NEW ROCHELLE, NY (August 6, 2025) — Having covered the buildings for years, I am well aware of the various issues with the Bracey Apartments — 345 and 361 Main Street. This article is not about who is and is not paying rent or whether the old New Rochelle Muncipal Housing Authority board should or should not have been removed or gangs or violence or some such.
This article is about a question of human decency.
For those not familiar, “The Hollow” refers to a historically significant area formerly known as Pugsley Hollow. It was a predominantly Black neighborhood with a rich history of homeownership and community development, dating back to the 1840s. The area, located near Cedar and River Streets, was subject to urban renewal projects that involved demolition and rezoning, impacting the original community. The name “The Hollow” persists, partly due to its association with the area’s history and the Bracey Apartment Complex, which is also nicknamed the same.
Pugsley Hollow is the original name for the area, named after Hannah Pugsley, a woman who freed her enslaved namesake and whose descendants were prominent homeowners in the area. The area underwent significant changes due to urban renewal projects, including demolition and rezoning, which impacted the Black community that had established itself there. The nearby Bracey Apartment Complex is also known as “The Hollow,” further solidifying the name’s association with the area.
Over the years I have heard a number of complaints about the buildings, either first hand while attending community meetings or over the phone, via text or email. I have gathered a few photos and video that are rather disturbing and raise real questions about who is responsible for the current condition of the buildings. Whoever is responsible they need to do some soul-searching.
I am posting a few of these horrid images today: moths, rats, rat urine, slime, dirt, mold and assorted dirty, disgusting bugs and grime. I want to add more and keeping adding them until this shocking squalor ends so if you are willing to share images at the Bracey Apartments I will be both horrified and appreciative.
Robert Cox
robertcox@talkofthesound.com
+353 (89) 972 0669
(outside EU, use WhatsApp to text or call)
Robert Cox
robertcox@talkofthesound.com
+353 (89) 972 0669
(outside EU, use WhatsApp to text or call)