
$1,350 for a recently renovated two-bedroom at East 200th Street at Jerome
Avenue
$1,500 for a two-bedroom apartment at Bedford Park Boulevard and Briggs Avenue
To Buy
$151,050 for a one-bedroom co-op on the Grand Concourse
$279,000 for a two-bedroom duplex on Villa Avenue
$549,000 for a two-family home at Hull Ave and Bronx River Parkway
$599,000 for a two-family triplex with one-car garage at Creston Avenue and
East 197th Street
$679,000 for a three-family home at East 201st Street and Decatur Avenue
The Buzz
Residents of Bedford Park appreciate their quality of life. The neighborhood's
accessibility, coupled with affordable housing, diversity and a strong sense of
community, makes this
Basics
Transportation
Subway: B, D to
Bus: Bx1, Bx2, Bx10, Bx22, Bx25, Bx26, Bx28, Bx34, Bx41, and Bx55. Express
buses: BxM4a and BxM4b; also the W4 and W20 from
Metro-North: Harlem Line, Botanical Gardens station at Webster Avenue
Library
Bronx Library Center 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) 718-579-4244
Police 52nd Precinct 3016 Webster Avenue 10467 718-220-5811
Schools (all those that fall under the district served by Community Board 7)
Schools in Community Board 7 include: P.S. 246, 2641 Grand Concourse; Briggs
Avenue Academy/P.S. 8 3010 Briggs Avenue; P.S./Middle School include: 15, 2195
Andrews Ave.; P.S./Middle School 20, 3050 Webster Ave.; and high schools
include: Bronx High School of Science, 75 West 205th Street; Dewitt Clinton
High School, 100 West Mosholu Parkway South;
Post office The closest is at Lehman College: 250 Bedford Park Blvd.
718-960-8000
Crime The 52nd Precinct, which also covers Norwood, University Heights and
Jerome Park, reported two murders, six rapes and 88 robberies so far this year,
compared to four murders, seven rapes and 97 robberies at this time last year.
Q&A with Raymond Rivera
Raymond Rivera, a Navy electrician in
What should people know about
It's very convenient. You have transportation everywhere, buses all day, two
train stops, and if you walk over toward the Grand Concourse, you can catch a
taxi any time.
How has the neighborhood changed over the years?
There's a lot more diversity, more of a blend. It used to be mostly an Irish
neighborhood.
What do you like about the area?
I think the convenience, the diversity. [It's] a nice area, basically quiet.
It's a working-class atmosphere.
What do you not like?
A little bit of the rise in crime, but I guess that's predominately everywhere.
A lack of good restaurants … you have to go out of the area for really good
restaurants.
How do you see the neighborhood changing?
Hopefully it does better itself; there's always room for improvement. We need
more restaurants. A decent deli or an Italian restaurant.
Any gems you'd recommend?
The Botanical Garden, the
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