Паркчестер: История и современность жилого комплекса

MetLife displayed an intricate scale model of the proposed development at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The model showed all of the buildings and facilities, and was accurate down to inclusion of each of the 66,000 windows in the complex. The 51 groups of buildings were planned to house 12,000 families. The Parkchester residential development was originally designed and operated as a self contained rental community for middle class white families new to home ownership. MetLife chairman Frederick H. Ecker said that black renters were excluded because "Negroes and whites don't mix." It was built from 1939 to 1942 (despite emergency building restrictions during World War II) on the farmland of the New York Catholic Protectory, a home for orphaned and troubled boys conducted by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which relocated to Lincolndale (and still exists in) Westchester County. Macy's opened their first branch store after their 34th Street flagship store in Parkchester in 1941. In 1974, approximately one third of the complex was converted to condominiums, with the remaining portion, now Parkchester South Condominium converted later, in 1986. The complex is best known for its broad, tree lined walkways between the distinctive red brown buildings, and for its Works Progress Administration style terracotta decorations on the buildings, that represent animal and human figures of many types. Many of these are the work of sculptor Joseph Kiselewski. In 2015 Parkchester celebrated its 75th anniversary with a family event on the Parkchester North Ball Field.

Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Parkchester was 29,821, an increase of 468 (1.6%) from the 29,353 counted in 2000. Covering an area of , the neighborhood had a population density of
The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 42.8% (12,765) African American, 12.4% (3,721) Asian, 3.7% (1,105) Non Hispanic White, 0.2% (73) Native American, 0.0% (11) Pacific Islander, 0.6% (171) from other races, and 2.0% (611) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.1% (11,364) of the population. The Parkchester apartment complex has a total residential population over 25,000 and a population density over 115,000 people per sq mi. It includes a significant South Asian population: Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, including Catholics, Muslims, and Hindus. There are also a number of Italian, Polish, Irish, Eritrean and Albanian residents. Asian residents include Thais, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Burmese, and Cambodians. Parkchester also is home to a large and longstanding population of Puerto Ricans, like Luis R. Sepulveda who represents the area in the New York State Assembly and has his office on Westchester Avenue. Parkchester has one of the highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in New York City, as is it situated between Soundview and Castle Hill, which are also notable for having a significantly denser Puerto Rican population in comparison to other parts of the Bronx or the city as a whole. While the population is approximately over 40% African American and 38% Latino, the complex once had a whites only policy. The resident population of the Parkchester apartment complex reflects a broad age distribution and the changing ethnic makeup of the Bronx. The entirety of Community District 9, which comprises Parkchester and Clason Point, had 184,105 inhabitants with an average life expectancy of 79.7 years. This is about the same as the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are youth and middle aged adults: 25% are between the ages of between 0–17, 29% between 25–44, and 24% between 45–64. The ratio of college aged and elderly residents was lower, at 10% and 12% respectively. In 2018, an estimated 26% of Parkchester and Clason Point residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents (13%) were unemployed, compared to 13% in the Bronx and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 55% in Parkchester and Clason Point, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 58% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018, Parkchester and Clason Point are considered low income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying. Macy's Department Store, with of selling space, opened in October 1941 as the company's first branch store. Zaro's Bakery, established in 1959, temporarily closed in 2015, reopened in 2017 close to its original location. A prominent feature of Parkchester is the Bangla Bazaar located throughout Olmstead Ave., Odell St., Purdy St., and Castle Hill Ave. The long stretch of blocks are occupied by businesses owned by Bangladeshis and is the heart of their community. There are two subsections of the neighborhood. Parkchester Apartment Complex is a subsection of Parkchester. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are East Tremont Avenue to the north, Castle Hill Avenue to the east, McGraw Avenue to the south, and White Plains Road to the west. The apartment complex has recently undergone substantial renovations of many of their apartments. Additionally, Stratton Park is on the west part of Parkchester. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are the Amtrak Northeast Corridor to the west and north, White Plains Road to the east, and East 177th Street (the Cross Bronx Expressway service road) to the south. Its zip code is 10460, and its residents consider themselves as part of Parkchester. At the heart of Parkchester is the Aileen B. Ryan Oval, formerly Metropolitan Oval.

Parkchester was designed with aesthetics in mind as evidenced by intricate patterns of brickwork and architectural ornaments. The development contains 500 terra cotta statuettes and 600 plaques, Among the nine sculptors on the project were Raymond Granville Barger, Joseph Kiselewski, Carl Schmitz and Theodore Barbarossa. The 43rd Precinct ranked 36th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per capita crime in 2010. as of 2018, with a non fatal assault rate of 100 per 100,000 people, Parkchester and Clason Point's rate of violent crimes per capita is more than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 603 per 100,000 people is higher than that of the city as a whole.

The Parkcheaster Department of Public Safety is a privately owned and operated security force that protects the residents, visitors and property of Parkcheaster Preservation Management company. The Parkcheaster Department of Public Safety currently employs 100 public safety officers and civilians. In 2022 Parkchester public safety officers became Special Patrolmen and amended their uniforms and logo to match such change. They continued their function and responsibilities as before but are using a new name Parkchester Police. They employ 100 officers who are special patrolmen as listed and defined by their website. special patrolmen have limited peace officer powers in connection with there special duties of employment pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10 sub 27. The exercise of these powers are very limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is working as listed defined in Chapter 13 subsection (C):. all special patrolmen in New York City are required to comply with the New York City Police Department's rules and requirements to receive special patrolman status. Parkchester special patrolmen are issued a pistol license by the New York City Police Department and carry a firearm while performing their duties only.

Parkchester is served by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)'s Engine Co. 64/Ladder Co. 47 fire station at 1224 Castle Hill Avenue.

as of 2018, preterm births and births to teenage mothers are more common in Parkchester and Clason Point than in other places citywide. In Parkchester and Clason Point, there were 106 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 26.4 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).

Parkchester is located within multiple ZIP Codes. The housing development proper is part of 10462, but the areas to the immediate west are located in 10460, and the immediate east, in 10461. The United States Postal Service's Parkchester Station is located at 1449 West Avenue.

Parkchester and Clason Point generally have a similar rate of college educated residents to the rest of the city as of 2018. While 23% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 30% have less than a high school education and 47% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 26% of Bronx residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher. Parkchester and Clason Point's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is higher than the rest of New York City. In Parkchester and Clason Point, 28% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, more than the citywide average of 20%. St. Raymond Academy for Girls, a private high school situated on Castle Hill Avenue, that educates students in grades 9–12
St. Raymond Elementary School, a private elementary school and middle school situated on Purdy Street; it educates students in pre kindergarten to grade 8
PS 106, a public elementary school located at 2120 St. Raymond Avenue for grades 1–5. St. Helena Elementary, a private pre school, elementary school, and middle school situated on Benedict Avenue that educates students from pre k to 8th grade. Bronx Charter School for Excellence, a charter school located on Benedict Avenue that educates students from kindergarten to 8th grade.

The New York Public Library (NYPL)'s Parkchester branch is located at 1985 Westchester Avenue. The branch opened in 1942 within the Parkchester development and moved to its current two story structure in 1985.

Parkchester was the filming location for part of the Sporty Thievz 1999 video "No Pigeons". Extras were featured circling a red car parked in front of the Loews American (later known as just the American) theater on East Avenue. Parkchester was featured in the film Doubt (2008), during the scene when Sr. Aloysius is walking with Mrs. Miller behind the building located at 2051 St. Raymond Avenue.