Four Bronx Institutions Alliance

Fordham University, Montefiore Medical Center, New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo (the four institutions of FBIA) are planning to give the major roads of Fordham/Bedford Park/Norwood areas of the Bronx a serious face lift. Thanks to West Bronx Blog for alerting us to this great work.

There will be lots of new planting on Mosholu Parkway and Fordham Road, renovations of the Fordham and Botanical Garden Metro North stations, and elevated medians with greenery on Fordham Road and Southern Boulevard.

Here are some of the more conceptual (meaning not yet agreed upon or funded yet) proposals that BoogieDowner is most psyched about. [via Inside Fordham]

Southern Boulevard/Kazimiroff Boulevard
Southern and Kazimiroff boulevards, which connect at East Fordham Road, form a vertical backbone of sorts for the district. The FBIA seeks to plant trees, restore curbs and improve traffic flow. Traffic backups on Kazimiroff Boulevard west of the Bronx River Parkway would be addressed through a reconfiguration of the interchange.

Grand Intersection
Trees would be added to the intersection of Southern Boulevard, Kazimiroff Boulevard and East Fordham Road, which is envisioned as a grand intersection at the hub of the four institutions.

Zoning changes
The FBIA also seeks to rezone Webster Avenue, from East Fordham Road to Gun Hill Road, to allow more residential construction in an area dominated by automotive shops and other commercial uses.The rezoning will be a multiyear process, to be followed by a push to rezone parts of East Fordham Road along the southern flank of the Rose Hill campus, according to officials at Cooper, Robertson & Partners, the New York City firm retained to do a preliminary design of the FBIA’s vision for the district.

Other improvements
Landscape restorations and plantings are envisioned for Arthur Avenue, East 187th Street, East 204th Street and Bedford Park Boulevard. A parklike setting for the Botanical Garden Metro North station is planned.The FBIA also has spoken to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority about improvements in the area. Metro-North plans several upgrades, spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said.At the Fordham station, Metro-North will refurbish the windows, doors, transoms and walls, among other improvements.

BoogieDowner applauds these four institutions' common commitment to their surrounding communities.

*photo courtesy of http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/inside_fordham/december_8_2008/news/plan_would_revitaliz_32468.asp*
~ErLu