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City Island, Bronx

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City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long by 0.5 mi (1 km) wide. It is part of the Bronx, itself part of New York City. It has (as of March 2006) a population of exactly 4,634. *[1]

City Island is located at the extreme western end of Long Island Sound, south of Pelham Bay and east of Eastchester Bay. The body of water between City Island and the even smaller (and uninhabited) Hart Island to the east is known as City Island Harbor. The small island adjacent to the northeast is High Island. Stepping Stones Lighthouse, marking the main shipping channel into New York, is off the southern tip of the island, near the Long Island shore.


Description

The island has the look and feel of a small New England fishing village, with no spot more than a few minutes walking distance to the water. Most businesses are clustered along centrally-located City Island Avenue. There are two small supermarkets, a gas station, a pharmacy, and a bank, and a variety of other small shops. The island is most famous for its numerous seafood restaurants and antique stores which line both sides of the avenue.

Government services include the City Island Station post office (10464) and a FDNY firehouse (Engine 70, Ladder 53). NYPD presence (mostly traffic control on summer weekends) is provided by the 45th Precinct, located in the mainland Bronx. The City Island Branch is possibly the smallest of the New York Public Library system, even after the recent expansion which doubled the size of the building.

Houses of worship are Saint Mary Star of the Sea Holy Roman Catholic Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, Grace Episcopal Church, and the Temple Beth El.

A local paper, The Island Current is printed 10 times a year, and chronicles mostly community issues and local news.

Bridges and Transportation

Starting in 1760, a small ferry powered by a rope between Rodman's Neck and City Island was used to transport people and supplies between the mainland and City Island. It was not until 1873 that a bridge was built by a syndicate of City Island businessman including G.W. Horton, Ben Hedgeman, and David Carll. Then, in 1901, City Island became connected to the mainland by a new, steel three-lane City Island Bridge. There is another small, private bridge on the northeastern end of City Island which connects it to High Island, site of the radio transmitter for New York AM stations WFAN (660) and WCBS (880); a security gate prevents access to High Island.

Bus transportation consists of the Bx29 local bus to Bay Plaza via the Pelham Bay Park subway station and the BxM7B express bus to Manhattan, both run by the MTA. Although not displayed on the subway map, it's clearly placed on the Bronx Bus Map.

A ferry dock at the end of the east side of Fordham Street is operated by the New York City Department of Corrections. The ferry is used to transport prisoners (and the deceased) to Hart Island, and is not open to the public.

Local Businesses and Attractions

The island is famous for its restaurants, with seafood dining, especially lobster, being a common specialty. Over a dozen eating establishments compete for business, ranging from fast food (Johnny's Reef) to The Lobster Box to a French bed & breakfast (Le Refuge). Many of the restaurants close during the winter months.

The City Island Nautical Museum displays maritime artifacts and antiques. It is located at 190 Fordham Street and is open only on Sunday afternoons (other times by appointment). Admission is free, and there is a small gift shop.

The Island has several landmarks like Samuel Pell Mansion on City Island Avenue near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church. It was where Arsenic and Old Lace starring Fred Gwynne was filmed for TV; there are a number of old Victorian mansions complete with tall pointy spires and gables with gazebos, such as Delmours Point on Tier Street.

Boating

The island has four yacht clubs, all situated on the Eastchester Bay side of the island. They are, from north to south, the Harlem Yacht Club, Stuyvesant Yacht Club, City Island Yacht Club, and Morris Yacht and Beach Club. The Touring Kayak Club is on the west side of the island. There are two active sail lofts (Ulmer-Kolius and Doyle). The island also has several commercial marinas. The island has what is called special anchorages where boats of all sizes are freely moored or anchored and there are many docks with boat slips for mooring boats in a secure and restricted way. There are many large piers around the island that can receive large ships.

Many of the boats which competed and won in the America's Cup in years past were built in The Minneford Boat Yard on City Island. The Eastchester Bay Yacht Racing Association is the major organizer for sailboat races in the area.

A small fleet of commercial fishing boats (The Island Current, the RipTide III, and the North Star III) make day trips to Long Island Sound. You can also rent smaller boats by the day. The sail and power boating industry has been declining in recent years as boatyards are being sold and being turned into condominiums.

In March 2006, a fire destroyed the Morris Yacht Club mansion house, a historical building of the Bronx.

Cinematography and Famous Residents

The island has earned the nickname Cinema Island for the numerous films, television shows, and commercials that been shot there. Films include Long Days Journey into Night, (Katharine Hepburn), Awakenings (Robert De Niro and Robin Williams), and Love Is All There Is (Lainie Kazan and Angelina Jolie). The City Island Bridge was featured in the movie A Bronx Tale, and one scene was set there.

Television series include Coronet Blue and an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent called Sound Bodies which was based on a real-life incident of several local teenagers who drowned in Long Island Sound.

Since 2002, the film production company Harrington Talents has had its offices and studio located on City Island. Notable celebrities to have worked on productions at Harrington Talents include rapper/actor Ice-T, professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino and the rock band Letterkills.

Notable residents of the island include Oliver Sacks who wrote the book Awakenings which was filmed on Marine Street at his home. Actor Vincent Pastore of the TV series The Sopranos also lives on City Island. Former residents include actress Anne Bancroft, Big Wilson, writer Ernest Hemingway, sports announcers Harry Carey and Harry Carey, Jr.

Adolfo Carrión Jr., Bronx borough president, is currently a resident.

History

City Island was first settled as part of property and estate bought by English nobleman, Thomas Pell, in 1654. Prior to that, English settlers led by Anne Hutchinson (seeking religious freedom) settled in an area nearby on the river (now known as the Hutchinson River) in 1642.

After changing hands several times, in 1761 the Island (at that time known as Minefer's Island), was bought by Benjamin Palmer of New York. Up to this point the island had been inhabited by only a few homes and farms. It had a population of about 1000 people, who tended farms and livestock. Palmer had the vision of developing the island into a port, which could rival that of New York. He knew that ships heading north and south passed City Island using Long Island Sound as a safe inshore waterway. He envisioned shipyards, and stores that could cater to the ships. He went as far as to have the island mapped out in different plots dedicated the Shipyards, docks, business, farms, homes, schools, and houses of worship, along with streets, paths, and access routes. Benjamin Palmer appealed to the British Crown and received a patent that covered the ownership of waterfront properties 400' out from the high tide mark under water, around the perimeter of the Island. This patent, known as the "Palmer Grant" is unique to City Island, has been contested in courts since, but has always held up.

Palmer is also responsible for changing the name from Minefer's Island to City Island in anticipation of things to come. However, Palmer's vision never fully materialized as the timing just before the American Revolution halted all progress, and the war depleted the capital of Palmer and his investors. It would be another sixty years before the island again started to be developed when Oystermen, Hell-Gate Pilots, and eventually Shipbuilders arrived and introduced these industries.

The history of the island has been chronicled in Tales Of The Clamdiggers by Alice Payne (ISBN 0974782319) and City Island and Orchard Beach (Images Of America) by Catherine A Scott (ISBN 073853546X).

Indigenous wildlife

City Island is a heavily urbanized area, and the forms of animal life on the island is typical of such an environment: raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and skunk, as well as a large population of stray cats.

The real diversity of wildlife on and around City Island are birds, especially aquatic species. There are many varieties of duck; buffleheads, goldeneyes, mallards, and cormorants. Canada geese are common, as are mute swans, great blue herons, great white egrets, and several types of gull. A small protected wetlands area on west Ditmars Street is home to many of these species. Of course, no list of urban wildlife would be complete without the ubiquitous feral pigeon.

Surprisingly, bright green parrots (monk parakeet)s, originally imported from South America as pets, have adapted to the climate and breed in the wild in New York . They are a common sight in nearby Pelham Bay Park and are reported to be nesting on Buckley Street. Flocks of wild turkeys are often seen in the park. On rare occasion, deer who have wandered down from Westchester County can be spotted, but none are known to have crossed the bridge onto City Island.

The New York State Department of Health has declared that the eating of all shellfish from the waters of City Island forbidden due to pollution (including PCBs and dioxin) and diseases. Thus all seafood sold at City Island restaurants must by law come from elsewhere.

There is now a movement on the island to preserve the City Island Marsh and the remains of the City Island Freshwater Creek on west Ditmars Street. A Judge is allowing the Marsh owner to backfill the City Island Marsh and Freshwater Creek and build condos over objections of local residents.

Community issues

As of January 2006, the island's water mains and sewer mains are to be dug up and replaced due to old age. This project has been put on hold due to unforseen circumstances. Many pipes must be moved first before this project can go ahead. All of City Island Avenue is to be repaved. A movement exists in the community to have all electric power, cable TV, and telephone wires put underground because the utility poles are overwired and unsightly. Con Ed says it is too expensive and underground flooding may short out service. Many of the poles are leaning heavily. Some have fallen over.

Many of the dead-end side streets terminate in small beaches, and many of these have locked gates, limiting access only to local residents or members of small beach clubs and block associations. The ownership of these beaches is unclear, and many people believe that the locked gates are illegal.

High Island is the site of two large radio towers, used by WCBS AM and WFAN. The proximity of the transmitters cause radio interference problems with telephones and electronic equipment. There is also concern about the health effects of the high-power transmissions.

Noise pollution from the nearby NYPD Rodman's Neck Firing Range has been a point of contention with City Island residents for many years.

Geology

City Island was created by glacial deposits at the end of the last ice age. There is a layer of bedrock and then a thick layer of red clay topped with sand, with topsoil above that. The southern end has deposits of rare blue clay. The area is strewn with glacial erratic boulders. Local bedrock is Manhattan Schist with Glacial striations. *Bronx Bedrock Map

In colonial times, there were freshwater drinking wells on the island, which is evidence of a water table close to the surface.

Education

City Island is within the New York City Department of Education

P.S. 175 City Island School serves grades K-8 for the island.

There is no high school zoning as all New York City high schoolers must apply to schools.

St. Mary Star of the Sea is a Catholic grade school on City Island.

See also

Maps & Charts

Americana

Literature

  • City Island & Orchard Beach (ISBN 073853546X)
  • The Other Islands Of New York City (ISBN 0881505021)
  • East Bronx, East Of The Bronx River (ISBN 0738503010)
  • Tales of the Clamdiggers (ISBN 0974782319)
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