Lopez was born and grew up in the Castle Hill, South Bronx, New York. She raised on Blackrock Avenue.
South Bronx
The South Bronx is a region of the New York City borough of The Bronx. It strictly refers to the southwestern portion of the borough, and should not be confused with the southern Bronx. It is also the home of Yankee Stadium. It is famous for being the birth place of hip hop music and culture.
The neighborhoods of Tremont and University Heights are often considered part of the South Bronx. Some even argue that the Soundview section is part of the South Bronx, or even its eastern neighbor, Castle Hill. The northern limit of the South Bronx is commonly thought to be at Fordham Road.
Castle Hill
Castle Hill is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of The Bronx. It is surrounded by Soundview and Clason's Point to the west, Parkchester and Westchester Square to the north, the Westchester Creek to the east, and the East River to the south. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 9.
There is a dispute regarding which region of the Bronx encompasses Castle Hill. Many include this neighborhood in the South Bronx, taking Westchester Creek as a traditional boundary. In order to eliminate negative stereotypes, Castle Hill is now included in the Southeast Bronx along with Soundview, Parkchester, Throgs Neck, Pelham Bay, Westchester Square, Clasons Point, and Country Club.
The nearest subway is the 6 train at the Castle Hill Avenue station, located on Castle Hill and Westchester Avenues. The Bx22 bus runs along the neighborhood's main street, Castle Hill Avenue.
On the southern end of Castle Hill Avenue is Castle Hill Point Park. It features the Castle Hill YMCA. Castle Hill Middle School is a public middle school in Parkchester. It educates students in grades 5-8.
Bruckner Plaza shopping center, Eugene Maleska Middle School (IS 174), and Adlai E. Stevenson High School Campus define the boundaries between Soundview and Castle Hill.