Putting the 'grand' back in Grand Concourse
The Grand Concourse in the Bronx is undergoing an $18 million renovation, one of the largest complete streets projects in the US — and perhaps the one that directly affects the most people. The project, much of which is completed, is about 1 mile long, from Yankee Stadium (one block away), extending north. The area within a half mile of this section of the historic boulevard comprises approximately 1.8 square miles, with about 175,000 residents. Most of those residents walk to the Grand Concourse and access its transit, commercial activity, and culture. The price tag for the project amounts to about $100 per resident within walking distance, according to a report in the March issue of Better! Cities & Towns. The area is fairly poor and mostly Hispanic. The Bronx has seen a considerable resurgence in recent years and has gained 200,000 population since 1980.
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