Archived at NYC’s Department of Records, these never-before-seen images taken by photographers at the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) dramatically capture the disinvestment and physical decay that afflicted the Bronx from the 1970s into the 1990s. During this period, many buildings were abandoned, others destroyed by fire, and yet others demolished for the sake of public safety. Melrose, where the majority of the tour takes place, suffered particularly acute devastation.

Returning to these same sites today reveals a stunning transformation: vacant buildings have been restored and made habitable again, and empty lots have given rise to new affordable housing. Melrose has experienced a particularly remarkable renaissance, with thousands of affordable homes created by HPD under the rubric of the Melrose Commons revitalization plan, from the low-rise row houses of Melrose Court (1994) to larger-scale apartment buildings like Elton Crossing (2018).

The tour also goes north along Boston Road to Morrisania before terminating further west in Hunt's Point. It's here that some of the most striking examples of affordable housing preservation can be found, like on Fox Street where turn-of-the-century row houses photographed on the brink of demolition have since been carefully restored and saved for future generations to inhabit.

As you walk from site to site, use the Urban Archive recreate tool to see these transformations for yourself! They’re the result of tireless work by community organizations and government agencies, and the forerunners of the affordable housing that HPD is producing at a record pace under the Housing New York plan, ensuring that our neighborhoods are stronger and more equitable for future generations.

All photos by Paul Rice, Leonard Boykin, and Larry Racioppo.