Re-zoning remakes the neighborhood

1953

New look

Riverdale's face was altered forever in 1953 as zoning changes were debated by everyone from contractors to homeowners, both on the streets and eventually at City Hall.

Many Riverdalians worried about how new zoning for commercial use would affect the value of their homes or what impact construction of multi-story buildings would have on their way of life.

The final decisions shaped the character of the entire area. The small single- or two-family homes that dot North Riverdale are there because big buildings were locked out. The same goes for the quaint homes in Kingsbridge between Waldo and Kingsbridge avenue, and the commercial strip along West 231st. The zoning change also allowed for the creation of the apartment towers along Riverdale's shores.