by A.R. Cruz

Created on: January 02, 2011

Places to see in NYC that are not the average NYC sites but outer boroughs  points of interest in the Bronx

The Bronx which is home to the New York Yankees and its stadium; is up and coming as a borough because of the increase of ethnic diversity and the structural rebuilding of whole neighborhoods.  In the 1970s, the Bronx was a borough that had whole neighborhoods decimated by abandoned burned out buildings and lots.  Greedy landlords burned their buildings to claim insurance money to quickly leave the neighborhoods due to the rising influx of minorities moving into the Bronx communities.  The Jewish, Italian and Irish communities were leaving the Bronx to move to the suburbs such as Long Island, Yonkers, West chester County and New Jersey.  The Bronx in the 1970s and 1980s looked like a war zone, with vacant lots and abandoned structures: and President Jimmy Carter toured the Bronx to show the example of urban poverty.  Hollywood portrayed the Bronx negatively with movies such as “Fort Apache The Bronx” and “Rumble in the Bronx”, shot in Canada by the way.

Art Deco Era in the Bronx

In the 1920s and 1930s , the Bronx was a community of both working class and upper class families, as evidenced by the Grand Concourse.   The same architect that designed the champs Elysee’s in Paris designed the “Grand Concourse” a major avenue in the Bronx stretching from 148th Street Grand Concourse through 210th street grand concourse, where it reaches its end.  The Grand Concourse is wide main road that is three lanes to six lanes wide with beautiful Art Deco style buildings along the streets.  It is a long boulevard of historical architecture in the Bronx which no borough could rival because of the many stunning art deco features many buildings have, such as murals in the lobbies and french style windows that open out wards.   If a person did not realize the change in the neighborhood, one would think that they were in France or in Argentina where this architecture is rampant.


The Rebirth Of the Bronx


As New York becomes more crowded and more New Yorkers are looking for affordable housing, many are looking towards the outer boroughs for opportunities. The burnt and abandoned buildings in the Bronx have been destroyed and are the sites of new construction of apartment buildings, homes and condominiums.    The old abandoned brownstone buildings along 143rd through

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