Kingsbridge, Bronx

Kingsbridge is a working- and middle-class residential neighborhood geographically located in the northwest portion of The Bronx in New York City. Kingsbridge is actually made up of three distinct neighborhoods: Kingsbridge proper, Kingsbridge Heights, and Van Cortlandt Village. The neighborhood is considered a part of Bronx Community Board 8, and is sometimes considered a sub-section of Riverdale. Now, some are calling it Lower Riverdale, even though it is in a different ZIP code from Riverdale (which is 10471). Kingsbridge proper's ill-defined boundaries are Van Cortlandt Park to the north, Bailey Avenue to the east, West 230st Street to the south, and Broadway to the west. Kingsbridge is patrolled by the New York City Police Department's 50th Precinct.Land use and terrainKingsbridge has detached, semi detached, and attached homes, and Broadway has apartment buildings where many Dominicans reside. Streets connecting Riverdale and Kingsbridge include "step streets", with stairways of as many as 160 steps climbing the slope. Some jokingly refer to Riverdale as the "rich uncle" of Kingsbridge which has its origins during the Irish period. The neighborhood is also part of a business improvement district that is home to 200 merchants, which is one of the largest retail shopping districts in the Bronx. River Plaza Shopping Center is located nearby (in Marble Hill, Manhattan) but it is not part of the business improvement district. During the past several years there have been significant improvements in the infrastructure of the community. For example, the parks have been improved significantly and there are new elementary schools on 230th Street.