A star-studded Bronx rave this week hosted by real estate developers in support of two luxury towers along the South Bronx waterfront has come under criticism for being tone-deaf and insulting to local residents. Among other things, the party featured burnt-out, bullet-riddled cars and flaming trash barrels. "Trivializing legit community concerns not welcome. Neither are attempts to erase neighborhood's culture & history," City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito tweeted yesterday.
Plus, what's up with burnt out cars used as props at this event? Would like to hear thought process behind that.https://t.co/k3BisgvPD6
— Melissa Mark-Viverito (@MMViverito) October 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/ProjectBronx/status/660855013972013056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
According to the News, Somerset Partners and The Chetrit Group partnered together to buy two properties along the Harlem River in the area for $58 million, with the plan to turn them into a residential community and transform Port Morris into...Williamsburg Far North. The developers put up a billboard dubbing the area "The Piano District," a nod to the party location, last week.
A new billboard says the South Bronx is now the Piano District. Thoughts? @MC_NYC @trdny https://t.co/ODZ1gaejgU pic.twitter.com/ShqJEiAsuC
— Eddie Small (@Eddie_Small) October 28, 2015
"We’re developing about 2,000 apartments along the waterfront in the South Bronx," Rubenstein told WWD. "Tonight is an amazing opportunity to introduce a whole new world to the South Bronx, and celebrate its heritage." Another partygoer told them, "for the Millennials, if you will, this is a pilgrimage. From Brooklyn to the motherf—ng Bronx."
The Bronx is LIT! Rave in the Beethoven piano factory before it all soon becomes condos! 💯🙌🏻🔥 #MacabreSuite #NYC pic.twitter.com/JhcGVeTmy3
— What now? (@jimshi809) October 30, 2015
Source: gothamist.com