By BRENDAN McHUGH Following glowing recommendations from Community Board 8 and City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell’s office at the Bronx Borough Board last week, Ceruzzi Holdings moved one step closer to acquiring the land to build the Broadway mall on W. 230th Street. Damian McShane, chair of Community Board 8, thanked Ceruzzi for sticking with the project to develop a critical site in one of Riverdale’s financial corridors, and a representative from Koppell’s office said they were very glad to see this project
Bloomberg’s 9/11 memorial
Continued from Page 18 This is an assault upon truth and memory. The head of the memorial foundation is Mayor Bloomberg; his deputy mayor Patricia Harris sat on the jury that chose this design. While Bloomberg tells us our values demand a mosque around the corner from Ground Zero, they do not require we recognize 9/11 at the site. I invite Riverdale residents to join thousands of Americans including several hundred 9/11 family members in the fight to restore the Sphere as the centerpiece of the national 9/11 memorial. Please see www.petitiononline.com/CptBurke/petition.html or go to petitions online and enter "Save the Sphere" in the search box. Please circulate it to as many others as you can. Somehow, there are those who learned nothing from 9/11. The world, however, must never forget. Michael Burke
finally moving forward. After the brief remarks, the borough board voted unanimously to approve the land sale of the 80,000 square foot property from the NYC Economic Development Corporation to Kingsbridge 230 LLC, an affiliate working with Connecticut-based Ceruzzi. “We are excited that this development, which will create hundreds of jobs, continues to move forward,” Kyle Sklerov, spokesperson for the NYCEDC said. “We have worked closely with the community and local elected officials to make this project happen and today’s borough board approval brings us one step closer towards that goal.” Cindy Ellis, a representative for Ceruzzi who was at the March 24 meeting, did
not offer many new details to the project, including possible tenants. She explained the details of the contract, which include the $6.7 million purchase price and the project’s timeline. Ceruzzi has until July 30, 2011 to close on the property, and then up to 18 months after that date to begin construction. Construction is to be completed within two years of construction commencement. If the developer fails to move forward on any of these stipulations, they lose all rights to the property. Ellis did say they are in discussion with a number of national retailers but would not say whom. She only said the tenants they are looking for will by “synergistic” with the local community. Rumors of everything from clothing stores like Kohl’s
The Award- Winning
Riverdale Rising Stars Presents
Louis Farrakhan got it right
To The Editor: The “honorable” Minister Louis Farrakhan, the anti-white, anti-Semitic, homophobic leader of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam (and normally an avid supporter of his “homeboy,” President Obama) recently spoke out quite vigorously against the President’s undeclared war against the sovereign country of Libya, and its ruler, Moammar Khadafy. In slow, measured words, with contempt dripping from his lips, Minister Farrakhan asked the following question, “Barack Hussein Obama, who the hell do you think you are?” I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be in agreement with “Calypso Louis” on anything, but I’m 100% in agreement with him regarding this unjustified, unconstitutional act of war. Our incompetent, indecisive, out-ofhis-league President can’t seem to make up his mind whether we’re putting the precious lives of members of our armed forces at risk (and spending hundreds of millions and possibly billion of dollars) for humanitarian reasons or to get rid of Khadafy. But in either case, the selfinterest of the United States was not and is not involved. Libya poses no threat to this country. For those people who disagree with me and think President Obama was right in attacking Libya, I ask why should our military forces also not be involved for the same reasons (for humanitarian purposes or regime change) in Syria, Darfur, Rwanda, etc.? What are your thoughts on this subject, Congressman Eliot Engel? Minister Farrakhan got it exactly right, “Barack Hussein Obama, who the hell do you think you are?” Alvin Gordon
Directed by Laurie Walton • Chorographed by Emily Walton • Musical Direction by Remy Kurs • Book by O’Donnell and Meehan • Music and Lyrics by Marc Shalman • Lyrics by Scott Wittman •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Saturday: April 2 @ 8:30 PM Saturdays: April 9 & 16 @ 8:45 PM Sunday: April 3 @ 2:00 PM Sunday: April 10 @ 4:00 PM & 7:30 PM Wednesday: April 13 @ 7:30 PM Thursdays: April 7 & 14 @ 7:30 PM Tickets available at www.RiverdaleY.org
• At the door: $20
• Admission: $18 ( online)
• Seniors: $15
• Students :$10
5625 Arlington Avenue Bronx, NY 10471 718-548-8200
19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, March 31, 2011
230th St. mall moves forward; no word on stores
to grocery stores like Shoprite to fill the mall have been floating around, but very few details have emerged directly from the developer. The mall can be up to 167,000 square feet total, and must have at least one parking spot for every 1,000 square feet of retail development. Until construction begins, Ceruzzi has agreed to let the current parking lot stay open. “I have been working on trying to get a shopping mall at that location for many years in order to revitalize the area and provide attractive, convenient shopping and other amenities for people in the community and elsewhere,” Koppell said in a statement. “I am very pleased that it appears our efforts are finally coming to fruition.” While the project has created a buzz in the community, recent history is keeping some people from getting overexcited.