Port Morris, The Bronx : NYC Tourist Guide

Port Morris

Port Morris is a neighborhood in the South Bronx. It is generally bound by the Major Deegan Expressway and the neighborhood of Mott Haven to the north, the East River to the east and south and the Harlem River to the west. It is known as the "Gateway of the Bronx" because it is the southernmost portion of the borough.

The name comes from a deep water port established along the neighborhood's waterfront by the Morris family during the mid 19th Century. The area is dominated by factory and warehouse buildings, including many multi-story loft buildings constructed in the mid- to late 1800's. Notable early businesses include the Mott Iron Works, the Estey Piano Factory, and the Haines Piano Co. factory. While many of the early industrial buildings remain, much of the manufacturing has long since left the area.

A special mixed-use zoning district was established by the City in a six-block area surrounding Bruckner Blvd. in 1997 and expanded to eighteen blocks in 2005. This change allowed residential development along with commercial and industrial development. As a result, several formerly vacant industrial buildings have been converted to residential lofts. A small antiques row has been established in the storefronts of recently-restored brownstones along Bruckner Blvd. between Alexander and Willis Avenues.

The nearest subway is the 6 train, operating along 138th Street in Mott Haven. Some developers and landlords refer to the larger neighborhood as "SoBro" (South Bronx) in an attempt to counter the negative stereotype of the South Bronx.