Fordham is the Bronx neighborhood that most New Yorkers pass through without stopping: the elevated 4 and D trains rattle past on Jerome and Grand Concourse, Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus sits behind its stone wall, and Fordham Road — the commercial spine running east-west — is one of the busiest retail corridors in the outer boroughs. In 2026, there are several things happening in this neighborhood that are worth paying attention to.
The Bronx Green Jobs Center Opens This Fall
The most significant new opening in the Fordham neighborhood this year is the Bronx Green Jobs Center, housed in a 12,000-square-foot space at 585 East Fordham Road that was most recently a carpet store. Fordham University broke ground on the project in July 2025; the center is set to open its doors in fall 2026.
What the center will actually do: community members will be able to earn certifications in solar panel installation, energy efficiency technologies, electric vehicle infrastructure, and urban agriculture. The center will also include a green economy entrepreneurship hub, an event space for up to 200 people, and a streetside café offering local goods.
The project is backed by $14 million from Fordham University along with public funding from the New York State Dormitory Authority, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and the NYC Council. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson called it “an opportunity to truly redefine what workforce development looks like in the 21st century.”
For Fordham Road, this is a meaningful addition: a working training facility at street level, in a space that has been underutilized, with a café and event space that will bring activity to the block. For Bronx residents looking for pathways into clean energy jobs, the center will be one of the most accessible options in the borough. Enrollment and program details are expected to be announced closer to the fall opening.
Student Housing Coming to Webster Avenue
A 12-story student housing development is planned for 2740 Webster Avenue, about a ten-minute walk from Fordham’s main campus. The project, from Maddd Equities and the Stagg Group, will include 225,000 square feet of student-oriented housing and is expected to be completed by 2028 for the 2029 academic year. For residents of the immediate Webster Avenue blocks, this will mean construction activity over the next few years and eventual changes to the pedestrian and retail character of the street.
Fordham Road: What It Is and How It Works
Fordham Road between the Grand Concourse and Third Avenue is a classic outer-borough commercial strip: discount retailers, fast food, cell phone stores, shoe shops, and the occasional institution. But it also has some things worth knowing about. The Fordham branch of the New York Public Library, at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue just off Fordham Road, is a neighborhood anchor with strong programming. The Bronx Museum of the Arts, at 1040 Grand Concourse, is a short walk south of Fordham Road and has free general admission.
Arthur Avenue — the “real Little Italy” of the Bronx, about six blocks east of the Fordham Road–Third Avenue intersection — is one of the city’s most authentic Italian food corridors. The Arthur Avenue Retail Market (2344 Arthur Avenue) is an indoor market with butchers, salumerias, cheese vendors, and pasta shops that has operated for decades. It is genuinely worth the trip.
Getting There
The 4, B, and D trains serve the Fordham Road area, with the 4 at Fordham Road on Jerome Avenue and the B/D at Fordham Road on the Grand Concourse. The Metro-North Harlem Line stops at Fordham station (on Fordham Road near Third Avenue), offering direct service to Grand Central Terminal in about 20 minutes — making this one of the better-connected outer-borough neighborhoods for Manhattan commuters.
What You Need to Know
- The Bronx Green Jobs Center opens fall 2026 at 585 East Fordham Road. It will offer certifications in solar, EV infrastructure, energy efficiency, and urban agriculture. Watch for enrollment announcements.
- Student housing is planned for 2740 Webster Avenue; construction expected to continue through 2028.
- Arthur Avenue and the Arthur Avenue Retail Market (2344 Arthur Avenue) are a short walk from Fordham Road — one of the city’s best food destinations for fresh pasta, cheese, and Italian provisions.
- Metro-North at Fordham station offers about 20 minutes to Grand Central Terminal. The 4, B, and D trains also serve the neighborhood.
- The Bronx Museum of the Arts at 1040 Grand Concourse has free general admission.
Source: Fordham University News, July 2025
