The South Bronx 161st Street Corridor Yankee Stadium and Its Environs Research Paper

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161st Street, Yankee Stadium/Bronx County Courts, Bronx, New York

Although billons of people have lived, worked or visited the community over the past 100 years, few people today may realize the historic significance of the neighborhood located in and around the 161st Street region of the Bronx. Beginning with a series of Works Public Administration projects in the 1920s that included the Bronx Court Building, the Concourse Plaza hotel, and most especially the world-famous Yankee Stadium, this neighborhood has grown to include a busy subway station and upscale retail shopping facilities. To gain some new insights into the history and current status of this historic neighborhood, this paper reviews the relevant secondary literature to provide the background of the neighborhood, its location and a description of the people who live and work there. A description of the activities available in this neighborhood is followed by a discussion concerning the key issue of interest and the methodology used to collect primary data to supplement the secondary resources. Finally, an analysis of the secondary and primary data is followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning this Bronx neighborhood in the conclusion.

Background on the neighborhood

The neighborhood of interest dates to the 1840s, but it became an especially important part of the Bronx community during the early 1920s as a result of a series of Works Public Administration (WPA) projects that transformed it into a popular destination for millions of New York residents and visitors. For instance, in 1922, the WPA completed work on the Bronx County Building, and construction was commenced on Yankee Stadium (the largest stadium of its era) and the Concourse Plaza Hotel (New York guide, 1939). According to one Bronx historian, "From its conception, the hotel was a great cause within the borough's business circles, proof of the county's new maturity and stature" (Jonnes, 2002, p. 137).

Location of neighborhood

The 161st Street neighborhood is demarcated on the east by Jerome Avenue and on the west by Elton Avenue (see Figure 1 below). In addition, the South Bronx 161st Street Corridor also includes the Gateway Center at Bronx-Terminal Market, the Bronx Civic Center and Melrose Commons/Third Avenue business districts (South Bronx 161st Street Corridor, 2011).

Figure 1. Map of South Bronx 161st Street Corridor

Source: South Bronx 161st Street Corridor, 2011, p. 4

Who lives here?

In 2010, New York City rezoned the 161st Street/River Avenue corridor to permit the construction of mixed-use buildings up to 30 stories in height that included an inclusionary housing bonus sponsored by the city (see Figure 2 below). At present, approximately 61,171 people live within a 0.5-mile radius and approximately 200,675 people live within a 1-mile radius (South Bronx 161st Street Corridor, 2011).

Figure 2. Rezoning of 161st Street corridor

Source: Hylton, 2016

Despite the South Bronx Initiative, though, there remains a paucity of new developmental activity in the neighborhood (Hylton, 2016). There are a few comparatively large multi-family residents available in the neighborhood, however, including a 134-unit across the street from Yankee Stadium that replaced a bowling alley (Hylton, 2016) as well as a large 9-story apartment building located at 406 E. 161st Street that contains 88 apartments (406 E. 161st Street, 2016). The apartment building is geographically proximate to Yankee Stadium, The Grand Concourse, the O'Neil Triangle and George Meade Plaza (406 E. 121st Street, 2016). In addition, the capacious Boricua Village contains 689 units of mixed-income housing (South Bronx 161st Street Corridor, 2011). The average household income is $37,290 within a 0.5-mile radius and $35,728 within a 1-mile radius (South Bronx 161st Street Corridor, 2011), versus a $51,939 average household income nationally (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016).

Who works here?

Approximately 42,209 people work in the 102 class A, B and C office buildings situated within the 161st Street corridor (South Bronx 161st Street Corridor, 2011).

What is there to do here? Is the neighborhood known for anything in particular?

Besides the new Yankee Stadium, numerous public spaces, parks, and upscale retail shopping opportunities, this neighborhood also features numerous restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores (406 E. 121st Street, 2016).

What is the topic/issue you decided to focus on?

The primary issue of interest involved the perceptions of the people who live and work in the 161st Street corridor concerning the absolute and relative spaces of the neighborhood and how these perceptions affect their day-to-day lives using the methodology described further below.

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Methodology

Grounded / Inductive theory

This study used a grounded/inductive theoretical approach to achieve the outcomes described in the introduction. According to Neuman (2003), grounded theory is a methodology that relies on the observation of "specific, concrete details" (p. 536) and an inductive approach is one "in which one begins with concrete empirical details, then works towards abstract ideas or general principles" (p. 537). Therefore, this methodology requires approaching an issue of interest without any preconceived hypotheses and the main themes become evident only as the data-gathering process proceeds through the use secondary resources together with observation/participant observation and interviewing.

Rationale in Support of Observation/Participant Observation

There are a number of benefits to using a qualitative observation/participant observation methodology, including most especially its ability to provide social researchers with the empirical data they need for formulate new insights concerning the lived experiences of others. In this regard, Takyi (2015) reports that, "Participant observation allows the researcher to study people in their native environment, thereby offering the opportunity to understand things from the perspective of the people being studied" (p. 865).

Likewise, Lofland and Lofland note that in order to collect the richest possible qualitative data concerning a site of interest, researchers must "take the role of the other" in order to "acquire social knowledge" (p. 16). In this context, observation of others involves "looking and listening" and "watching and asking" (Lofland & Lofland, p. 19). In addition, Low (1999) cites the need for social researchers to use a participant observation strategy in order to "uncover and explain the adaptations and accommodations of urban populations to [their] microenvironments" (p. 2).

Where did you conduct your observations? Why? Was there a particular rationale behind the selection you made?

All observations for this study were conducted in an open setting at the entrance to the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium subway station complex because of the high volume of foot traffic this area experiences each day.

When did you conduct your observations (days, times, etc.)? Why? Did you choose certain days or times for a particular reason?

Observations were made for a period of 5 days (Monday through Friday) beginning at 11:00 A.M. and ending at 2:00 P.M. each day because this 3-hour period is a peak travel time.

How did you conduct your observations? Duration of time spent (at one time and in total) observing? Were you observing as a known or unknown researcher? Did you take additional ethical considerations as a result?

The researcher was identified by a large button that stated "Student Researcher." A total of 15 hours of observations were completed over the 5-day period. Observations were collected using a clipboard with a proforma spreadsheet that included columns for observed behaviors such as laughing, joking arguing, fighting, public displays of affection (PDAs) as well as aberrant behaviors (i.e., talking or yelling to oneself, criminal activities). It is important to note, though, that while it is possible to observe and record these types of behaviors, it is not possible to discern the emotional processes behind them without additional research such as interviewing (Lofland & Lofland) as discussed below.

Interviewing

This study also used a semi-structured interviewing approach to collect primary data based on its ability to probe for additional information from respondents during this 5-day period. For instance, Klandersman and Staggenborg (2002) advise that, "In a semi-structured interview the interviewer relies on an interview guide that includes a consistent set of questions or topics, but the interviewer is allowed more flexibility to digress and to probe based on interactions during the interview" (p. 92). This research strategy is also congruent with the guidance provided by Horowitz concerning the need to interact differently with various members of the community depending on the researcher's personal characteristics and the characteristics of the individuals of interest.

A series of semi-structured questions was used to collect the interview data and all interviewees were consented prior to commencing the interview process. The researcher explained the purpose of the study to the interviewees and informed them that they could withdraw from further participation at any point without any repercussions whatsoever and that the results of the study would be used for academic purposes only.

The semi-structured interviews varied in length from 10 seconds to 3 minutes depending on the responsiveness of the interviewees to follow-up questions. All told, 13 people were interviewed over the 5-day.....

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