New York Times names the South Bronx one of the world’s top travel destinations for 2017

In addition to far-flung and exotic locales such as Kazakhstan, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Sikkim, India, and Marrakesh, Morocco, the New York Times has added to its list of “52 Places to Go in 2017” several cities across the U.S. on the cusp of gentrification or about to make a comeback. One of these is the South Bronx, subtitled as “an industrial neighborhood’s revival.” They point to the ‘hood’s declining crime rates, wave of new development, and, of course, burgeoning foodie scene.

Some of the other budding cities included on the list are Detroit, Michigan (thanks to being named a Unesco City of Design and an upcoming streetcar line), Greenville, South Carolina (is it the next Charleston?), Minneapolis, Minnesota (where you can celebrate the life of Prince), Ketchum, Idaho (where plenty of new ski-focused developments are underway), and Birmingham, Alabama (a description of the revitalized Avondale neighborhood sounds a lot like Williamsburg). As for the South Bronx, here’s the full description:

Since the 1970s, the South Bronx has suffered in reality and reputation. But things are turning around. (Though crime is still an issue in the area, numbers are way down from heights in the early ’90s.) Openings in 2016 included artisanal coffee shops, galleries and boutiques like To_Bridges and 9J, La Grata Neapolitan pizzoteca, and Milk Burger. This year’s arrivals will include the Bruckner Market food hall, with a rooftop beer garden and a distillery and brewery; the Bronx Post Place retail and dining complex; Latin-inspired restaurants from the chef Douglas Rodriguez; and a riverfront hotel by Somerset Partners.

6sqft recently asked readers if they thought the South Bronx would become the next “it” spot after renderings for a trio of new waterfront towers popped up and news surfaced that the borough was issued the most residential permits in the city during the first six months of 2016. And it looks like the Times was on the right track, because 70 percent said the neighborhood is well on its way.

[Via NYT]

RELATED:

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• The Bronx Dethrones Brooklyn for Most Residential Permits Issued
• New Yorker Spotlight: Chris Gallant of the Bronx Brewery Brings Craft Ales to the Boogie Down

Lead image: Grand Concourse via Photopin (license)