Webster Avenue, a wide street, looking north from Mosholu Parkway |
At the request of Bronx Community Board 7, local institutions and elected officials, the Department of City Planning proposes to amend the Zoning Map on all or portions of 80 blocks in the Bedford Park and Norwood communities in Community District 7, in The Bronx, to allow mid-density housing and retail on Webster Avenue and preserve the existing character of the adjacent residential areas. Portions of two lots in Community District 12 are also part of the rezoning proposal. A related action would also make the Inclusionary Housing Program applicable in certain zoning districts within the rezoning area to incentivize the development of affordable housing. The rezoning area is generally bound by the Metro-North Harlem Railroad to the southeast, Fordham and East Kingsbridge Road to the southwest, the Grand Concourse and Jerome Avenue to the northwest, and East Gun Hill Road to the northeast. The existing zoning has been in place since 1961 and is outmoded since the elevated train which ran along Webster Avenue was removed in 1973.
The proposed actions are intended to achieve two primary objectives:
- To shape Webster Avenue into a vibrant, inviting, and walkable residential and commercial corridor
- To preserve existing low density character in the residential areas of Bedford Park and Norwood, and encourage new development to concentrate on Webster Avenue
The proposed actions would create opportunities for residential development along Webster Avenue. Permissible building heights would only be slightly higher than the tallest existing buildings. Incentives to develop affordable housing will also be introduced through the Inclusionary Housing Program, providing a range of housing options. Ground floor commercial development would be required in most new residential buildings on Webster Avenue, providing retail opportunities and services to both existing residents in the adjacent neighborhoods and residents of new developments along Webster Avenue. Two new commercial districts would be mapped to permit larger scale commercial development to attract jobs and retail uses. New developments under these commercial districts would match the scale of new residential buildings.
The proposed action would also preserve the existing low density character adjacent to Webster Avenue, in the neighborhoods of Bedford Park and Norwood. By applying height limits and contextual requirements, the proposed zoning would shift development incentives from the lower-density neighborhoods to the wide corridor of Webster Avenue.
Larger detached homes such as on E 198th Street are typical of the low-density development found throughout Norwood and Bedford Park |
Six-story apartment buildings are common in Norwood and Bedford Park |
Webster Avenue, a wide street, is developed with a mixture of low-scale commercial uses and limited residential |
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