ShannonLGilstad

University Heights encompasses a few sections that range from the bustle of Fordham Road to quiet streets near the aqueduct trail. There is a lesser known small trail called University Heights Woods overlooking the Deegan, the Aqueduct Trail Walk, and the park along West Fordham road,w here families BBQ on the weekends.

The infrastructure itself is interesting. Lots of little architectural treasures on side streets and the gated Fordham Hill Cooperatives, which supply the majority of the middle class residents. Sadly, there is also graffiti, drugs, and gang-related violence is a major issue. Many of the formerly majestic buildings now have a very rundown, depressed feel. Walking along the main drag, University Avenue, you can tell the area was very beautiful and vibrant in its heyday, but is now lacking in many areas.

Katonah Avenue is the heart and soul of Woodlawn. As I mentioned in my Woodlawn review, this is definitely an Irish neighborhood without a doubt. Katonah Avenue connects the Bronx and ends on the Yonkers border (though you would not necessarily know which side of the border you are on, as it looks the same on both sides.) This is a lively community with pride and spirit. There are many bars and restaurants serving Irish food where you can watch a soccer game, see a live seisiun (Irish music session), play a game of darts, enjoy a Guiness, and scarf down an Irish breakfast. Mundane places like the laundromat become makeshift community centers where recently arrived and longtime residents alike post ads for apartments, nanny services, and jobs. It is extremely safe and people look out for one another.

First, nobody calls this area "Woodlawn Heights", which is just a real estate tactic; it's simply known as Woodlawn, and this sometimes includes the area on the other side of the Bronx border in Yonkers. This is a very quiet, safe residential neighborhood tucked in between Yonkers and the Woodlawn Cemetery. The flavor here is decidedly Irish, with a large percentage of residents from there or 2nd generation Irish. Katonah Avenue, the main strip, is full of bars, restaurants, and delis catering to Irish sensibilities. Rambling House is famous for it's Irish food, lively music, and night scene. It's a short walk to McLean Avenue in Yonkers, which is a continuation of this Irish stronghold and there is no real discernible difference on the other side of the street. The only real drawback is that the neighborhood is isolated from the rest of the Bronx and you must rely on buses to connect you with subway line (unless you have very strong legs and can endure the walk.)

Highbridge is a neighborhood up the hill from Yankee Stadium and sort of isolated by steep hills. Geographically located in the Southwest Bronx and part of the political "South Bronx", it is quite a hilly neighborhood with excellent views. Its claim to fame is an iconic viaduct bridge that connects the Bronx with Manhattan and has been closed for some years (though this is suppose to change in the near future.)

Some of the streets run at almost 45 degree angles and the neighborhood is accessed by a few street staircases, which are unique to the West Bronx and Upper Manhattan to access streets that may be parallel to one another, yet many flights up. There is an odd arrangement of new, state of the art affordable housing, many dilapidated tenements, formerly elegant art deco buildings, multi-family houses, private homes with gardens, and mini-mansions from the turn of the century. There are lots of houses of worship, including a beauty of a stone church from 1888. As a non-profit professional, this neighborhood does better than average as far as social services, daycare, and programs for children go.

Having said that, unfortunately, like the rest of the South Bronx, Highbridge has fallen on tough times. A higher than average number of residents rely on Section 8, welfare, and many apartment buildings double as "scatter site" homeless shelters (that is, have individual apartments leased by the Dept. of Homeless Services.) Drug use is still an issue, as is teen pregnancy, poor performing schools, and street crime.

In summary, Highbridge is a low-income neighborhood worth a visit but not necessarily a great place to raise a child.

Ok, Hunt's Point gets a bad rap, but has improved a lot since the 1970s and 80s. You will now find the popular Barretto Point Park with the seasonal floating swimming pool, as well as The POINT and BAAD!, two arts-focused non-profits. The area is largely industrial, so even in broad daylight it's quite possible that you may be the only one in sight on certain streets. This is also home to the mammoth Hunt's Point Terminal Market. If you have bought produce, fish, or meats, it's likely this is the point of origin. The not-so-good? Since Giuliani, crime is down and the its reputation for prostitution is largely a thing of the past, but this is still one of the highest crime neighborhoods in the Bronx. Asthma, poverty, and addiction are all still a sad reality here.

The neighborhood this refers to is questionably Highbridge/Concourse. This area has cleaned up after the new Yankee Stadium opened and is receiving a lot of high right now. I lived a few blocks away and can tell you that a lot of it is indeed HYPE. I would not want to raise my family here.

couldn't wait to leave. Corona has changed a lot in recent years. Archie Bunker would toss in his grave. They have torn down so many single and two-family houses to build multi-family Fedder houses and even Fedder buildings. There is no real sense of community. The place is rundown, very overcrowded, and chaotic. I wouldn't say it's unsafe, but a woman should not wonder around dark streets later at night, as she may get comments, catcalls, and the occasional creep following her.

This is Bedford Park's namesake and main street. It has looked pretty much the same for years and even tough the neighborhood has change, some places have existed for decades (the Jolly Tinker, Bedford Cafe since the 1920s.) Look at a photo from the 1980s and it's pretty much unchanged. There's not much in terms of nightlife accept a few neighborhood bars, diners, and pizzerias. This is a good place for a senior who lives nearby just to be able to pick up the essentials. Lots of transportation.

When people think about Bedford Park, this is probably what they are imaging: tree-lined streets, a mixture of art deco buildings, private, and multi-family dwellings. I will say that the quality has gone down hill in th epast 5 or 10 years. There used to be even more private houses. One old house with a wrap-around porch was knocked down in favor of a multi-story row of "Fedder" homes and another, which was going to be demolished for a project, now sits abandoned.

People who are not familiar with this area may not realize that Mosholu Pkwy bisects this street and it begins again on the other side, in Norwood. There is very little here on this side except houses, buildings, Harris Park Mosholu Pkwy, and the entrance to a subway yard.

I have lived here on and off since for 11 years and spent even more time before that. The neighborhood has changed slightly, but it is still one of the better areas in the Bronx. It has large 6-story buildings, as well as single family homes. There are lots of trees and houses of worship. The transportation is great: 3 subway lines (east AND westside access), a Metro-North station, and several bus lines, including Express buses to Manhattan. I am satisfied here and have no intention of leaving anytime soon. However, I do wish that the affordable housing would stop being built here, as the perk of living here is a true working-class neighborhood that is spacious and not overcrowded. It would also be nice if newcomers took care of their new neighborhood as well as we do.

This is a short bus or car ride from where I live, Bedford Park, and you can actually see some of the taller buildings in the distance, but what a different. This is a complete 180 from the bustle and skyscrapers of Manhattan. People who live here mainly send their children to private schools. There are literally mansions here and most homes are well over $1 million.