South Bronx Unite x Les-lie Lopez
RECLAIMING AND ACTIVATING THE PORT MORRIS, BX WATERFRONT
ON LINCOLN AVE.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY INUER PICHARDO
35MM B/W & CHROMA
ACTIVATING THE WATER FRONT ON LINCOLN AVE:
THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS SUPPORTED BY SOUTH BRONX UNITE, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR THE CLEAN- AIR, GREEN SPACES, AND OTHER VITAL ISSUES IN THE SOUTH BRONX.
AN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION WAS PLANNED TO ENCOURGE THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD TO UTILIZE THIS SPACE THAT IS PUBLIC.THIS SMALL GREEN SPACE IS IN BETWEEN A WASTE FACILITY AND THE CONTROVERSIAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, BANKSIDE.
SOUTH BRONX UNTITE HAS A LONG HISTORY ADVOCATING AND PROTECTING WATERFRONT ACCESS THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY COMPANIES LIKE FEDEX AND FRESH DIRECT. THESE CORPORATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POLLUTION AND PRIVITIZATION OF THE SOUTH BRONX WATERFRONT.
THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS SUPPORTED BY SOUTH BRONX UNITE, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR THE CLEAN- AIR, GREEN SPACES, AND OTHER VITAL ISSUES IN THE SOUTH BRONX.
AN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION WAS PLANNED TO ENCOURGE THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD TO UTILIZE THIS SPACE THAT IS PUBLIC.THIS SMALL GREEN SPACE IS IN BETWEEN A WASTE FACILITY AND THE CONTROVERSIAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, BANKSIDE.
SOUTH BRONX UNTITE HAS A LONG HISTORY ADVOCATING AND PROTECTING WATERFRONT ACCESS THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY COMPANIES LIKE FEDEX AND FRESH DIRECT. THESE CORPORATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POLLUTION AND PRIVITIZATION OF THE SOUTH BRONX WATERFRONT.
The Process
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A WORKSHOP HELD AT THE SOUTH BRONX UNTITE OFFICES AND LISTEN TO SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESCRIBE THE ISSUES THIS AREA HAS.WE GOT A CHANCE TO LAYOUT WHAT FEATURES NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, WHAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED. I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO BRING UP MY ISSUES ABOUT THE AREA AND THE MAIN ONE THAT WE ALL BONDED WITH WAS HOW IMPACTFUL GENTRIFICATION HAS BEEN TO THIS AREA OF MOTT HAVEN.
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD 2 SMALL WORKSHOPS AND ASK FOLKS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THIS PAINTING. ACTIVIE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND GIVE GREAT FEEDBACK.