Bronx Point is a new, civic-minded public space that aims to reconnect the broader Bronx community to the Harlem River waterfront. The project reclaims a previously inaccessible 6.8-acre stretch of the Harlem River, introducing a 4.6-acre public park and waterfront esplanade. Paired with a mixed-use building that includes 540 units of 100% affordable housing and a landscaped residential terrace, the design weaves together public space and housing in a unified, human-centered waterfront experience. The building will also be home to The Hip-Hop Museum — the first museum in New York City dedicated to the history and evolution of hip-hop, which originated in the Bronx. Slated to open in 2026, the museum will act as a cultural anchor, offering community-based programming. The park’s design includes a nature-themed playground, a get-down path for educational access to the river, and a variety of recreational amenities. At Exterior Street, a flexible plaza space serves as both a welcoming gateway and a venue for seasonal events, further activating the site throughout the year.
Located in one of the most densely populated and ethnically diverse areas in the U.S., Bronx Point sits within Bronx Community District 4, which saw a 4.9% population increase between 2000 and 2010. The broader Harlem River Brownfield Opportunity Area includes roughly 150,000 residents, with Hispanic populations comprising 50% to 80% of local neighborhoods.
To ensure the project reflected local needs and voices, the team developed a robust engagement plan. Over 20 meetings and workshops were held, including park pop-ups, site walkthroughs with local leaders, sessions at senior centers, and meetings with Community Board 4 and a dedicated project advisory committee.
The design strikes a balance between creating active spaces that serve neighborhood needs and establishing a waterfront environment that centers ecology and learning. Bronx Point reconnects residents to the riverfront, with a design shaped by robust public input. The integration of activity and ecology supports a range of uses: space for outdoor learning, jogging and exercise, family barbecues, and nature-based play. The new get-down offers direct access to the water and doubles as an educational feature—an outcome directly informed by local feedback.
As coastal cities continue to grapple with needs for affordable housing and resilient and open spaces, Bronx Point can serve as a case study. Bronx Point is the first waterfront project that includes affordable housing to achieve the Waterfront Alliance’s WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) verification for creating a resilient, ecological, and accessible waterfront. WEDG is a critical tool to cut through myriad challenges— complex ecosystems, overlapping regulatory jurisdictions, multiple stakeholders, sea level rise, and coastal storms—providing clear guidance for excellent waterfront design.
The project features a resilient shoreline edge, removing an existing relieving platform and creating a more naturalized shoreline slope that can reduce tidal energy as sea levels rise. It reintroduces native tidal marsh vegetation and employs a planted revetment strategy that both stabilizes and ecologically enhances the shoreline edge.
It also features a unique, inclusive nature playground that includes play equipment and discovery features for children 2-5 and 5-12 years old. It also features areas where kids of all ages can interact with a water-spray feature and musical instruments. Importantly, it offers full accessibility for children with physical disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs and with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
At a time when equitable investment in waterfront communities is essential, Bronx Point demonstrates that affordability, access, ecological restoration, and community-centered design can, and must, go hand in hand.
Bronx Point
Location: The Bronx, New York, USA
Design Firm:
Landscape Architect: Marvel
Landscape Architect of Record: Abel Bainnson Butz, LLP
Collaborators:
Marine and Civil Engineering: Langan Engineering
Architect (Mixed-Use Building): S9 Architects
Lighting Designer: Fisher Marantz Stone
MEP Engineers: Cosentini Associates
Developer: Type A projects
Developer: L+M Development Partners
City Agency Partner: NYC Parks
City Agency Partner: NYC Economic Development Corporation
City Agency Partner: NYC Housing Preservation & Preservation
Photography: © Ashok Sinha (unless otherwise captioned)