Why CommuN3ty exists
New buildings are going up at an alarming rate, and it's happening all over New York City. When a neighborhood changes this fast, rents go up and longtime residents often can't keep up. Many don't find out what's coming until it's too late to do anything.
But the city usually knew months earlier. Demolition filings, new building plans and rezonings are all public record. They're just hard to find, written in city codes, and nobody tells you when something new shows up. CommuN3ty fixes that, so Bronx residents hear about changes early enough to act.
The information is public. Here's what we add.
It comes to you
Nobody checks city websites every week. Sign up once and CommuN3ty emails you when something new is filed near your address.
No city codes
Instead of "NB job filing, LOC issued," you get "A new 8-story building with 40 apartments is planned here."
Everything in one place
Demolitions, new buildings and rezonings are on different city sites. Here they're on one map around your address.
What you can do
Every item comes with next steps: free tenant legal help, when you can speak at a public hearing, and who to call.
Hours of digging, or one minute?
You can find all of this yourself on city websites. But it takes a lot of digging, and most people never get past the first step.
On your own
- Search the Department of Buildings site one address at a time, so you have to already know which building to look up
- Decode city terms like "NB filing, objections, LOC issued"
- Check a separate city site for rezonings, and another to find out who owns the building
- Work out for yourself whether you can do anything about it
- Repeat every week, because nobody tells you when something new is filed
With CommuN3ty
- Type your address once
- See everything nearby on one map, in everyday words, with what you can do
- Get an email when something new is filed. No more checking.
The city's sites still have more detail, like full plans and inspections. Every item on CommuN3ty links to the official record, so you know exactly when it's worth going to look.
How it works
- 1
Enter your address
Type your Bronx address in the box and press "Check my block."
- 2
See what's near you
The map shows demolitions, new buildings and rezonings within about 10 blocks. Tap any one for details.
- 3
Sign up for alerts
Enter your email under the map. We'll send you a link. Click it to turn alerts on.
- 4
Act when an alert comes
Each email says what was filed and what you can do, like getting free legal help or speaking at a hearing.
Where the information comes from
Everything comes from official NYC public records: the Department of Buildings (demolition and new building filings), the Department of City Planning (rezonings and property records), and NYC Planning Labs (address search). It updates daily. Each item links to the official city record if you want the full details.
City data can be late, incomplete or wrong, and CommuN3ty isn't legal advice. If something affects your home, check the official record and call 311 for the Tenant Helpline.
Who's behind it
CommuN3ty is free and built by someone from the Bronx who has watched communities change and seen how families are affected. We're starting with the Bronx and plan to cover all five boroughs. It will never sell your information or show ads from developers.