A non-profit organization is collaborating with others to beautify neighborhoods in the Bronx, one storefront gate at a time.
501 See Streets, a non-profit organization that focuses on painting murals with street artists and local business improvement districts on storefront gates to revitalize different neighborhoods in NYC, is doing just that in the Bronx.
The organization, which has been painting murals and creating street art in the Bronx since July 2014, recently collaborated with the Kingsbridge BID on two mural projects.
The two murals were painted on storefront gates at Children’s Learning Company Preparatory Academy, located at 212 W. 233rd Street, and Cambridge Podiatry Center, located 259 W. 231st Street.
Both murals at this site depict recreation, including flowers, grass, trees and a butterfly.
The mural in front of the Cambridge Podiatry Center thematically depicts two feet placed in a flowery, grassy area.
The non-profit organization also partnered with Mr. McGoo’s Pub for another mural in Kingsbridge.
Along with the Kingsbridge BID, 501 See Street also collaborated with a number of up and coming street artists, including Giannina ‘Gia’ Gutierrez, among others, which made the project even more exciting for those who were involved
“This is an exciting and interesting project,” said Katherine Broihier, executive director at the Kingsbridge BID. “The (Kingsbridge) BID is always looking for different ways to revitalize the neighborhoods in this area. This experiment has been a success since it began and we are hoping that it will continue to catch on, especially with the increase in pedestrian traffic in the area at night.”
501 See Street’s first project, in collaboration with the 161st Street BID, was a series of New York Yankees ballplayer murals right near Yankee Stadium.
Since then, the muralists have painted in Brooklyn and Queens along with other locations in Bronx, including Westchester Square, in partnership with the BID, and Fordham-Bedford, in partnership with the 52nd Precinct.
In the near future, 501 See Streets plans to paint more murals for businesses in Melrose and Van Nest, along with Mount Vernon in Westchester County.
“The intention of these mural projects is to bring some joy and happiness to Bronx residents, help small businesses thrive and replace graffiti with community art while taking steps to improve police-community relations,” said Noah Sheroff, executive director of 501 See Streets. “The Bronx has been very receptive to these projects and frankly, I love working here. The Bronx is a beautiful borough that more people need to experience and it been great to have Katherine and the Kingsbridge BID supporting us – they have been very helpful and a pleasure to work with.”
“This is a great experience for me – everybody in the neighborhood is so nice and friendly,” said Gutierrez, who helped paint multiple storefront gates in the area. “Katherine (and the BID) have been super supportive and it’s been great collaborating with them on these projects.”
For more information on 501 See Streets and their upcoming projects, go to 501se
