U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres recently announced that he secured over $18 million in federal funding for community projects that will directly benefit Bronxites.
More than 100 funding proposals were submitted to Rep. Torres, who whittled them down to 15 and passed them to the Appropriations Committee for consideration for fiscal year 2024 Community Project Funding.
In the end, a total of $18,171,279 was allocated for a variety of projects focused on housing, education and health across District 15, which covers about 740,000 residents in the neighborhoods of Allerton, Melrose, Mott Haven, Riverdale and more.
“These funds will have a tangible impact on the lives of residents in the Bronx and beyond, addressing critical needs and supporting vital services,” said Torres in a statement.
One of the largest allocations of $4 million was allocated to repair the podium structures that support six high-rise residential buildings in Concourse Village. Torres said in the financial disclosure letter this structural upkeep is especially important as the buildings are home to 5,000 residents plus a community center.
Torres said that $1,050,000 of the proposed $4 million was allocated to the Muslim American Society Bronx Muslim Center in the Pelham Parkway neighborhood. The original request specified that funding would be used to build a community center to expand services to youth and seniors, but whether the center can still be built with less than $4 million is unclear. The Bronx Muslim Center did not answer a phone call for comment Monday.
Other allocations included $1 million for Belmont Community Land Trust Affordable Housing to buy land to create additional housing. The project is also notable because it would be the first new housing in the borough built on land controlled by a community land trust.
A full list of projects awarded funding is available at Rep. Torres’ website.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
