Much of Kingsbridge wins no beauty contests, stocked as it is with tire shops and aboveground train tracks. But looks aside, “[it’s] a diverse, well-established idea that has room for growth,” says broker Sasha Catus. It already has a lively retail corridor along Broadway, with pleasant pubs and a surprising stock of amenities. (WalkScore.com, a website that rates neighborhoods for livability based on how reachable services and amenities are on foot, rated it 88 out of 100, comparable to Astoria.) “It’s a good value,” agrees Anthony DeVivio, director of sales at Halstead Property’s Riverdale and Upper Manhattan branches. According to StreetEasy.com, the median price of active listings here now stands at $169,950; Riverdale, just up the hill, is at $299,000. (Prices tend to be softer east of the Major Deegan.) Three years ago, Kingsbridge accounted for just 1 percent of Halstead Riverdale’s transactions; that number is now 10 percent. Co-ops and rentals dominate, though there are plenty of one- and two-family houses and, lately, new condominiums. In development: an enormous BJ’s Wholesale Club. Rumored to be next: Trader Joe’s.
Neighborhood Amenities
1. Jake’s Steakhouse
6031 Broadway
Widely praised porterhouse.
2. The Bronx Alehouse
216 W. 238th St.
Fancy brunch, artisanal beers.
3. Loeser’s Old Fashioned Kosher Deli
214 W. 231st St.
The pastrami landmark.
4. An Beal Bocht Café
445 W. 238th St.
Renowned for its Irish breakfast and concerts.
5. Leila’s Hand Dipped Chocolate
225 W. 231st St.
Try the red-velvet-cake ball dipped in white and dark chocolate.
6. Garden Gourmet
5665 Broadway
The best greengrocer around, plus olives and cheese.
7. Kingsbridge Library
291 West 231st St.
Brand-new branch.
On the Market
8. 315 West 232nd Street, Apartment 1D
Asking price: $113,000
Maintenance: $427 per month
A co-op alcove studio two blocks from the 1 train, with hardwood floors and new windows. The kitchen needs an overhaul.
Agent: Amanda Ingram, Rutenberg Realty.
9. 3446 Fort Independence Street, Apartment 2
Asking price: $369,000
Charges and taxes: $242 per month
A brand-new loftlike three-bedroom with a washer-dryer hookup and a private patio in a three-unit condo. A twenty-year tax abatement (in the final approval stages) should keep the monthlies low until 2032.
Agent: Sasha Catus, Catus Properties.
10. 3425 Tibbett Avenue A
Asking price: $639,000
A renovated semi-attached thirties brick house with three bedrooms, a dining room, and a garage.
Agent: Joan Kuzniar, Robert E. Hill Inc.
11. 3245 Corlear Avenue, Apartment 2
To Rent: $3,750 per month
A three-bedroom, three-bath townhouse duplex with two outdoor decks.
Agent: Daniel Wright, Halstead Property.
Ask a Local
Neil Fitzgerald
Elite runner and after-school-program director; resident since 2010
What interested you in the neighborhood?
Years of running in Van Cortlandt Park.
What do you like most about it?
It’s less congested, safer, quieter, and better-smelling than just about any part of Manhattan. And it’s an easy trip to the Upper West Side, where I work. Also, my apartment’s spaces are all on an actual human scale—not cramped in the least.
What’s your favorite spot?
The Bronx Alehouse on 238th Street. The food is pretty good, but the selection of beers is great—I especially like the Blue Point.
What do you think the neighborhood needs?
If there was a bookstore-café combo, I’d be there. A good bakery. Maybe a movie theater?
The Basics: 35 minutes to Columbus Circle on the 1. An express stop on the BxM1 and BxM2. Grand Central is twenty minutes away on Metro-North from Marble Hill (225th Street).