Due to the hilly terrain of the Bronx as well as some parts of upper Manhattan, these steep, often block-long, open air staircases were built to accommodate pedestrian traffic. Referred to as step streets, the staircase seen to the right of 2415 Marion Avenue is one of 63 such "streets" in the Bronx. Though some date to the end of the 19th century, this staircase was constructed by the WPA during the Depression.