Castle Hill, Bronx
Castle Hill is primarily a residential neighborhood geographically located in the South Central section of the borough of The Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 9. Its boundaries, starting from the North and moving clockwise are: Waterbury-Westchester Avenues to the North, Westchester Creek to the east, the East River to the South, and White Plains Road to the West. Castle Hill Avenue is the primary thoroughfare through Melrose. Zip codes include 10473, 10472, and 10462. The area is patrolled by the 43rd Precinct located at 900 Fteley Avenue. New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property in the area is patrolled by P.S.A. 8 at 2794 Randall Avenue.
Contents |
[edit] Demographics
Castle Hill is a high density neighborhood. The neighborhood has a relatively diverse population consisting primarily of Latin Americans, predominantly Puerto Ricans (Castle Hill has one of the highest concentrations of Puerto Ricans in all of New York City). Like most neighborhoods in New York City the vast majority of households are renter occupied. There is significant income diversity on a block by block basis.
[edit] Land Use and Terrain
Castle Hill is dominated by multi-unit homes and apartment buildings. In the last decade, construction of modern 2 and 3 unit row-houses and apartment buildings have increased the percentage of owners versus renters. There is also a small pocket of industry located along the Hutchinson River and Zerega Avenue. The area gradually comes to peak elevation along Castle Hill Avenue.
[edit] The Castle Hill Avenue Business Improvement District
The Castle Hill Avenue BID is a local retail district located along Castle Hill Avenue. The area is served by the 6 train line at Castle Hill and Westchester Avenues.
[edit] Castle Hill Point Park
On the southern end of Castle Hill Avenue is Castle Hill Point Park. This newly renovated greenspace features boat ramps, fishing piers, and spectacular views of the Throgs Neck and Whitestone Bridges.
[edit] Castle Hill YMCA
Castle Hill YMCA (the only YMCA in the Bronx)[1], which features indoor and outdoor pools, a baseball field, basketball court, gym and an outdoor sitting area with a great view of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.
[edit] Kips Bay Boys And Girls Club
The Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club (Lucile Palmaro Clubhouse) located at 1930 Randall Avenue, which, among other things, features the Bronx’s only ice skating rink.
[edit] History
Relatively undeveloped, the neighborhood began sprouting along the now defunct Castle Hill Avenue Street car system. Later the neighborhood became more dense under the construction of the Westchester Avenue Elevated. Castle Hill soon became home to many European immigrants looking for a lower density urban city neighborhood than those found in Manhattan. Traditionally a dense working class neighborhood, an influx of lower income earners and Latin American migrants from Puerto Rico in the last few decades has diversified the income profile. Like most neighborhoods in NYC, the area went through a period of decay beginning in the 1950's and 60's with a flight of moderate income earners. The worst of the this flight occurred in the areas surrounding the Castle Hill Houses, a massive low income public housing development. In the late 1990's but especially the 2000's significant renewal has taken place. Many new residential properties have been constructed and formally abandoned properties rehabilitated. An example of which, a New York City project to change the water pipes throughout the neighborhood has rejuvenated the area by rebuilding all sidewalks and renewing the asphalt in all of the streets - giving the area a much welcome refreshed look.[1]
[edit] Education
[edit] Public schools
- PS 138 Samuel Randall School (K-5)
- PS 36 - Unionport School (K-5)
- PS/MS 194
[edit] Private/parochial schools
- St. John Vianney Cure of Ars School (now closed)
- Holy Family School (Pre K-8)
- St. Raymond Academy for Girls, an all-girls', catholic high school
[edit] Special education programs
- New LIFE School (5-8)
[edit] Transportation
- Bx4: to Westchester Square or 3rd Av-149th St station (via Westchester Ave)
- Bx5: to Pelham Bay Park or Simpson St station (via Bruckner Blvd / Story Ave)
- Bx22: to Bronx High School of Science (via Fordham Rd / Castle Hill Ave)
- Bx36: to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal (via East 180th Street)
- Bx39: to Gun Hill Road station or Clason Point (via White Plains Road)
- Q44: to Bronx Zoo or Jamaica, Whitestone, Flushing (via Bronx-Whitestone Bridge)
- BxM8: Express to Pelham Bay or Midtown Manhattan
- Castle Hill Av station (IRT 6)
- Zerega Avenue station (IRT 6)
- Bruckner Expressway
[edit] Notable natives
- Jennifer Lopez (1969-), musician and actress, raised on 2210 Blackrock Avenue.[1]
- Greg Jones (1969-),Noted banker and real estate investor was raised in the Castle Hill Houses.
- Remy Ma (1981-), female rapper, was raised in the Castle Hill Houses.
- Kenny Satterfield (1981-), former NBA player with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Dallas Mavericks.
- Maurice Woodson (1967-), Noted author and screenwriter, Castle Hill Houses
- Darrin Dewitt Henson (1972-), actor and choreographer, was raised in Castle Hill area.
- Big Dennis Rivera (1969-), Radio on air personality and producer, raised in Castle Hill area.
- Kedeesha Campbell (1977-), Voice-over Actress, "Ring of a False God", raised in Castle
Hill/Parkchester area.
- Christopher Morales (1981-), 2004 Sports Emmy Award Winner; ESPN, raised Castle Hill Area (Hermany Ave)
-
Large tenement buildings.
-
New attached multi-unit homes, the Castle Hill Houses sit in the background.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Plambeck, Joseph (16 January 2009). "Still Easy to Get to; Now Safer to Be In". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/realestate/18livi.html. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
[edit] External links
