Melrose, The Bronx is an urban residential neighborhood that is undergoing a major renaissance. “The Hub” or “La Tercera” at Third Ave and 149th St is NYC’s busiest intersection after Times Square. It’s the downtown of The Bronx.
161st St
Park Ave | Melrose | Third Ave
149th St
East 149th St is also known as Eugenio Maria de Hostos Blvd. Hostos (1839-1903) was a renowned writer, educator and independence advocate from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. He built schools that educated women, which was revolutionary in his day.
Melrose Culture
In real estate, Melrose is one of NYC’s hottest neighborhoods. All the redevelopment energy of the last twenty years is bearing fruit now.
The Bronx Documentary Center is an excellent community photo gallery. bronxdoc.org
The Bronx Music Hall is coming to the Bronx Commons housing development in 2021. thisisbronxmusic.org
The Old Bronx Courthouse is becoming a new Success Charter School.
Visit Melrose
It’s 15-20 minutes to and from Midtown by subway or train. The (5) goes to the East Side. The (2) goes to the West Side.
Subways
(2)(5) to Third Ave – 149th St
Metro-North Train
Harlem Line to Melrose Station
162nd St and Park Ave
Education
Boricua College has a Melrose campus. boricuacollege.edu
Libraries
The Melrose Library is a former Carnegie Library that is now part of the New York Public Library system. nypl.org
Government
Melrose is served by Bronx Community Board 1 and the Bronx Borough President. It is NY City Council District 17. In the U.S. Congress, it is NY District 16.
A Changing Neighborhood
Melrose was originally part of Morrisania, the huge estate of the Morris family of Westchester. They were a prominent family from the time of Dutch New Amsterdam and British New York.
We don’t know if there is a connection, but “Morris” is Old English for “Moorish.” That suggests a connection with the Moors who in common usage could be North African, African, Arab, Persian or anyone with dark skin. It’s sort of “not European.” Bet you didn’t learn that in school. The point is that we are incredibly mixed together, and often in ways that you don’t expect. Here we have a great American family, including the penman of the Declaration of Independence, but their name suggests a North African heritage. LOL.
The Third Ave Elevated train opened the neighborhood to development. It was originally a place where middle-class New Yorkers moved to escape Manhattan’s crowding. The population was mostly German American until World War II. The closure of the Third Ave El in 1955 put the neighborhood into decline. Melrose was Irish and Italian until the 1960s. The construction of the Cross-Bronx Expressway (1948-1972) destroyed the entire region. Today it is mostly Latin and undergoing a renaissance.