Duane Reade to Occupay Retail Space @ Boricua Village

Passing by Boricua Village the other day, I noticed that there was work going on at retail space of the corner building of Boricua Village at 163rd and 3rd.  One quick glance at the building permits showed that Duane Reade was occupying the entire corner.  One thing we don't have a shortage of in Melrose, other than banks which we have plenty of, are pharmacies.  They can be found in Melrose at least every 4 or 5 blocks so you're never far from one and judging by the size of this new addition to the neighborhood it seems to be a huge one.
Congratulations to Duane Reade on recognizing a need where 700 units are slowly being filled.  Let's see who else opens shop here over the next few months.

With Little Fanfare, Boricua Village's Residences at Northrose Are Open

In what has been one of the Bronx's most anticipated residential construction project, Boricua Village is now welcoming its first residents at the Northrose, the project's 400 luxury, middle-income apartments.  According to the leasing office, the new residents have been moving in slowly over the past couple of weeks, however, the mega-project is still far from complete.  There are several buildings still under construction, the interior public and private gardens are not anywhere near completion and none of the retail spaces have yet to be filled.  
On the other note, Boricua College has begun filling in their new sparkling, 14 story tower with classes scheduled to begin this fall.  
Anyone living there yet care to make a comment on the building and apartments?  Are the promised amenities completed?

Great kitchen space...tons of cabinets

Modern bathroom with glass tile backsplash and wainscotting

Still under construction, this building sits behind Boricua College

Boricua College 99% complete

Spotlight: Coqui Mexicano - A Hidden Gem in Melrose

So where does one begin to describe such an experience as Coqui Mexicano?  Yes, that's right, an experience for Coqui Mexicano is not just a restaurant but it is an experience to be had by all.  This past Friday, October 9th, I had the privilege to be invited over to Coqui Mexicano by owner Danisha to enjoy all that the restaurant has to offer as her husband and other half of Coqui Mexicano, Alfredo, celebrated his birthday.

When I first saw Coqui Mexicano on one of my many walks around the neighborhood it quickly caught my attention as I knew right away it had to be a fusion of Puerto Rican and Mexican cuisine but i quickly said to myself, "Great...just what the neighborhood needs...another Puerto Rican or Mexican restaurant." (which we probably have the highest number of Mexican restaurants in all of The Bronx!)  After Friday's visit boy am I just banging my head against a brick wall for not stopping by sooner!  Coqui Mexicano is the product of husband and wife team Danisha, who is from Puerto Rico and husband Alfredo Diego who is from Mexico and has been in the United States for 20 years.  

According to Danisha, since she was not allowed to play outside in the streets while growing up she spent her formative years, "always in somebody's kitchen asking a million and questions or trying to help...if it wasn't mommy's kitchen, it was abuela's...if it wasn't abuela's it was tia's."  As a result she always enjoyed cooking and experimenting.  

As for Alfredo, it was always his ultimate dream to own his own business so after working in and learning every facet of the industry (food prep, bus boy, runner, delivery, bartender, waiter, caterer) for 20 years since he stepped foot into the United States, "...the next logical step with all his experience would be towards applying it to owning his own place," said his wife and business partner Danisha.

I moseyed up Third Avenue towards 161st where Third meets Brook Avenue which is where the they are located and I knew I was getting closer when I could see the Old Bronx Courthouse.  As soon as I entered Coqui Mexicano I immediately felt as if I entered some restaurant back in Puerto Rico.  The colors, the non-pretentious decor and open kitchen where you can see everything as it is prepared in front of you really makes great use of this space.  Alfredo's reception was very warm considering he didn't know who I was at the moment so that made me feel great and very welcomed as a family owned restaurant should be.

After a brief chat, he told me that he was just finishing up his fresh, homemade mole (pronounced moh-leh and is a thick sauce popular in Mexican cooking.  The sauce itself is made up of various Mexican spices and chocolate...yes chocolate. I'm not sure what exactly his ingredients were for I dared not to ask what most likely is a well guarded secret).  I told him not to worry as I was in no hurry and that I was there to sample as much as humanly possible.  I was especially interested in trying the Ensalada de Pulpo, or Octopus Salad as well as the Latin Style Couscous so with that said, Alfredo just provided me with some plates and just as I was about to serve myself some of the couscous, he came right over with a plate of chicken with mole sauce, some white rice and black beans. 

Heaven.  That is how I can descibe the chicken with mole sauce.  The chicken was so tender that it just fell apart as you dug your fork in and the mole sauce was perfect.  With enough fire to give it a kick but not too much as to drown out the other spices.  The white rice was nice and fluffy and the black beans were by far the best black beans I've ever had in any restaurant.  Definitely not what I expected.  As I was eating this fine dish, Police Officer Ralphie Diaz came in and joined me in this feast.  Ever since they opened in August of 2008, he has been coming in religiously as he is also hooked on their food.   We spoke a great deal about all the change that has occurred over the past 5 years (he's been on the force for 16 years and all of those years he has worked in the neighborhood and is now working as part of the 42nd Precinct's Community Relations division). 

So after we were done with the mole, we both moved on to the Ensalada de Pulpo (Octopus Salad) which was a pleasantly cool salad that does't overwhelm the palate with a fishy aftertaste due to the delicate balance of spices, onions, vinegar and what appeared to be fresh lime as well.  The Latin Style Couscous Salad was also a winner and is a MUST for all who visit...who would have thought that couscous could be "Ricanized"??!!

The entire experience at Coqui Mexicano left me feeling very happy for I felt as if I walked into a relative's home because it was so welcoming.  Everyone was chatting and Alfredo was very attentive to make sure that everything was ok and if I needed anything else.  I also had the pleasure of running into local South Bronx Food Co-op employee Lily Acunzo who is a self-proclaimed fan of the restaurant and spoke warmly about Danisha and Alfredo.  Lily says when she can't make it over from the co-op she calls and has her lunch delivered as she loves it that much!

Don't wait like I did and head on over to 871 Brook Avenue @ 161st and 3rd Avenue in Melrose and support our local small business owners!!  Coqui Mexicano is open Mon-Fri from 7AM - 7PM, Saturdays from 9AM - 7PM and is closed on Sundays.  They can be reached at 718-350-3477 or coquimexicano@ymail.com.  Oh and did I mention that they are right next to Boricua Village????  The residents of the 700+ units are in for a real treat once Boricua Village is completed and they move in...not to mention the 2000 students that will be attending Boricua College right on the premises. So let's give a big Melrose THANK YOU to Alfredo and Danisha for pursuing the American Dream and creating such a great, TRUE family atmosphere and welcoming us into their dining room and kitchen.  

The delicious and not to be missed Latin Style Couscous Salad

Coqui Mexicano is an official BookCrossing location where you can pick up a free book and take it with you or drop off books that you no longer want.  Then you can track and see where your book ends up in the world!

Guava Cheese Muffins

Sweet Cornbread Pudding

Cuban Sandwich

Piña Colada Pie (yes there is a heaven!)

Yuca rolls made to order!

Conconetes - Soft and Chewy Puerto Rican Style Coconut Cookies

Passion Fruit Mousse topped with grated coconut and grated coconut.

(made upon request with advance notice)

Chayote Salad 

(first domesticated in Mexico, chayotebelongs to the gourd family 

along with melons, cucumber and squash.)

Boricua Village - MAJOR UPDATE!

Many of you already know that Boricua Village, once completed will be a major anchor and cornerstone of Melrose with the 14 story verticle campus of Boricua College and over 700 residences of low income affordable housing as well as affordable housing for middle income families.  

The developer, Atlantic Development Group, has released more details, including artist renderings on the middle income units of Boricua Village and is now accepting applications to those who qualify (see instructions for filling out the application.)

The Residences at Northrose, as the 4 buildings containing 393 middle income units within Boricua Village are called, are truly one of the most luxurious residences being built in Melrose and The Bronx as a whole.  Rents range from $838 for a studio (with a minimum income requirement of $28,731 and a preferred maximum income of $53,800 and a max allowed income of $69,940) to $1,572 for a 3 bedroom deluxe unit (with a minimum income requirement of $76, 801, preferred max income of $84,480 and a max income of $99,840 - based on a four person house hold.  6 person household max allowed income is $115,830).


Some of the amenities offered at The Residences at Northrose when completed will include:

• A residents' lounge with free access to Wi-Fi
• 70,000 square feet of outdoor space plus a state-of-the-art playground for kids
• An on-site gym that will be for the exclusive use of residents including a separate yoga, Pilates and dance studio
• A screening room where you can lounge on couches while watching movies amongst residents and friends
• A Game Room including pinball machines and billiards
• For the kids a Play room is provided which can even be used to host parties
• A Learning Center for children and adults, with Wi-Fi access and desks for quiet study.

Below are some more artist renderings of the development as well as of the apartments themselves.

Game Room

Site Plan

Kitchen

Living Room

Bathroom

Landscaped Roof

Typical Studio Floor Plan

Typical One Bedroom Floor Plan

Typical 2 Bedroom Floor Plan

Typical 3 Bedroom Floor Plan

A big Melrose THANK YOU to Atlantic Development Group for realizing what a great neighborhood that Melrose is as well as the borough of The Bronx for such a fine development!

161st Street/River Avenue Rezoning - Approved!

Melrose and Concourse Village will benefit tremendously from the newly adopted rezoning of East 161st street from Park Avenue , the eastern most part of the new zoning area, across to the west towards River Avenue right at the new Yankee Stadium. The new zone then proceeds south along River Avenue to East 153rd Street right where the new Metro North station opened earlier this year as well as the Gateway Mall which also opened earlier this year. (click on any image to expand the view of that image)

What exactly does this mean for us in Melrose as well as our neighbors in Concourse Village? Simply put with a minimal rezoning of just a few lots in what is the most important corridor of The Bronx, we are set to gain more office buildings as well as more residential units in an area that is still growing considering there is a recession and decline in real estate projects in general.

For those of you who do not know, East 161st Street is the heart of The Bronx as it is the main thoroughfare in Civic Center. Within 3 blocks you have The Bronx Borough Hall, Yankee Stadium, what will be the Heritage Park once the old Yankee stadium is demolished, the old Criminal Courthouse, the new Bronx Hall of Justice, Concourse Plaza Mall which currently houses the office building where the offices of the Borough President are located. On the western end of that corridor you have the 4, B and D trains at River Avenue/E 161st Street and the easternmost end of the new zoning area you have the Melrose Metro North station at 162nd Street and Park Avenue.

The new zone is divided into 3 nodes each with specific goals and are as follows:

• 
  The Transit Node, which comprises River Avenue from East 162nd Street down to East 153rd Street, will encourage high-density development adjacent to the 4, B and D train station at 161st Street and River Avenue. Some of the lots that are now rezoned will allow for 10, 18 and 27 story office towers. Of all 3 nodes, the Transit Node will eventually have the most dramatic impact on the area once a developer comes up with an idea to properly integrate office towers of such heights in the area which should not be difficult since they will be located at the nexus of The Bronx's courthouses.

• Civic Node focuses on the heart of, well the Civic Center and runs from Concourse Village West between East 159th Street and half a block North of East 161st Street down East to Concourse Village East and Morris Avenue. This node will focus on the fact that there is a wide open gap between the Concourse Plaza Office building and the Melrose Office Building which is occupied by the mall's parking lot. As described above, this gap can now be filled in with a 10-13 story office building with enough set back to still allow access to the mall itself and the movie theatre. There are also a few underutilized lots with only 1-2 stories of commercial use where a 6-8 story commercial building can be built.

• Residential Node is at the easternmost end and meets the Melrose Commons area of Melrose as well as the currently-under construction Courtlandt Corners. This node will now allow for development on the current commercial and residential lots which are occupied by 1 story commercial and 2-3 story 2-3 family homes. With 161st Street being such a busy street, this area is very underutilized and does not benefit the neighborhood as is improved. Where the commercial building sits at the northeast corner of 161st Street and Morris Avenue, a 12 story residential building will now be allowed with a commercial overlay to allow for ground floor commercial. The entire block which it sits on has now been rezoned for such development.

Once developers take advantage of the new zone and the City of New York does its part now that it has approved the zoning, the 161st Street Corridor will be a beautiful street linking the Transit Node where the 4, B and D trains are located, Bronx Borough Hall, Yankee Stadium, Civic Center with the new Boricua Village and its vertical 14 story campus for 2,000 students, 4 residential apartments of low to mixed incomes and middle incomes (approximately 700 apartments in total) and Courtlandt Corners currently under construction which an additional 323 units.

This is truly an exciting time to be living in Melrose. A big Melrose THANK YOU to the City Council and Department of City Planning for approving the new zoning on September 30, 2009! Thanks for your continued support in rezoning a once neglected and abandoned area!

Diagrams compliments of New York City Department of City Planning.

Boricua Village and the Rebirth of a Once Blighted Block

What was once one of the most iconic symbols of urban decay in Melrose is now slowly being resuscitated back to life with the creation of Boricua Village. Although the building is not part of the development proper, the old Bronx Courthouse will no longer sit amongst ruins and empty lots as it has been for decades now.

At 4.5 acres it is one of the largest construction projects in not only just Melrose but The Bronx as well. Boricua Village will feature a 14 story vertical campus which will be occupied by Boricua College and will be surrounded by open plazas, trees, an amphitheatre as well as 700 new units for low income and middle income families and approximately 50,000 square feet of retail. According to Atlantic Development Group, the college will be home to 100 full-time faculty, 100 part-time faculty, 140 administrators and staff and estimated that it will generate approximately $15,000,000 in additional revenue for the Melrose area. That's pretty impressive to have such a large economic engine to be housed in what was once one of the most blighter neighborhoods in The Bronx.

A big Melrose thank you to Boricua College, Atlantic Development Group and all who have the faith in Melrose and our great borough up North who have made this project possible. Oh and be sure to catch the neat marketing video of what Boricua Village should look like upon completion.

Now if only someone could purchase the Old Courthouse and turn it into yet another functioning building we can all be proud of. Hint, Hint!