My Home Town: Hunts Point, New York

It’s the south Bronx, south-south Bronx — KRS One

Hunts Point is a residential area in the South Bronx section of New York City known for birthing Hip Hop, as the poorest congressional district in the United States, for the crack epidemic during the 80s, and home to the largest food distribution center on the east coast.

Hunts Point is located on a peninsula surrounded by the East River and the Bronx River and was once a vacation spot for the elite. My neighborhood is in the midst of a revitalization, and I want to show you what it’s all about. In this post, I will introduce you to Hunts Point and give you a glimpse of its history. I’ll also tell you about some of the exciting things happening here and some hot spots for you to visit.

Hunts Point’s History

Hunts Point has quite the history — it was first inhabited by the Wecquaesgeek nation and was later settled by European settlers Edward Jessup and John Richardson in 1663. It’s said that a local Quaker, George Fox, who preached in the area, and his wife Charlotte Leggett owned a lot of the land and therefore have many streets named after them and their family.

The infamous 405,000 square-foot Bank Note Building at 1231 Layfayette Ave is a landmark facing the Brukner Expressway and has a stunning view of Manhattan. Built in 1909, the Bank Note Building was used to print foreign currency and securities such as war bonds, stamps, and stock certificates. Today, the Bank Note building is home to many new businesses and the John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School, which is great news for the community.

Living in Hunts Point

The people of Hunts Point are as diverse as the neighborhood itself. According to the 2020 census, there are approximately 150,000 residents living in Hunts Point. You’ll find that families are predominately Black, Hispanic, and Asian, who have called this place home for generations. There’s a real sense of community here, and folks are always willing to help each other out — growing up, I definitely felt like I was part of a village.

Strolling through the neighborhood, you’ll find pre-war buildings, beautiful two and three-story townhomes, and high-rise apartment buildings.

The Current Revitalization Effort

You may not know this, but Hunts Point is currently in the midst of a revitalization effort. New developments are popping up all over the neighborhood, and it’s worth looking at.

One of the most exciting projects is the Spofford Redevelopment Project, also known as “The Penisula.” It’s a massive undertaking to transform a former Juvenile detention center into a new, mixed-income community. Some of the plans for the development will include affordable housing, recreation resources, as well as retail and commercial space. Phase one of the project was completed this past June.

In addition to the Spofford Redevelopment Project, Hunts Point will be one of four locations in the Bronx to be added to the new Metro North East Bronx Line. The addition of the East Bronx Line will alleviate congestion into Manhattan and make the connection to Penn Station much easier. The station is slated to open in 2026, and residents can’t wait!

Things to Do

There’s also a lot of intrigue in Hunts Point. With the coming of the Metro North station, this neighborhood is only going to continue to grow in popularity.

There’s always something to do in Hunts Point there are farmer’s markets on Mondays and Wednesdays, small businesses making their mark in the community, and several resources for the youth.

Here are a few of my favorite places that you have to check out:

The Point CDC has been serving the Hunts Point community for 25 years. I love this place and have spent many days there as a child. The Point provides cultural events and performances, year-round activities for young adolescents, leadership courses, and much more.

You can read about my experience in the Digital Steward class I took last summer below:

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is another organization dedicated to the children of Hunts Point. The Casita Maria began offering after-school programs for new families coming from Puerto Rico in an effort to adjust to their new ‘home” in the Bronx. Since then, The Casita Maria has expanded and now includes art galleries, dance studios, music studios, and more.

The Boogie Down Grind Cafe is by far the best place to explore your creative side. Besides the great coffee, delicious snacks, and Sangria, the Boogie Down Grind Cafe hosts a ton of events to enrich the community.

You can read about the time I went to Poetry Corner and my first post on Medium below:

Barretto Point Park is a waterfront park along the East River. Barreto Point Park is a great place to take the family on a nice day. There is a BBQ area, handball courts, a dog park, a volleyball court, and a designated area for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on the pier.

Hunts Point is a great place to visit if you’re looking to experience authentic New York culture. There’s no shortage of activities, and the food is amazing — don’t miss out on the picaderas or chop cheese from the bodega.

Conclusion

The Bronx and especially Hunts Point isn’t what it used to be. A lot is happening in my community, but I’m excited about the future. I hope this guide has inspired you to visit Hunts Point the next time you’re in the city that never sleeps and see for yourself what the buzz is all about.

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