The Hub faces challenging future
Report shows shopping area could have tough time recovering post COVID
BY JASON COHEN
A new report from HR&A
Advisors revealed that The
Hub at the south Bronx’s 149th
Street and Third Avenue corridor
will face major problems
as it looks to recover from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
HR&A completed the work
in partnership with Live
XYZ, allowing HR&A to create
a map of places and how
they change over time.
The study, which was released
July 6, examined the
strengths and weaknesses facing
The Hub, Jackson Heights
in Queens and Madison Avenue
in Midtown. HR&A
looked at preexisting vacancy
rates, the percentage of essential
businesses that never
had to close; chain stores that
would likely be better able to
absorb an economic hit and
businesses’ abilities to take
advantage of more relaxed
outdoor seating rules.
The Hub, situated in a lowincome
community of color in
the south Bronx, is the least
resilient retail spot in New
York City to the challenges
presented by the COVID-19
pandemic, according to the
study. It had the highest percentage
of essential businesses,
such as grocery stores
and pharmacies, in the retail
areas examined at 27 percent.
Those stores never had
to close, which makes them
more likely to survive and
provides a point of strength
for retail corridors to build
on, according to the report.
However, just 16 percent of
businesses in The Hub are
chain stores and only 40 percent
have enough space for
sidewalk seating.
The Hub, which is a bustling
shopping destination for
many Bronx residents, has a
12 percent vacancy rate. The
immediately surrounding
neighborhood, a community
of color with 67 percent Hispanic
and 29 percent black
residents has a 46 percent
poverty rate, one of the highest
in the city.
The borough’s COVID
case rate is higher than the
A business in The Hub Courtesy of Live XYZ
citywide average, and its unemployment
BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, JULY 17-23, 2020 BTR
rate increased
from 4.9 percent to 16.5 percent
between January and
April. These numbers may
limit both the neighborhood
and other Bronx consumers’
ability to support Hub businesses.
While most eateries have
outdoor seating right now,
less than half of such establishments
in The Hub can create
sidewalk seating. In Jackson
Heights and on Madison
Avenue, almost two-thirds of
these businesses can create
sidewalk seating.
In a time full of uncertainty,
give your child the gift of stability.
The Greek American Institute has been providing a
well-rounded, quality education to children of the
community for 108 years. We are preparing for in-person
classes for the fall and are currently enrolling new students
for the upcoming school year.
We feature low student to teacher ratio, competitive
test scores and a history of elite high school placement.
We invite you to schedule a tour of our school today!
Call our offices at 718-823-2393.
www.greekamericaninstitute.org
Serving children from 3K through 8th grade.
The Greek American Institute of New York
“Over 100 Years of Academic Excellence”
3573 Bruckner Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10461
/www.greekamericaninstitute.org
/www.greekamericaninstitute.org
