HP street could be the 13th historic district in the Bronx
A panorama shot of Manida Street in Hunts Point. Manida Street was calendared by the Landmark Preservation Commission for designation as a historic district last week. If approved, it
will make the street the 13th historic district in the Bronx. Photo by Kyle Vuille/Schneps Media
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR FEBRUARY 7-13, 2020 3
BY KYLE VUILLE
The Landmark Preservation Commission
took the fi rst steps in declaring
another Bronx neighborhood as a
historic district last week.
On Friday, January 21, the LPC approved
to calendar the declaration of
Manida Street in Hunts Point as landmark
worthy, passing the fi rst hurdle
in the process. If the street is makes
the grade it will be the 13th in the borough.
The two rows of semi-attached Renaissance
Revival fashioned houses
between Lafayette and Garrison avenues
in the bustling industrial Hunts
Point were once a part of the town of
West Farms.
West Farms was a rural area comprised
of wealthy Westchester families
living in ornate mansions before
the area was annexed to the city in
1874.
Many of the area’s streets were
named for these early landowners.
Once industrialists and market
traders capitalized on Hunts Point attractive
freight terminals and waterfront
access, the area grew exponentially.
After the manufacturing industry
and the market was booming in
the area, residential developments
were needed for to house the well-paid
workers.
Two developers and two architect
fi rms, Daub & Kreymborg and James
F. Meehan, split the work between the
east and west sides of Manida so there
are tiny details that illustrate the differences
in design. The 42 houses that
line the street were completed in 1907
to 1908.
Maria Torres, president of ‘The
Point’ on Garrison Avenue owns one
of the semi-attached historic homes.
Torres has lived on Manida for at
least 25 years, but knows some neighbors
who have been there since the
mid 1950s.
“My house was probably renovated
in the mid 80s, early 90s, but a lot of
people on the block have lived in them
for decades,” Torres said.
Torres explained the campaign
to make the block a historic district
was sparked by developers buying up
properties for large-scale projects.
The neighborhood was left with
two options: ask to downzone the
neighborhood, which according to
Torres, would have been extremely
costly or push for the historic district
designation.
“A lot of these residents are paying
attention and we think this is the
best way to protect ourselves,” Torres
said. “We’re just trying to keep
the block the way it is, and not end up
looking like every other block.”
The Bronx Times spoke to a few
residents of Manida who had no idea
their house could become part of a
historic district.
“I like this street just the way it is,”
one resident said. “It’s very quiet and
sleepy for this area.”
With the street now calendared for
designation, the next steps taken by
the LPC will be to hold a public hearing
with a notice of three weeks in advance,
which will include letters sent
out to all the homeowners.
If there is enough support from the
residents and the public, the decision
will be brought back to the LPC for
further discussion and then be voted
on.