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Volume XXI • Number 24 • June 12 - 18, 2014 •
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Montefiore envisions a three-story alternative By ANDREW WOLF At a meeting of the Land Use Committee of Community Board 8 Monday evening, Montefiore Medical Center appeared to promise to vastly downsize their proposed medical care facility, which will lie between Riverdale and Oxford Avenues. Kate Rose, assistant vice president, Public Policy and Government Relations at Montefiore stated that “throughout this process, Montefiore has said we would listen closely to community concerns and solicit input and work to incorporate those concerns and inputs into a final design plan. While we have no updates on the project, we are having discussions about the potential capabilities of a significantly reduced, approximately three-story health facility with on-site parking. As per earlier updates, we also continue to discuss making the new entrance on Riverdale Avenue.” This strategy would create a much lower building. According to knowledgeable sources, Montefiore has been acquiring small parcels of property surround the current site with an eye towards expanding the building’s area, so the could fit in most of the facilities they were seeking within a lower building that would be presumably more palatable to the community. It has also been suggested that some of the local opposition by neighbors of the project may result from an attempt to jack up the prices that the neighboring property owners would receive. Senator Jeff Klein, who sponsored the legislation that
put new restrictions on the proposed construction responded that “it is apparent that based on the few details Montefiore has given regarding their new plan, they are trying to circumvent the law I recently passed. At this time however, Montefiore is still subject to the stipulations of my law, which means that they will have to notify the appropriate agencies of their plans and undergo a mandated community-approval process. If Montefiore continues to play games with the community by deliberately moving forward with a plan that circumvents this law, I will be prepared to take further legal action to stop this project - in any size, scale or form - from being built.” Klein’s colleague and political supporter, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who cosponsored the bill with the Senator agreed. “Montefiore’s indication that they are developing a plan that may involve just three stories is a hopeful sign. But I remain unalterably opposed to an 11-story behemoth that would attract as many as a thousand people per day, as originally proposed. It’s too soon to comment in detail on a plan that has not been proposed yet. “Montefiore originally failed to have conversations with community residents, elected officials and the community board. They need to correct that this time around. I hope they will work collaboratively with our community, always keeping in mind the legislation that Senator Klein and I inserted into this year’s state budget
that stopped them in their tracks in the first place. “Since we have not seen a plan, there are unanswered questions. Would this proposal be three stories including parking or three stories plus parking? Will there be enough parking? How many people would go in and out each day? And perhaps most importantly, what would be the capacity of the building and how many square feet would it contain? The original proposal was for over 90,000 square feet. “I will not pander to anyone by saying that Montefiore can never build anything whatsoever on their own property,” continued Dinowitz, but i will continue to oppose any plan that I believe would not be in the best interests of the community, and I will work with anyone and everyone to make sure nothing will be built that would have a negative impact on the community. I look forward to examining their proposal.” The hospital’s representative seemed to agree to address the concerns. “While still very preliminary, we are examining the feasibility of such a plan and whether it’s something that could work. We also are considering which services will be offered in the building. No matter what, we remain committed to continuing to provide excellent care for Riverdale residents. “We will keep the Community Board fully abreast of any developments and we will continue to make sure that residents of Riverdale have an opportunity to be heard.”
Pols demand public access to Jerome Park Reservoir
A renewed push for greater public access to the Jerome Park Reservoir was unveiled last week by local legislators. Last Thursday, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) were joined by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and a host of community activists near the Jerome Park Reservoir to introduce new legislation intent on designating Jerome Park as parkland of the city of New York. The bills, A.9681 and S.7467, would set in motion a public process by which most or all of what is known as Jerome Park can either become designated as park lands or lands that can be readily accessible to the general public for recreational use. The space could also be used as an urban wildlife or nature sanctuary. The perimeter of the Jerome Park Reservoir, which is the area that would be turned into New York City Parkland as a result of this legislation, is currently owned by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Access to the land around the reservoir, which is enclosed inside fence, is currently off-limits to the general public. “The New York City DEP has for years denied our community access to one of our most precious resources-the area around the Jerome Park Reservoir,”
Assemblyman Dinowitz said. “Even after the community defeated DEP’s plan to build a giant water filtration plant in the Jerome Park Reservoir, The DEP refused to allow residents to get closer to the reservoir. It was only after the strong community opposition to DEP’s subsequent plan to construct its monstrosity in Van Cortlandt Park that they decided, suddenly, there was a security risk in allowing people closer to the reservoir. “This legislation would set in motion a plan that would hopefully designate the area around the Jerome Park Reservoir as parkland. Having grown up across the street from the reservoir, I know firsthand the amazing resource we have and its great potential.” Senator Klein said: “In a city as large and rich with culture as New York City, open space is an invaluable asset for any community. That’s why, partnering with Assemblyman Dinowitz, I am proud to introduce legislation that will help to do just that in Jerome Park in the Bedford Park area of the Bronx. By designating all of all of the green space surrounding the Reservoir park land, in conjunction with launching a community group dedicated to boosting recreational opportunities, we can ensure more local residents and New Yorkers from
all neighborhoods experience all that Jerome Park has to offer.” “The Jerome Park Reservoir is an incredible resource that should be enjoyed by our residents. This community treasure has been left unused for far too long. Northwest Bronx families
have a right to enjoy the area around the Jerome Park Reservoir and I am glad that this new legislation will help make this area available for public recreational use. This has been a priority of mine since I became borough president, and I am proud to
stand with my colleagues in calling for greater access to the area around the Jerome Park Reservoir as well as greater community involvement in determining the future of one of our Borough’s crown jewels,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. speaks about forthcoming legislation from State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz designed to bring greater public access to the Jerome Park Reservoir.