MAYOR ADAMS, MAYOR’S FUND, AND PFIZER ANNOUNCE $1.5 MILLION GRANT TO BOOST CITY’S STEM EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

 

Grant Expands Existing Programs and Creates Career Pathways Into STEM Sector

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a $1.5 million grant from Pfizer Inc. to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City — with funds earmarked for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational programs for middle and high school students.  

 

“If we don’t educate, we incarcerate, and this generous grant will bolster STEM educational programs to give our middle and high school students the ability to thrive in life by giving them the opportunity to explore careers many never thought possible,” said Mayor Adams. “Supporting our youth is a win for us all — giving them the chance to learn new skills and create innovative change that will move our city forward. These programs will help ensure their future is that much brighter and secure, and I thank Pfizer for helping put our city’s students first.”

 

Specifically, this $1.5 million grant will advance the goals of two STEM-related initiatives: Exploring Futures and College Now for Careers.

 

• Exploring Futures serves middle school students by helping them learn more about potential career paths and plan for success in the world of work. The grant will provide $750,000 over the course of three years and help expand the program to 15 additional schools, supporting educational opportunities for 750 students. Funds will support giving students access to Xello, an online platform for career exploration and planning; advance teacher training and professional development; develop additional curriculum; and engage partner organizations to provide STEM content and related enrichment.

 

• College Now for Careers — a partnership between the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and The City University of New York (CUNY) — enables New York City public high school students to earn college credits at CUNY by completing required courses for STEM majors. The grant will provide $675,000 over the course of three years, supporting as many as 1,000 students to benefit from the program. 

 

 

 

Both Exploring Futures and College Now for Careers are initiatives that the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment (MOYE), developed in support of the city’s goal of universal career readiness. Exploring Futures — launched in 2020 — currently operates in nine middle schools, serving 225 students in sixth through eighth grades. The program’s objectives include supporting youths to both explore potential careers and inform their high school selection process. College Now for Careers is a College Now initiative. College Now — a partnership of DOE and CUNY — is the country’s largest program enabling high school students to earn college credit. It serves over 20,000 students per year, giving them a leg up on college enrollment, persistence, and completion. College Now for Careers served 2,000 students in the school year 2021-2022 and will service another 1,000 students in the upcoming 2022-2023 year.

 

The nonprofit ExpandED — renowned for their innovative after-school and enrichment programming — is supporting the Mayor’s Fund, MOYE, DOE, and participating schools in managing the program.

“One of the hallmarks of this administration is its ability to forge partnerships with leading innovators, like Pfizer, to lift up our young people and deliver educational opportunities to pursue the careers of tomorrow,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “This generous investment will enable more of our city’s schoolchildren to develop expertise in high-demand, growth industries that will promote economic mobility and prosperity for all New Yorkers in the years to come.”

 

“Providing career exploration is essential for young New Yorkers to reach their fullest potential,” said Daniele Baierlein, executive director, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “Thanks to this generous donation by Pfizer, middle school, and high school students will have access to STEM programming that will put them on a path towards a successful career. We are grateful for our partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment, The City University of New York, and ExpandED for their work in developing and executing such impactful programs for young New Yorkers.”  

 

"What our children can achieve is unlimited if we help activate their passion and purpose. I am proud to see this administration take strides towards the bright north star that is long-term economic security and real career-connected learning pathways for all our students, " said DOE Chancellor David C. Banks. “Thanks to Pfizer for their generous support, giving middle school and high school students access to important STEM programming that will expand their future career opportunities and propel them into the possibilities of the 21st century workforce."

 

“In keeping with CUNY’s historical mission as an engine of social mobility, the expanded College Now for Careers program will support more of our city’s high school students as they explore the many unique STEM pathways that can ultimately lead them to meaningful and well-paying careers,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Buoyed by Mayor Adams’ vision and Pfizer’s generous support, CUNY’s beneficial partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment will help to ensure success for a new generation of STEM scholars, researchers, and workers.”  

 

“We are delighted to partner with the Mayor’s Fund to advance STEM education in New York City. At Pfizer, we understand that the future of medical breakthroughs and American innovation as a whole depend on the strength and diversity of our workforce. It is never too early to attract, engage, and motivate students – of all backgrounds – to pursue careers in STEM. We hope our work with the Mayor’s Fund and other city groups will result in increased awareness and interest in STEM careers,” said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

 

“Mayor Adams committed his administration to supporting career readiness as a ‘north star goal’ for all young New Yorkers because he knew that government alone could not bring this vision to life and called on the private sector to join our effort,” said David Fischer, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment. “With this generous commitment of $1.5 million to support our youth toward career success in STEM fields, Pfizer has answered that call in exemplary fashion. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and excited for further collaboration.”

 

“Exploring Futures builds young people’s STEM skills and ignites their passions,” said Saskia Traill, president and CEO, ExpandED Schools. “ExpandED is honored to work with the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment, the Mayor’s Fund, the Department of Education, and Pfizer because we know partnerships are critical to ensure a vibrant future for our city and its children.”

 

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez Shred Event

It was a nice sunny Friday afternoon, a perfect beach day, as Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez hosted a shredding event with the Department of Sanitation. Two shredding trucks arrived in front of the assemblywoman's office, and the Sanitation Department workers had several plastic bins to throw whatever paper a person wanted to shred. The bin would be set under the opening where the bin is lifted up and the paper goes into the shredder, and the empty bin is returned to be filled again. 

In talking to the DOS superintendent on hand the paper is cross cut, then bagged and stored in a warehouse for New Year's Eve to be dropped upon Times Square when the New Year's Ball reaches the bottom to light up the New Year. The Shredding unit works citywide and is in popular demand, because when the event was over at 1 PM, the trucks were off to another site. 

I received word that Assemblywoman Fernandez was not happy with me showing up, and I was told she ran into her office and said" What the F*** was he doing here, spying on me?" That was after I asked a former Councilman Mark Gjonaj staffer if he was looking for a job on the campaign. Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez if you want to know what this reporter was doing with a bag of papers to shred at a public shredding event I was asked to promote, you candidate Nathalia Fernandez can come on the Talking Bronx Politics show I host Live (Friday 12 PM - 1 PM on YouTube and Facebook Live), and ask me whatever question(s) you may have, but I will ask you questions that I have. My co-host and I will be talking about the 34th State Senate race going into detail about the candidates. Two candidates have already come on the show, when can I expect you candidate Nathalia Fernandez to come on the show or do you have something to hide?

A DOS worker stands next to one of the shredding trucks waiting for the bin to be filled so he can then put the bin into the shredding truck.  

The DOS worker pushes the button that lifts the bin into the shredding truck so the papers could be shredded. The machine even shows where the bin is going up into the truck.

Assemblywoman and senate candidate Fernandez is talking to a DOS supervisor, and a former staffer for Councilman Mark Gjonaj. In the background is a bin being loaded with paper to be shredded.

In this photo Assemblywoman and senate candidate Fernandez is running into her office as one of her staffers tries to talk to her. I was told she said "What the F*** is he doing here, spying on me?"

A photo from February 2018 when Nathalia Fernandez was endorsed as the Democratic candidate for the special election to replace former Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, by former Assemblyman and Councilman Mark Gjonaj, and then Bronx Democratic Party Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo. Out of the photo is then Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. who was also a supporter of candidate Fernandez. 

Was it a coincidence that all three supporters of candidate Fernandez would exit politics when their terms were up in 2020 Crespo, and 2021 Diaz Jr. and Gjonaj? 

MAYOR ADAMS, CTO FRASER, AND LINKNYC UNVEIL FIRST LINK5G KIOSK IN NEW YORK CITY

 

New Kiosk Will Provide Fast, Reliable, Free Wi-Fi, Wireless Communication, and Nationwide Phone Calls to Residents of the Bronx

Underscores Administration’s Bold Digital Equity Agenda, Including Expanding Broadband Connectivity to Underserved Areas

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was today joined by New York City Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser and LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin to unveil the first active Link5G kiosk, located in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. The new phase of LinkNYC — which provides free Wi-Fi, nationwide phone calls, and other digital services to New Yorkers — will offer 5G connectivity, with priority given to underserved areas throughout the five boroughs.

 

“Accessible broadband and phone service isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. These new LinkNYC 5G kiosks are going to finally help to close the digital divide and expand and improve mobile technology coverage all over this city,” said Mayor Adams. “When it comes to digital services, we know that too many New Yorkers have been left behind. Our administration is committed to changing that and ensuring that all of our city’s residents have access to tech services, no matter where they live. Ninety percent of these new kiosks will be located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and above 96^th Street in Manhattan — all areas that are affected by the digital divide. We thank LinkNYC for its partnership and for helping push forward our broader digital equity agenda.”

 

“The dawn of the Link5G era heralds a monumental evolutionary advance in our city’s LinkNYC program and our broader, ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide,” said CTO and Office of Technology and Innovation Commissioner Matthew Fraser. “As New York City continues its post-pandemic revival, Link5G’s ultra-fast network speed and expanded mobile coverage will go a long way toward clearing the technological barriers so many New Yorkers encountered over the past few years. In addition, Link5G’s equity-centered rollout has the potential to lift up entire neighborhoods and communities that have languished as digital deserts amid this century’s rapid tech advances. I credit Mayor Adams for recognizing that New York City must empower the people who have the least access to tech in order for the city to reach its boundless potential. I look forward to continuing to work with the mayor and our partners at CityBridge as we launch Link5G across the city in the near future.”

 

“Today marks an important milestone on our path toward fulfilling LinkNYC’s mission — to bring digital connectivity to everyone in New York City’s five boroughs,” said LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin. “Millions of New Yorkers have already used LinkNYC to get connected and we are proud to partner with Mayor Adams, Commissioner Fraser, and the city of New York to bring free, super-fast Wi-Fi and next-generation 5G infrastructure to even more New Yorkers over the next few years.”

 

Link5G will provide the needed infrastructure for cellular service providers to expand 5G wireless technology — the next generation of mobile phone service — across the five boroughs. Installation on the new kiosks is beginning summer of this year. While the city is working with LinkNYC, and in close collaboration with community stakeholders, to determine exact sittings for future kiosks, 90 percent will be located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and above 96^th Street in Manhattan.

 

In order to provide resources to historically underserved communities, priority for new builds will be given to specified equity community districts that were chosen based on lack of other broadband options, lower median annual incomes, lack of existing LinkNYC infrastructure, and high levels of pedestrian and street traffic. Once fully deployed, there will be approximately 2,000 new Link5G kiosks throughout the five boroughs, which will bring the total LinkNYC network to at least 4,000 locations citywide.

 

The kiosks will offer expanded free services to New Yorkers with broader coverage, and newly available 5G spectrum radios will greatly increase coverage and capacity for all New Yorkers, especially in historically underserved areas.

 

“We are thrilled at this opportunity to be the first recipients of LinkNYC's latest phase in tech development as we unveil their new Link5G Kiosk here in the Morris Heights section,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “The decision to launch the project in the West Bronx speaks to the leadership of Mayor Adams, LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin, and New York City Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser and their commitment to eliminating the digital divide in our city.”

“Bringing advanced technology to communities is critical for basic access to mobile and internet connectivity,” said Clayton Banks, CEO, Silicon Harlem. “The new high-capacity Link5G infrastructure is another step forward to ensure technology can be deployed in an equitable manner.”

 

“From the information highway to digital technology at our doorsteps, this is the best innovation of the 21^st century. God bless America,” said Dr. Bola Omotosho, chair, Bronx Community Board 5.

  

Ritchie Torres - A Quick Reintroduction:

 

I’m sure some of you might feel like you don't know that much about me. So, let me reintroduce myself. Here are 3 things you need to know about me: My name is Ritchie Torres and I am the Congressman representing the Bronx in New York. I was first elected 1 1/2 years ago as the first gay Afro-Latino when my predecessor retired. I am now running for reelection for the first time.   Recent polls show that Democratic voters in my district overwhelmingly support me and my work in Congress.   I am working tirelessly to keep my district and help my Democratic colleagues keep our slim House majority. But with Republicans determined to take back the House, I need your help. Thank you, Ritchie EDITOR'S NOTE: The request for donation part of this has been edited out to make it newsworthy.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT VANESSA L. GIBSON’S STATEMENT ON GUN VIOLENCE IN THE BRONX DURING JULY 4TH WEEKEND

 

“This July 4th weekend, was a critical reminder of the ongoing gun violence that has taken over our streets, taking lives and leaving far too many families mourning across our nation, our city, and right here in our Borough. We must continue to work at all levels of government to see immediate change and to stop the violence in our communities,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

“Here in the Bronx, on July 1st, two men were shot in broad daylight within an hour of each other. Nineteen-year-old Melvin Urena, was killed while on his scooter across from 429 East 156th Street. Later, 37-year-old Victor Fertides from Harlem, died after being gunned down on Ogden Avenue near 176th Street. On July 4th, 62-year-old John Edwards, an innocent bystander, was fatally shot in front of his neighbors with two others also sustaining injuries from the gunfire.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson continued, “While I applaud Governor Hochul’s decision to pass landmark legislation strengthening New York’s gun laws, coupled with new State laws restricting the use and purchase of firearms, we continue to grieve the deaths of our neighbors. These occurrences call for our continued commitment to protecting New Yorkers and restoring peace on our streets.”

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: CORNING INCORPORATED WILL INVEST $139 MILLION IN MONROE COUNTY; SENATOR SAYS INVESTMENT WILL BRING OVER 270 GOOD-PAYING JOBS TO REGION, BOOSTING NY’S SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING GROWTH, & FURTHER CEMENTING ROCHESTER AS THE WORLD LEADER IN OPTICS TECH

 

Schumer Says Corning Will Expand It’s Fairport Advanced Optics Center & Construct A New Laser Optics Production Facility In The Town Of Gates To Grow Upstate NY’s Booming Tech Ecosystem

Senator Has Been The Leading Champion To Expand Rochester’s Optics Industry And The Domestic Chip Supply Chain, Paving The Way For Corning’s Expansion

Schumer: Corning Incorporated Investment In Greater Rochester Optics Industry Will Bring Eyes Of The World Onto Upstate New York For Future Of Tech Manufacturing

Longtime champion of Rochester’s optics industry, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that Corning, Incorporated will invest $139 million in Monroe County and create over 270 new, good-paying jobs in the Finger Lakes region. Schumer said that Corning is both expanding its advanced optics administrative and manufacturing facility in the Village of Fairport and building a new state of the art Laser Optics production facility in the Town of Gates.

“270 new, good-paying jobs and a historic $139 million investment by Corning will supercharge Monroe County, positioning the Finger Lakes as a continued global leader in laser optics and further cementing Upstate New York as a semiconductor manufacturing hub. Rochester’s powerhouse workforce is second to none and ready to build the future of American manufacturing,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “I applaud Corning for this major investment that will help drive Monroe County and America’s economic future in tech manufacturing. Rochester is unquestionably already a world leader in the optics industry and this new expansion will lay the foundation to create more jobs, to better secure U.S. supply chains, and to boost the country’s competitiveness for years to come.”

Specifically, with the $139 million investment, Corning will expand operations at sites in Fairport and Gates within Monroe County to produce equipment needed by major semiconductor manufacturers to expand their chip production output. Corning’s semiconductor and optics products are embedded and critical at nearly every step of the chip manufacturing process from Metrology Instruments to Laser Optics used for the precision assembly of semiconductor chips and more.   Through this expansion, Corning will add over 270 new jobs at its advanced optics facility in the Village of Fairport which is currently being expanded. Corning will also establish a new laser optics production facility in the Town of Gates by the end of 2023.

Schumer said that Rochester and the Finger Lakes is already a world-renowned hub for the optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) industry.  The Rochester Finger Lakes region is a global optics powerhouse, with over 150 advanced OPI companies employing an estimated 17,000 local workers. The region is also home to University of Rochester’s (UR) Institute of Optics, the UR Laboratory for Laser Energetics, AIM Photonics, Rochester Institute of Technology, Monroe Community College’s (MCC) Optical System Technology Program, and more. Schumer said that Corning’s investment will spark the further growth of this in-demand industry locally. Schumer has long helped advance Rochester’s optics industry.  In June 2021, Schumer helped deliver a five year $34 million grant from the Department of Defense for the Rochester-based American Center for Optics Manufacturing (AmeriCOM) to ensure the DoD has a secure and robust domestic supply chain for our nation’s optical technology needs. AmeriCOM’s activities include supporting the growth of new technology and work for Rochester-based defense optics suppliers, as well as supporting programs like MCC’s Optical System Technology Program in order to attract and train skilled optics workers needed by Rochester optics employers like Corning.     

Schumer has long been an advocate for helping Corning to grow its presence in Upstate New York. In June 2020, Schumer announced that Corning received over $204 million in federal funding, more than doubling employment at their Big Flats facility, thanks to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to expand Corning’s manufacturing capacity of Valor® Glass vials for the rapid production and secure delivery of the COVID-19 vaccines and other critical drugs. Later that year, Corning was also awarded an additional $57 million from BARDA to further increase the domestic manufacturing capacity of pharmaceutical glass tubing and vials to support the accelerated mass vaccination effort. Corning Incorporated is one of the world’s leading innovation companies with specialties in everything from glass to optical communication. Corning is one of the largest employers in New York, with over 7,000 employees across the state, and more than 62,000 worldwide.

Senator Schumer also has a long history of championing the resurgence of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. In June 2021, Schumer successfully passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) through the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote of 68 – 32. This bill includes $52 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to energize chip manufacturing in America and boosts federal R&D programs that would help bolster Corning and many of the U.S.-based companies that rely on the components made at the new Fairport facility. Schumer is actively working to get this bill passed to help bring more manufacturing back from countries like China and ensure America’s innovation leadership for years to come.

Governor Hochul Announces Corning Incorporated's $139 Million Investment to Grow Operations in Monroe County

 Expansion of Operations to Create More Than 270 New Jobs in the Village of Fairport and Town of Gates, Addressing Growing Demand in the Semiconductor Market

$5 Million New York State Investment Complements "Finger Lakes Forward" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Governor Hochul: "I'm really proud that we are now the epicenter of technology jobs. We will soon pass Silicon Valley in terms of jobs. We passed Boston a couple of years ago, so that is our future. And so, why not embrace not just the people who are part of our workforce, the innovators, the brilliant people that take us to the next level, but also the opportunities to create something that needs to be created here domestically. We can no longer be held captive to foreign supply chains that are disrupted."

Hochul: "We're going to look back on this day. Over 270 jobs, that's great. $139 million of investment, that's fantastic. 5 billion from this state anytime. You're welcome. But you're going to look back at this day and say, this is when everything changed. When we made that commitment, and we work with our federal government, work with our Senator, we deliver here in the State."

I want to just say a couple of things and I did want to talk about a little bit of the history of Corning because it is a powerful story. It is a story again, that really reminds us of the greatness of the state. And what you did in developing technologies. Who didn't cook with Pyrex when they were growing up? Pyrex is part of our household, and you go way back to the 1880s and Thomas Edison's light bulb. That's part of your story, it's part of our story because you did that here. In the 1960s, you were manufacturing 100 percent of all the glass that went into televisions.

That's the first time, I remember being a little kid, yes, I'm that old, we got that first television set. Little did I know that the glass came from Corning, right here in the State of New York. So you've always been there. The Hubble space telescope, from LCD screens. You've always been at the forefront. And now, I think about what the opportunities are, but I also want to pause a second, just think about when I went to see you at Sullivan Park during the pandemic. And when you told me that basically every vial that treated people's COVID, the vaccines that stopped COVID, were created here in New York, my heart swell with pride to know that our workers, our team from New York State were literally saving lives during the pandemic. So you stepped up, you helped save lives, creating billions of doses of vaccines. And I want to thank you for all the work you've done there.

And so, this is a great story. And the Senator and I speak often about the whole semiconductor industry. Nobody has laid claim to this industry in this country yet. We are here to lay down the marker and say, "It is happening here." And I love the reference to Silicon Valley, "That is so yesteryear. So last decade." And you think about the jobs that are coming to our state, not just upstate, but New York City as well. The migration of tech workers from Silicon Valley is phenomenal. I could not have foreseen this. It was always about, "Getting educated," our great schools, our engineering schools upstate, we're known for our great educational system. "Where are you going next?" "Oh, Silicon Valley. That's where the action is." No longer. Sorry, Governor out there, it's over. It's over because people want to be here. They want to be connected with other smart people and they want that quality of life. So I'm really proud that we are now the epicenter of technology jobs. We will soon pass Silicon Valley in terms of jobs. We passed Boston a couple of years ago, so that is our future.

And so, why not embrace not just the people who are part of our workforce, the innovators, the brilliant people that take us to the next level, but also the opportunities to create something that needs to be created here domestically. We can no longer be held captive to foreign supply chains that are disrupted. Whether it's geopolitical affairs, invasions of Russia to Ukraine or what that has done to the wheat supply around the world. We can no longer be vulnerable. I don't want to have to go to China next time there's a pandemic and beg for ventilators and masks. Everything should be manufactured here because we know how to do it, and we do it best.

And that is why the semiconductor industry needs to blossom here in the State of New York, and the work that the Senator is doing. It is a much heavier lift than it should be because everybody should say, "We agree. It's a national security issue for us. It's an economic issue. It'll position us and free us from the supply chains from abroad."

I don't understand why everybody just isn't signing on this second and getting it done. And I'm going to help you Senator, but you have been leading the forefront. Here in the State of New York, we understand also we can put money on the table and show a real commitment. And literally in our last session, the final days, we announced $10 billion for green chips.

What does that mean? We want to position ourselves to be able to help the industries who are growing here but also will come here and help them say yes, understand, this is the place it's happening. This is the place. I've declared this. I've also declared New York, the epicenter of the offshore wind capital of the world.

When I declare something, it happens. Okay. Just want you to know that that's the power of the Governor. I've only had it for a few months, but now we are the epicenter of the semiconductor industry and the work that we're doing in Albany and the work that we've done is just extraordinary. So, the supply chain, which you're doing here is feeding that, so no one has to go abroad.

We can get the manufacturing done. We have some great possibilities of working on it, but I can tell someone coming here, you don't have to go somewhere else and spend the cost of shipping. You just drive down to Fairport or you go up to Canada, the parts are right here and that's why I'm so excited.

We're going to look back on this day. Over 270 jobs, that's great. $139 million of investment, that's fantastic. 5 billion from this state anytime. You're welcome. But you're going to look back at this day and say, this is when everything changed. When we made that commitment, and we work with our federal government, work with our Senator, we deliver here in the State, working with the federal parties, but also, it's industry. You are the key part of all this. We can talk about these goals. We can want this to happen, but if you don't show up here and create the jobs and manufacture something that I completely could not understand, even though the smartest people were trying to explain to me, it is brilliance.

Brilliance is on display here when you're manufacturing, these parts that are just so we're just so proud of this. And I want you to know that as your governor, I want you to be here for generations and generations to come and in other 170 years, I will not be here, I predict, but I want you to continue celebrating that Corning is to New York part of our identity. It's a key part of our identity, and I am proud of that as your governor.

Bronx Point’s First Phase Tops Out At 575 Exterior Street In The South Bronx

 

Construction has topped out on the first phase of Bronx Point, a 22-story mixed-use building at 575 Exterior Street in the South Bronx. Designed by S9 Architecture and developed by L+M Development Partners, Type A Projects, and BronxWorks, the structure will yield 542 permanently affordable housing units in studio to three-bedroom layouts, all reserved for households and individuals earning between 30 to 120 percent of area median income, as well as for the formerly homeless. The edifice will also feature 56,000 square feet of community facility space, 12,000 square feet of retail space, and serve as the home of the Universal Hip Hop Museum. The building is the first to debut in the $349 million, 530,000-square-foot mixed-use master plan, which will bring 1,045 apartments and a 2.8-acre public green space next to Mill Pond Park designed by Marvel Architects and Abel Bainnson Butz. The property is located on a plot bound by the 145th Street bridge to the south, Exterior Street and the elevated Major Deegan Expressway to the east, and the Harlem River to the west.

Work has progressed steadily since breaking ground last May, with the brick façade now enclosing nearly half of the reinforced concrete superstructure.

Photos from a distance show the scale of the massive superstructure and its upper stepped design, and its level of visibility over the relatively low-rise district. Bronx Point joins a number of recent developments that are currently transforming The Bronx with a wave of new housing and buildings lining the waterfront.

575 Exterior Street’s residential program features 135 studio, 192 one-bedroom, 122 two-bedroom, and 93 three-bedroom apartments. Amenities include an outdoor terrace, on-site laundry facilities, a children’s room, a community lounge, a bike storage room, a fitness center, and 24/7 front desk security. An early childhood learning center run by BronxWorks and an outdoor science programming run by the Billion Oyster Project will occupy part of the community facility space.

The Universal Hip Hop Museum is slated to feature hip hop artifacts, a DJ booth, a graffiti station, a recording studio experience, and a virtual reality theater developed in partnership with Microsoft. Opening is anticipated for 2024. The green space will be composed of a public plaza, a fitness area, expansive lawns, a playground, waterfront lookouts, a BBQ area, multiple paths, and public bathrooms.

Bronx Point is being built as a public-private partnership with financing from city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York Housing Development Corporation, Empire State Development, and Wells Fargo totaling $323.5 million for the Bronx project, along with $27 million for the NYC Economic Development Corporation’s waterfront esplanade. The Prusik Group, L+M’s partner on Essex Crossing on the Lower East Side and the new National Urban League Headquarters in Harlem, will serve as Bronx Point’s retail development advisor.

It’s reported that Bronx Point as a whole is expected to be fully finished by the end of 2023.