University Heights, Bronx
Encyclopedia
University Heights is a residential neighborhood of the West Bronx
in New York City
. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5
and Bronx Community Board 7
. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are: West 190th Street to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, West Burnside Avenue to the south, and the Harlem River
to the west. University Avenue is the primary thoroughfare in University Heights. The local subway is the IRT Jerome Avenue Line
, operating along the Jerome Avenue. ZIP code
s include 10453 and 10468.
, 23.9% White
, 7.4% Asia
n or Pacific Islander
, and 50.6% Hispanic
or Latino
, the majority of which are of Dominican
and Puerto Rican descent.
's Bronx campus was built in 1894. The campus includes the Hall of Fame for Great Americans
. In 1973, NYU sold the campus to the City University of New York
, which renamed the campus Bronx Community College
, but the neighborhood name has remained.
With the opening of the IRT Jerome Avenue line in 1917, the neighborhood began a rapid transition from a one-time farm community that had become a place where wealthy people had their mansions and suburban villas, to an urban neighborhood built almost entirely of low-rise apartment buildings housing the prosperous middle classes.
, which is home to River Plaza, a mall that houses Target, Starbucks, and Marshall's stores.
West Bronx
The West Bronx is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The neighborhood lies west of the Bronx River and roughly corresponds to the western half of the borough....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5
Bronx Community Board 5
Bronx Community Board 5 is a local government unit of the city of New York, encompassing the neighborhoods of Fordham, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, and University Heights...
and Bronx Community Board 7
Bronx Community Board 7
Bronx Community Board 7 is a local government unit of the city of New York, encompassing the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights, Norwood, and University Heights...
. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are: West 190th Street to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, West Burnside Avenue to the south, and the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
to the west. University Avenue is the primary thoroughfare in University Heights. The local subway is the IRT Jerome Avenue Line
IRT Jerome Avenue Line
The IRT Jerome Avenue Line, also unofficially known as IRT Woodlawn Line, is a New York City Subway Line along Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. It was opened on June 2, 1917 as a shuttle service between Kingsbridge Road and 149th Street. This was in advance of through service to the IRT Lexington Avenue...
, operating along the Jerome Avenue. ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s include 10453 and 10468.
Demographics
University Heights has a population of over 40,000. There is a mix of renter-occupied as well as owner-occupied households. The demographics are 17.5% African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 23.9% White
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
, 7.4% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n or Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, and 50.6% Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
, the majority of which are of Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and Puerto Rican descent.
Land use and terrain
University Heights consists of 5- and 6-story buildings, older multi-unit homes, newly constructed multi-unit townhouses and apartment buildings, and co-ops. The total land area is roughly one square mile. The terrain is elevated and hilly.Low-income public housing projects
- There are ten NYCHA developments located in Melrose.
- Harrison Avenue Rehab (Group A); a 5-story building.
- Harrison Avenue Rehab (Group B); four buildings, 5 and 6 stories tall.
- Macombs Road; two buildings, 5 and 6 stories tall.
- Morris Heights Rehab; three buildings, 5 and 6 stories tall.
- Sedgwick Houses; seven buildings, 14 and 15 stories tall.
- University Avenue Rehab; four 6-story buildings.
- West Tremont Avenue-Sedgwick Avenue Area; a 12-story building.
- West Tremont Rehab (Group 1); two buildings, 5 and 6 stories tall.
- West Tremont Rehab (Group 2); two 6-story buildings.
- West Tremont Rehab (Group 3); a 5-story building.
History
The neighborhood takes it name from the hill on which New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Bronx campus was built in 1894. The campus includes the Hall of Fame for Great Americans
Hall of Fame for Great Americans
The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is the original hall of fame in the United States. "Fame" here means "renown"...
. In 1973, NYU sold the campus to the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, which renamed the campus Bronx Community College
Bronx Community College
The Bronx Community College of The City University of New York is a community college in the City University of New York system located in the University Heights neighborhood of The Bronx.- History :...
, but the neighborhood name has remained.
With the opening of the IRT Jerome Avenue line in 1917, the neighborhood began a rapid transition from a one-time farm community that had become a place where wealthy people had their mansions and suburban villas, to an urban neighborhood built almost entirely of low-rise apartment buildings housing the prosperous middle classes.
Urban Renewal
There are many shops along Fordham Road and in neighboring Marble HillMarble Hill, Manhattan
Marble Hill is the neighborhood which makes up the northernmost part of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States. Although it is politically part of Manhattan and New York County, because of the re-routing of the Harlem River, it is located on the North American mainland contiguous...
, which is home to River Plaza, a mall that houses Target, Starbucks, and Marshall's stores.
Schools
- PS/MS 15/PS 291 (Hall of Fame Terrace and Andrews Avenue North)
- PS 33: Timothy Dwight (East 184th Street and Jerome Avenue)
- PS 79: Creston (East 181st Street and Creston Avenue)
- PS 91: Anthony Baez (Clinton Place and Aqueduct Avenue East)
- PS 226: Nadia J. Pagan (West Burnside Avenue and Sedgwick Avenue)
- PS/MS 279: Capt. Manuel Rivera (Walton Avenue and East 181st Street)
- MS 206: Ann Cross Mersereau (West 183rd Street and Aqueduct Avenue East)
- MS 331: The Bronx School of Science Inquiry and Investigation (West Tremont and Davidson Avenue)
- MS 390: (West Burnside Avenue and Andrews Avenue South)
- MS 399: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (East 184th Street and Morris Avenue)
- St. Nicholas of Tolentine Elementary School (2336 Andrews Avenue)
Transportation
- Bx3: 238th Street station ( train) to George Washington Bridge Bus TerminalGeorge Washington Bridge Bus TerminalThe George Washington Bridge Bus Station is a commuter bus terminal located at the east end of the George Washington Bridge in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan in New York City, New York....
(via University Avenue) - Bx12: Bay Plaza Shopping CenterBay Plaza Shopping CenterBay Plaza Shopping Center is a shopping center adjacent to Co-op City, in the Bronx, New York. In addition to various department stores and shops, such as JCPenney, Staples Inc., Kmart and Old Navy, it has a multiplex movie theater, several restaurants, a fitness club, and some office space...
to Inwood – 207th Street station ( train) (via Fordham RoadFordham RoadFordham Road is a major street in The Bronx borough of New York City. It runs east-west from the Harlem River to Bronx Park.This street runs through the neighborhood of University Heights, divides Fordham from Fordham-Bedford and finally runs along the northern border of Belmont...
–Pelham ParkwayPelham ParkwayThe Bronx and Pelham Parkway is a parkway in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Despite the parkway moniker, Pelham Parkway is a local street, with two main roadways , and two service roads. Like other parkways in New York City, commercial traffic is disallowed, and is redirected to the...
) - Bx32: VA Hospital to Third Avenue – 138th Street station ( trains) (via Morris Avenue)
- Bx40: SUNY Maritime College to River Park Towers (via Tremont-Burnside Avenues)
- Bx42: Throggs Neck to River Park Towers (via Tremont–Burnside Avenues)
- Burnside AvenueBurnside Avenue (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)Burnside Avenue is an express station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Burnside and Jerome Avenues in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times....
station ( train) - 183rd Street183rd Street (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)183rd Street is a rehabilitated local station on the elevated IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 183rd Street and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times....
station ( train) - Fordham RoadFordham Road (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)Fordham Road is a local station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Fordham Road and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times. It has old style signs painted over and covered up with new style signs, and features new...
station ( train) - Kingsbridge RoadKingsbridge Road (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)Kingsbridge Road is a rehabilitated local station on the elevated IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times. It is a typical IRT elevated station, except for an extra...
station ( train) - Metro-North University HeightsUniversity Heights (Metro-North station)The University Heights Metro-North Railroad station serves residents of the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City, via the Hudson Line. Trains leave for Manhattan every 25 to 35 minutes on weekdays...
station (Hudson LineHudson Line (Metro-North)Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line is a commuter rail line running north from New York City along the east shore of the Hudson River. Metro-North service ends at Poughkeepsie, with Amtrak's Empire Corridor trains continuing north to and beyond Albany...
)