the finest buildings in the borough (outside of Riverdale, of course) were on the Concourse and back in the day, an upwardly mobile family always aspired to an apartment on that charmed boulevard. In its heyday, the boro’s aristocracy–physicians, attorneys, businessmen, and other white collar types– flocked to the Concourse’s choicest buildings–generally located between 158th and approx. 174th Street. Celebrities, too– Babe Ruth took up residence at the Concourse Plaza hotel at 161st Street; Flavor Flav lived at 165th (post PE, pre VH1).

Closer to Fordham Road, the apts become a bit more modest, the facades less ornamented, and the art deco influences much less pronounced. And their occupants have historically been from humbler stations than their brethren to the south. Racial divisions were also evident along the Concourse up until the mid to late 60’s, when the apartments near the courthouse began to turn over, and landlords finally began to rent to Puerto Ricans and African-Americans, who at one time were barred from housing in the area. my boss still remembers the day the first coquito seller appeared on the Concourse–a Jackie Robinson moment for Puerto Ricans in the Bronx.

Guess I should visit some time.