Soundview, Bronx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Soundview
Neighborhood of the Bronx
Apartment buildings in Soundview with the Midtown Manhattan skyline in the background
Country	United States
State	New York
City	New York City
Borough	The Bronx
Community District	Bronx 9
Area
• Total	2.89 km2 (1.116 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	31,825
• Density	11,010/km2 (28,517/sq mi)
Economics
• Median income	,120
ZIP Codes	10472, 10473
Area code	718, 347, 929, and 917

Soundview is a neighborhood on the Clason Point peninsula, on the southern section of the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the north, White Plains Road to the east, Lacombe Avenue to the south, and the Bronx River to the west. The Bruckner Expressway bisects the neighborhood horizontally along the center and the Bronx River Parkway runs north to south. Soundview Avenue is the primary thoroughfare through Soundview.

History

Before and after rehabilitation, now low-income housing.

A high school built inside a once abandoned warehouse

Until the 1940s, the neighborhood was relatively undeveloped. Most of the residential housing, primarily multi-unit rowhouses and tenement style apartment buildings, had been built near the Pelham elevated line on Westchester Avenue and along major streets like Soundview Avenue (once served by a streetcar). In 1941 Clason Point Gardens was the first development constructed by the NYCHA in the Bronx. It was followed by many other low and high-rise NYCHA developments across the neighborhood from the 1950s until the 1970s, which boosted the population significantly. During the 1950s, two controlled-access highways, the Bronx River Parkway and Bruckner Expressway, were constructed. Later in the 1970s, large high-rise rental and co-op apartment complexes flourished across the neighborhood, under the badge of the Mitchell Lama program.

Like neighboring Hunts Point, Soundview began to fall into rapid decay in the 1970s.

In more recent years, a citywide housing crisis spurred construction of modern multi-unit row houses and apartment buildings. Many of them are multi zoned for retail and have mixed-income qualifications. There have also been studies conducted to develop this type of housing on vacant land within the confines of NYCHA property along with significant renovations and improvements to existing grounds and buildings. Soundview Park, built on a former landfill and the largest in the South Bronx, has undergone a complete transformation including enhanced pedestrian access and completely renovated and redesigned recreational areas. Future plans in accordance with PlaNYC initiatives will create an urban oasis in this dense community; complete with recreation nodes, Greenway connections, bike/hike trails, designated fishing areas, a boat launch, and esplanades with skyline views. The neighborhood has become increasingly more diverse with a rise in varied Latin American immigration in recent years.

Demographics

Tenements

Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the combined population of the Soundview/Clason Point/Castle Hill/Harding Park tabulation area, which includes the southern half of the neighborhood, was 53,686 in 2010, a decrease of 2,933 (5.5%) from the 88,823 counted in 2000. Covering an area of 1,198.36 acres (484.96 ha), these neighborhoods had a population density of 44.8 inhabitants per acre (28,700/sq mi; 11,100/km²). The combined population of the Soundview/Bruckner tabulation area, which includes the northern half of the neighborhood, was 35,634 in 2010, an increase of 497 (1.4%) from the 35,137 counted in 2000. Covering an area of 371.44 acres (150.32 ha), these neighborhoods had a population density of 95.9 inhabitants per acre (61,400/sq mi; 23,700/km²). The racial makeup of these neighborhoods was 2% (1,067) White, 37% (19,876) African American, 0.3% (161) Native American, 1.3% (709) Asian, 0% (22) Pacific Islander, 0.4% (239) from other races, and 1.1% (586) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.8% (31,026) of the population.

Soundview's total land area is roughly 1.3 square miles. The neighborhood predominantly consists of Latin Americans (mainly Puerto Ricans) and African Americans.

The entirety of Community District 9, which comprises Soundview and Parkchester, had 184,105 inhabitants as of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 79.7 years. This is about two years shorter than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 25% are between the ages of between 0–17, 29% between 25 and 44, and 24% between 45 and 64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 10% and 12% respectively.

As of 2017, the median household income in Community District 9 was $40,005. In 2018, an estimated 26% of Soundview and Parkchester residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents (13%) were unemployed, compared to 13% in the Bronx and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 55% in Soundview and Parkchester, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 58% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018^[update] Soundview and Parkchester are considered low-income relative to the rest of the city, and are not undergoing gentrification.

Land use and terrain

Semi-detached multi-unit rowhouses

The land area contains a mix of uses but is primarily residential. Most of the population resides inside large residential complexes of various types. The neighborhood contains one of the highest concentrations of NYCHA projects in New York City. There is a mixture of pre-war architecture, mid-century, and modern buildings. Row-houses, semi-detached homes, detached homes, and apartment buildings are found throughout; the overwhelming majority containing multiple units.

The neighborhood's primary commercial corridors are White Plains Road, Soundview Avenue, and Westchester Avenue.

The central western border of the neighborhood, adjacent to the Bronx River, is primarily used for storage, warehousing, and automotive repair and modification.

York Studios' Michelangelo Campus motion picture and television production facilities, is located at 1421 Story Avenue.

The studios for News 12 The Bronx are located at 930 Soundview Avenue.

The total land area is roughly 1.8 square miles. The terrain is mostly low lying and flat.

The Shops at Bruckner Commons

The Shops at Bruckner Commons, which was greatly expanded throughout the 1990s and was mostly renovated in 2018, divides Soundview from neighboring Castle Hill and contains some national chains like The Gap and Old Navy. Other primary thoroughfares contain amenities like supermarkets, pharmacies, barbershops, hair salons, fast food, bodegas, and cheap shops.

Parks and recreation

Soundview Park

Soundview Park occupies 205 acres (83 ha) in the southwestern section of the neighborhood, with ballfields and playgrounds and a pedestrian/bike greenway along the left bank of the Bronx River estuary from Lafayette to Leland Avenue. It was built on filled land starting in 1939. The first 93 acres (38 ha) of the park were acquired by the City of New York in 1937, and 66 acres (27 ha) more were acquired along the water's edge in December 1939.

"Parque de los Ninos", a playground at the corner of Morrison and Watson Avenues, opened in 1956 and was renamed in 1995 to honor six neighborhood children who were killed in the late 1980s. It was granted $1.6 million for renovations in 2016.

Low-income public housing complex

There are nine NYCHA developments located in Soundview.

1. 1471 Watson Avenue; one 6-story building.
2. Boynton Avenue Rehab; three rehabilitated apartment buildings, two 4 stories tall another 6 stories tall.
3. Sotomayor Houses (formerly Bronxdale Houses); twenty-eight 7-story buildings.
4. Bronx River Houses; nine 14-story buildings.
5. Bronx River Addition; two buildings, one 6 stories tall another 14 stories tall.
6. Clason Point Gardens; forty-five buildings, all 2 stories tall.
7. Monroe Houses; twelve buildings, either 8, 14, or 15 stories tall.
8. Sack Wern Houses; seven buildings, each 6 stories tall.
9. Soundview Houses; thirteen 7-story buildings.

Fire safety

Soundview contains a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire station, Engine Company 96/Ladder Company 54, at 1689 Story Avenue.

Post offices and ZIP Codes

Soundview is located within two ZIP Codes. The area north of Bruckner Expressway/Interstate 278 is in 10472, while the area south of Bruckner Expressway/I-278 is in 10473. The United States Postal Service operates three post offices nearby:

• Clason Point Station – 829 Soundview Avenue
• Cornell Station – 1950 Lafayette Avenue
• Soundview Station – 1687 Gleason Avenue

Education

A high school built inside a once abandoned warehouse

Bronx Community District 9 including Soundview generally has a similar rate of college-educated residents to the rest of the Bronx as of 2018^[update]. While 23% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 30% have less than a high school education and 47% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 26% of Bronx residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher. The percentage of students excelling in math rose from 23% in 2000 to 44% in 2011, and reading achievement increased from 27% to 30% during the same time period.

The rate of elementary school student absenteeism is higher than the rest of New York City. 28% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, more than the citywide average of 20%. Additionally, 69% of high school students graduate on time, lower than the citywide average of 75%.

Schools

The following public schools are located in Soundview:

Public:

• P.S. 47 John Randolph (1794 E 172nd St)
• P.S. 93 Albert G Oliver (1535 Story Ave)
• P.S. 69 Journey Prep School (560 Theriot Ave)
• P.S. 100 Isaac Clason (800 Taylor Ave)
• P.S. 107 (1695 Seward Ave) Boys Prep Elementary Charter School
• Bronx Arena High School (1440 Story Ave)
• Felisa Rincon De Gautier Institute For Law And Pub High School (1440 Story Ave)
• Bronx Public School 152 (1007 Evergreen Ave)
• Junior High School 123 James M Kiernan (1025 Morrison Ave)
• Junior High School 131 Albert Einstein (885 Bolton Ave)
• Soundview Academy For Culture And Scholarship (885 Bolton Ave)
• Metropolitan Lighthouse Charter School

There is also one parochial school:

• Holy Cross Elementary School

Libraries

The New York Public Library (NYPL) operates three branches near Soundview.

• The Clason's Point branch is located at 1215 Morrison Avenue. The branch opened in 1952 and moved to its current location in 1971.
• The Parkchester branch is located at 1985 Westchester Avenue. The branch opened in 1942 within the Parkchester development and moved to its current two-story structure in 1985.
• The Soundview branch is located at 660 Soundview Avenue. The branch opened at this location in 1973.

Transportation

Aerial view of communities between the Bronx River and Westchester Creek which include Soundview.

The IRT Pelham Line, an elevated New York City Subway line serving the 6 <6> trains, traverses southwest to northeast through the neighborhood, along Westchester Avenue.

• Elder Avenue (6 train)
• Morrison Avenue–Soundview (6 train)
• St. Lawrence Avenue (6 train)

The following MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes serve Soundview:

• Bx4: to Westchester Square (6 train) or Third Avenue-149th Street (2 5 trains) (via Westchester Avenue)
• Bx4A: to Westchester Square (6 train) or Simpson Street (2 5 trains) (via Westchester Avenue and Metropolitan Oval)
• Bx5: to Co-op City and Bay Plaza Shopping Center or Simpson Street (2 5 trains) (via Story Avenue)
• Bx11: to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal (via 170th Street, Claremont Parkway, 174th Street)
• Bx27: to Simpson Street (2 5 trains) or Clason Point (via Rosedale Avenue)
• Bx36: to Pugsley–Randall Avenues or George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal (via Tremont Avenue and White Plains Road)
• Bx39: to Wakefield–241st Street (2 train) or Clason Point (via White Plains Rd)

NYC Ferry's Soundview route started serving Soundview on August 15, 2018.

Notable residents