Over the weekend, we learned that radiation leaked out at Indian Point nuclear power plant in Westchester County just 25 miles north of The Bronx border and New York City limits. The radiation leaked into its groundwater monitoring wells raising radiation levels by as much as 65,000%. That is not a typo.
65,000%. Let that sink in.
This isn’t the first time there’s an issue at Indian Point.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who represents the 17th congressional district covering parts of Westchester and Rockland Counties (Bronx born and raised, graduating from Bronx High School of Science, by the way) wrote Stephen Burns, chairman for the USNRC on this latest issue:
“This is merely the latest in a long history of safety lapses that pose significant risks to the health and safety of families and businesses in the area. In early 2005, traces of strontium-90 and tritium were detected in the ground under Indian Point and in the Hudson River. In May 2014, two groundwater monitoring wells detected spikes in the tritium levels in groundwater and bedrock under the plant. It is unacceptable that these leaks continue to occur. The NRC must take steps to address these leaks and prevent further contamination.”
To make matters worse and which adds to why USNRC calls this the most dangerous nuclear plant in America is that it sits atop a fault line which has a 1 in 10,000 chance of having a serious enough earthquake to cause damage to the plant.
We’ve seen what happened in Japan at Fukushima during the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster which devastated that region. 5 years later and there is a 12 mile radius exclusionary zone around the power plant to keep people out and protect the general population from exposure to radiation. That was originally at 50 miles or more which would place NYC within the zone with the exception of the southern half of Staten Island.
50 Mile Radius from Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in Buchanan, Westchester County
So with all these past and current issues, why is Indian Point still open? Why is it just 25 miles from America’s most populous city and within the country’s largest metropolitan area? New York City’s population alone at almost 8.5 million is more than twice that of the next largest city—Los Angeles with just over 3.9 million.
Should a similar disaster occur as with Japan’s Fukushima (and note that one of the major reasons Indian Point is considered to be the most dangerous is that it was not designed to be earthquake proof—Fukishima and California ones are).
As Congresswoman Lowey said, “Indian Point would never have been licensed in such a highly populated area had it been proposed today. ”
How many people are at risk should a major disaster strike the plant? Based on the 2010 census:
5 miles: 83,398
10 miles: 272,969
15 miles: 684,580
25 miles: 2,193,542
50 miles: 17,287,412
Let’s not forget the numerous watersheds that supply drinking water to over 9 million residents of New York City, and Westchester, Putnam, Ulster, and Orange County (The Croton Watershed sits within a 25 mile radius of Indian Point).
Some public officials may tell you that everything is ok but the fact remains that it is time to close Indian Point once and for all. We can do better and need to protect the tens of millions of citizens of the region not to mention the economic engine that fuels this country that is New York City.
One thing The Bronx sorely lacks besides safe spaces for the LGBTQ community and its youth is a place for adults to mingle and call home. The Bronx lacks a single dedicated gay bar but tomorrow night at Lotus Flame Restaurant in Morris Park, get ready for a new event for our community.
Bronx Equality Night is billed as a social event and evening of networking for all genders and people of all sexual orientations with drink specials available to those of legal drinking age.
The event begins at 8PM which means you can take advantage of Lotus Flame’s full food menu until 11PM and then only bar food will be available from 11PM-Midnight.
So if you don’t have anything to do tomorrow evening come on out and have some fun with our Bronx LGBTQ family!
The goal is to make this a regular event so spread the word and support!
Lotus Flame Restaurant is located at 866 Morris Park Avenue.
It was a hot summer day on August 11, 1973 in the Bronx at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue as DJ Kool Herc and his sister held a party in what would become known as the birth of Hip Hop—a genre which has transcended cultural, national, and many other boundaries by leaps and bounds.
Now, the New York City Council, thanks to the leadership of Councilwoman Vanessa L. Gibson, has passed a resolution to co-name to stretch in front of 1520, ‘Hip Hop Boulevard’ further solidifying The Bronx’s importance in the creation of the genre as the birthplace of Hip Hop.
Mural of DJ Kool Herc by Tats Cru commemorating the 40th anniversary of Hip Hop at the Andrew Freedman Home.A new mural has taken place of the old but DJ Kool Herc’s portion was preserved.
We already knew we were the creators, the originators, now we have an official seal of approval with ‘Hip Hop Boulevard’
Parkchester South Condominiums, the largest of the two separate condominiums that make up Parkchester—with 8,286 of the more than 12,000 units in the complex— is undergoing major capital improvements yet again. But this time rather than taking loans out, they will instead institute a temporary 15.19% common charge hike across the board for all units in the development to pay for these improvements.
Needless to say, this isn’t sitting well with residents and home owners at one of the largest condo developments in the world. Residents have been organizing against this fee and have a rally scheduled for this coming Wednesday, February 10th, at 4pm at 2000 E Tremont Avenue.
Back in 2000, Parkchester South Condominiums financed a $130 million loan which retrofitted the 8,000 plus unit with new windows, electrical wiring, and plumbing. Before this major capital improvement took place, it was reported that there were reports of over 60 leaks a day in the development.
This wasn’t an easy deal which even ended up in Bronx Supreme Court with residents and owners challenging the condominium board which imposed a $35 increase on common charges to repay the loan. Minor exceptions were made for people with disabilities and seniors if they qualified.
Now, rather than taking out a loan, the condo board has decided to implement an across the board 15.19% increase on common charges to cover the capital improvements it says it must complete by the end of 2017 as per NYC regulations.
According to a memo issued by board:
“Why are these repairs necessary? Why now?
The wide-spread water infiltration and the discovery of roof slab damage are matters that must be dealt with immediately to avoid the possibility of a ceiling collapse, which could potentially injure someone, displace neighbors, and leave units in disrepair, rendering them unsaleable. When it comes to issues of safety, the Board must act responsibly and we immediately put a plan in place to protect our homes and investments in Parkchester.
It helps to get to the origin of how we found the need for repairs. Under new management installed by the Board of Managers, building engineer consultants conducted investigations to address 300 leaks located in 92 different buildings. These inspections revealed damage caused by years of deterioration due to past water infiltration. Structural engineers determined that, although prior roof repairs may have addressed and stopped leaks, water had penetrated the roof slab and continued to cause further deterioration. This deterioration was not always visible either from above when roofs were removed and replaced, or even in some cases in apartments. This latent condition was likely further aggravated by the construction practices and materials commonly used in the 1940’s, but not acceptable today. We are also obligated to comply with NYC Department of Buildings Local Law 11 regulations with respect to regular inspections, maintenance and repairs to building facades. Those regulations require work in 17 buildings before the end of 2017.”
The board’s reasoning for the increase rather than taking out a loan as in the past was stated as:
“The Board only came to this decision after careful and considerate deliberation, understanding that this temporary increase will be difficult for many unit owners. Borrowing funds for these repairs would require approval of 66 2/3% of all unit owners. Having gone through that process for the renovation loan in 2000, the Board was conscious of the time and additional expense required to obtain that approval. In addition, the interest expense and other costs associated with such a loan would add to the cost for unit owners over the long term. For these reasons, it was ultimately decided that a temporary increase in common charges best meets our objective to complete the extensive repairs in as timely a manner as possible. Ultimately, spreading the temporary increase out over a two-year period reflects the most flexible and conservative way to raise the funds to get this critical work done quickly and effectively.”
One of the dozens if not hundreds of statues you’ll find around Parkchester.
PSC board stresses that the increase is only temporary and for 2018 they would revert to 2015 levels with some few minor tweaks based on the needs of the 2018 budget along with fuel, and other necessary expenditures taken into account when setting fees. They decided a common charge increase was the best route leading to greater savings overall and speeding up the process but at what cost?
The increases will average anywhere from the low $100.00’s to the $150.00’s or more a month based on the size of the apartment. No matter how you look at it, owners will be expected to shell out well over $1,000 extra a year until the end of 2017 when all of this work is scheduled to be completed all the while creating a burden on many owners.
There’s also the fact that many units are not owner occupied and will these landlords pass on this increase to the tenants?
Something worth mentioning is that NO ONE will be exempt from this increase, not the board, nor entities that own a large number of units.
Are you an owner at Parkchester South Condominiums? Are you a renter? We’d love to hear from you on what you think about this increase and capital improvements.
The perforated design of the community space is supposed to give a feeling of openness to the community.
Two weeks ago we reported on the artist selection process for the permanent public art for the new 40th Precinct which was held at The Bronx Documentary Center.
During last week’s presentation, we got a look into what the new 40th Precinct would look like slated for construction at its new location on 149th Street and St Ann’s in Melrose.
The design itself is that of stacked blocks centered around a common atrium, with each block serving a specific purpose. Each rooftop will be green with plantings but what will make this building unique is the dedicated public community room.
The artists’ presentations last week focused on their vision for the community space but also took into account portions of the exterior space.
They also envisioned what the room could potentially function as which is not as easy as it sounds due to the fact that this is unprecedented in New York City and the 40th Precinct will be setting the tone for the future of what NYPD precincts can look and function as.
The new design allows for more interactions with the community in a friendlier and more accessible manner (no, not for more incarcerations and I’m the biggest skeptic of such concepts).
The ability for the community to have a place of its own within will indeed have an impact on a neighborhood where there have been major strains with the NYPD and hopefully this is a step in fostering conversation and healing between the two.
Such is the power of architecture and design when done in a conscious manner.
Architecture can be that conduit.
And that’s where the permanent public art commission comes into play.
After 5 hours of presentations and deliberations over the pros and cons of each artist’s proposals, with considerations to the community and advisory panel’s recommendations, the main panel was split on two artists.
Percent for Art, a division of New York City’s Department of Culture who’s handling this process and the commission eventually decided to split the commission between Borinquen Gallo and Paul Ramirez Jonas due to the strengths of both their proposals.
Both artists have experience in having worked in The Bronx and Gallo has the distinction of being raised here (and still living in our borough) after moving with her family from Italy to the South Bronx in 1988.
Paul Ramirez Jonas envisioned a community room that would be sort of a satellite of an existing Bronx institution like The New York Botanical Garden among the several he listed (Note: this was just simply conceptual and no institution had actually been contacted).
Borinquen Gallo took the opportunity to do some on the ground research to develop her vision by not only interviewing NYPD officers at the old 40th but also residents who walked by the new site.
This helped formulate a vision that came from common ground found on both sides of the NYPD and community equation.
A controversial component of Gallo’s proposal was a neon sign she envisioned that would read ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the outside where the NYPD hold their briefings before each shift and on the inside the same sign would read ‘Blue Lives Matter’ for visitors to see. The expectation is that this would be a way to foster communications between the community and NYPD.
Artist Borinquen Gallo envisions a sign that reads Black Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter depending whether you’re looking at it from the inside or the outside of the precinct.
Given the two 40th precinct police officers shot last week at Melrose Houses, this artist couldn’t have been a better pick.
For the same reasons, this entire project just took on an even more important meaning as it is quite clear that we have much work to do. Having the first community space in a precinct and community working side by side with the NYPD in a shared space is but just one of many steps in that direction.
An important message from the Historic Districts Council regarding the changes to zoning which the the overwhelming majority of community boards has said no to. Despite widespread opposition, New York City Planning Commission has voted yes to the changes against the will of the people. MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD BY SUBMITTING YOUR TESTIMONY HERE!
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Via HDC
A wholesale upzoning of all five boroughs is a handout to developers.
This is the last step before a vote. Please join HDC in speaking up on Feb. 9 & 10!
Tell City Council that New Yorkers deserve affordable housing without upzoning the entire city. They have the power to make these decisions, but need to hear from YOU.
One Size Does Not Fit All! Stand with New York City’s Communities Against the Mayor’s Plan to Overdevelop Our Neighborhoods
Who: NYC City Council
What: Public Hearing on Zoning for Quality & Affordability (ZQA); Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH)
Where: City Hall, City Hall Park (Manhattan)
When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 9:30 am (MIH ONLY) & Wednesday, Feb. 10, 9:30 am (ZQA ONLY)
Earlier this year, HDC testified at the City Planning Commission’s scoping hearing against Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA). Since the spring, City Planning amended ZQA to reduce heights for contextual districts, but this has been the only adjustment. As ZQA and its sibling, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) were presented before community boards city-wide, where it was disapproved across the boards, including strong opposition from 4 of the 5 Borough Boards. The majority of community boards across the city (including all of the boards in the Bronx) have voted against these proposals DESPITE the Mayor’s promise that they will increase housing affordability.
HDC, alongside partner organizations and hundreds of individuals did not get to testify at the City Planning Commission’s official Public Hearing, as we could not gain access to the building.
Despite the wide opposition, Mayor de Blasio has plans to move full speed ahead. Ignoring the community boards’ votes, he stated: “The folks that are elected by all the people, the council members and the mayor, have to make the final decision.” This is why it is crucial to tell your electeds how you feel on Feb 9th and 10th.
Both ZQA & MIH rely on a wholesale upzoning of the entire city, without consideration to borough, neighborhood, side street or wide street;
Current height limits are not proven to impede developers’ decisions to participate in inclusionary housing, so why raise them if it will still be optional in ZQA?
There is no study or proposed solution to preserving existing affordable units – upzoning could incentivize demolition of these units;
Senior housing will be a fraction of larger market rate residential and will not be permanent, but the heights will be;
There is no provision for existing affordable housing to be preserved; it may be erased by new development;
There are no requirements for equal access, amenities or finishes in affordable housing (i.e. “poor doors” & “poor floors”).end You
HDC has a new, simpler email advocacy system. Please take a moment to quickly fill out the form to click to have your voice heard in the future. It’s just a moment of your time today to make a world of difference in the future of our beloved city.
Historic Districts Council
232 East 11th Street
New York NY 10003 United States
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Tonight, as part of The Bronx Museum’s First Friday events, in collaboration with Carnegie Hall, Chris Washburne and the SYOTUS Band will be performing with their own inventive take on Latin Jazz so put on your dancing shoes and let’s get ready to mambo!
Oh and bonus: Tonight, two of our favorite small Bronx businesses are joining forces to cater this event?! Morris Perk will be serving their signature lemon limeade and hot chocolate alongside La Masa’s amazing empanadas!
The Bronx Museum writes about tonight’s festivities:
Free tours of the galleries from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Kids activity table from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Concert begins at 7:30pm
Free admission and refreshments (donations suggested)
Location: Lower Gallery
About the performers
Trombonist Chris Washburne and his innovative Latin jazz group the SYOTOS Bandconsistently push Latin jazz into new territory with their dissonant, driving sound and contemporary, up-tempo beats. Breaking down boundaries between genres, their most recent album Low Ridin’, in a style the band calls “acid mambo,” features Latin jazz versions of popular classic rock songs from the 1960s and ’70s by artists from Lou Reed to Bob Marley. This concert will also feature new works inspired by the song “Somewhere” from West Side Story and written by young people in the Bronx community in collaboration with Washburne and his band as part of The Somewhere Project, a citywide creative learning project that honors Carnegie Hall’s 125th anniversary.
Click here for more information on Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concerts and this exciting performance!
The following is an op-ed piece by Kirsten Theodos, spokesperson for TakeBackNYC:
All across the city, we are seeing neighborhoods being destroyed by real estate speculation pushing out longtime residents and established small businesses. Predatory landlords target working class communities inhabited predominantly by ethnic minorities, repackaging it as a “luxury community” which intentionally drives out longtime residents and small businesses. The question is no longer if gentrification is coming to the Bronx, the question is how fast will it happen and what are the consequences to Bronxites?
The first victims of gentrification are almost always a neighborhood’s Mom & Pop businesses and their employees. Speculators use gentrification as an opportunity to easily gain financing by buyingundervalued property with commercial tenants. Since NYC commercial tenants have no protections like residential tenants do, these speculators can increase business owners rents by 200%, 300%, 400%+ which dramatically increase revenue and the value of the property while pushing out the current tenants in the process. This also leads to increased property taxes to the landlords which landlords shift to tenants in ever changing yearly payments. Many of these predatory landlords force long standing tenants into short term oppressive leases (in some cases month to month), which put the landlord in a better position to wait for a big bank or franchise willing to pay huge rents or wait until another speculator wants to buy the property. This speculation, under the guise of “progress” has made today’s commercial leases little more than indentured servitude for the small business owners.
This destruction of our local small businesses results in loss of jobs, lower wages, higher consumer prices, loss of a major pathway for social mobility for low income families, the loss of our arts and cultural groups, and the loss of neighborhood character. NYC small businesses face a crisis to survive caused by exorbitant rent hikes, unfair lease terms, and landlords refusing to renew leases for tenants in good standing.
In fact, last year, the Bronx led all of the boroughs with the highest increase (30%) in small business court evictions with over 1,200 businesses ordered closed. As Bronx Mom & Pop businesses are struggling to survive, one sector of business is booming in NYC, the growth in chain stores. In 2015, the city had its seventh consecutive year of growth in chains. According to a report by the Center for an Urban Future, the Bronx led the city’s five boroughs in the largest percentage of new chain stores from 2014 to 2015.
Note taped to the inside of Zaro’s as shared by actor and Bronx resident Dominic Colon.
If real estate speculation continues to go unchecked, the commercial evictions will only get worse and Bronxites will continue losing jobs. There is a solution which our most powerful elected officials aren’t making the public aware of: The Small Business Jobs Survival Act (SBJSA). The SBJSA is bill that has been introduced in the NYC Council by Bronx Council Member Annabel Palma, which would give commercial tenants three specific rights:
-A minimum 10-year lease with the right to renewal, so they can better plan for the future of their business.
-Equal negotiation terms when it comes time to renew their lease with recourse to binding arbitration by a 3rd party if fair terms cannot be found.
-Restrictions to prevent landlords from passing their property taxes onto small business owners.
There are 51 Council members in the NYC Council. To become a law a majority is needed to vote yes, and the SBJSA has 27 sponsors which is the needed majority. Unfortunately, even a bill that has garnered the support of the majority of City Council has not inspired Council Member Robert Cornegy (Chairman of the Committee on Small Business) or Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to call for a Public Hearing and vote on this important piece of legislation that would give Mom & Pops the rights to survive when negotiating with their landlords. More alarming is the fact that Speaker Mark-Viverito sponsored this bill as a Council Member in past years, but withdrew her support at a time when the crisis has become significantly worse for Bronx small businesses. Furthermore, the majority of Bronx Council Members have not signed onto the SBJSA, a bill whichwould ultimately save Bronx businesses and jobs. Council Member Cabrera, whom like the Speaker also sponsored this bill previously, has withdrawn his support at a time when the small businesses located near the future home of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center have become victims of skyrocketing rents and shorter lease renewals by scheming landlords. In September, there was a forum to save Bronx small businesses in Council Member Vacca’s district. According to Council Member Vacca’s office, whose district lost the 3 businesses in Pelham Bay, they have received communications from both merchants in support and landlords in opposition to the SBJSA. He also has yet to sign onto the bill.
For 30 years the SBJSA has been denied a vote by the successful efforts of the Real Estate Board of NY (REBNY) rigging the process behind closed doors to prevent landlords from being regulated and protecting their profits. Most recently in 2009, Speaker Quinn obstructed a vote on the same bill, which at that time had 32 Council Members sponsor it including the unanimous support of the Committee on Small Business. The real estate lobby has proven they can collaborate at City Hall with elected officials who receive unprecedented sums of REBNY money. REBNY with its compliant Council Members has two goals: to rig the process to prevent a vote on a law that gives rights to commercial tenants and to pass legislation which keeps the status quo, keeping all the lease negotiating power in the hands of landlords. In 2014, Senator Ruben Diaz illuminated this problem: “The real estate industry’s grip on the City Council has become a nightmare for bodegueros and many successful Hispanic businesses, destroying any legacy that thousands of Hispanic New Yorkers could hope to pass on to the next generation”.
If democracy can play out and the SBJSA can just get a vote, it would pass, and in 180 days all NYC small businesses would have rights in the commercial lease renewal process. The SBJSA would automatically combat gentrification that has already penetrated the Bronx. Let change come to a neighborhood, but let the small businesses who sacrificed and invested in that neighborhood have the opportunity to stay in business, protect their investment, and the jobs of their employees.
The only hope for our small businesses to get fair treatment at City Hall is if enough true Progressive Council Members keep their campaign pledges to fight for progressive legislation, even if it’s against the influence of special interests. Call upon your Council Member to end the rigged process at City Hall that has successfully denied Mom & Pops a vote on legislation giving them rights to survive in business. Make your voice heard at City Hall and let’s stand against greedy landlords and developers who do not care about our communities, only profit, and pass the SBJSA. Bronx small business owners and their employees deserve their Council Member’s support and are entitled to a full vote by City Council.
Log ontohttp://on.nyc.gov/1POTiZ1 If you do not see your Council Member listed as a sponsor call him/her NOW and demand he/she sponsor the SBJSA along with the majority of City Council.
Contact Speaker Mark-Viverito and demand she hold a Public Hearing and vote on the SBJSA and put an end to this crisis, stop over 1,000 small businesses from shuttering every month across the 5 boroughs, and stop the extortion of our hard working immigrant business owners.
Kirsten Theodos is a third-generation immigrant from a family of small business owners and spokesperson for TakeBackNYC, a coalition of NYC small business owners and residents advocating for the Small Business Jobs Survival Act. For more information on the SBJSA log ontowww.takebacknyc.nyc
Disclaimer: Comments, views, and opinions are that solely of the author and should never be misconstrued as necessarily that of Welcome2TheBronx or any other authors of this site.
Welcome2TheBronx encourages reader submissions for consideration for publication on our site. It is our mission to be able to provide a platform where Bronx residents can have their voices broadcasted to a wider audience.
To submit an article, email us at submissions@welcome2thebronx.com
Today he has issued the findings of the report which singles out the Concourse Yards in Bedford Park and nixing out the 149th Street yards in Melrose and Broadway Yards in Riverdale as currently logistically unfeasible.
The report states:
“One yard, however, was found to have tremendous potential for future development: the Concourse Yard located adjacent to Lehman College. These MTA yards, located between Jerome Avenue on the east, Paul Avenue on the west, East 205th Street on the north and roughly East 198th Street on the south, has long been seen as a key outpost for potential development. In fact, this outpost likely represents the greatest potential for mixed-use development of any piece of public land in the borough.”
Estimated costs for decking over the area are anywhere from $350-$500 million and the BP’s office is calling on reaching out to area stakeholders to push forward with a request for proposal for such a project.
In the mix are recommendations for several acres to be used to expand Lehman College’s (3 acres), co-op, condos, townhomes, and rental units not to mention community facilities.
“Based on information compiled by our office on other similar projects, it is estimated that the low-end cost to build a deck over the 13 acres we have proposed for potential development would be between $350 and $500 million. This is a real opportunity to not only provide much-needed homeownership, mixed-income housing and retail space, but to allow Lehman College to expand by better connecting it to the Bedford Park neighborhood and making it a true community campus. To best maximize potential development, a rezoning to some extent must occur. The Center Yard is currently zoned R6 and C8-2, while the South Yard is zoned R6 and M1-1. Rezoning the C8-2 and M1-1 portions to R6 would create a near “as is” scenario. Under this scenario, the Center Yard zoned as R6 and the Quality Housing Option with a 3.0 residential Floor-to-Area Ratio (FAR) would garner approximately 1.3 million square feet worth of development. Given the spatial constraints of the South Yard with trains exiting the yard to connect to the 4 train elevated line, we propose that 3 acres of the 8.47 acres be considered for expansion of Lehman College. Under a R6 zone with a 4.8 community facility FAR, 627,264 square feet could be realized. Without a significant upzoning, approximately two million square feet of development could be realized. Given the enormity of the Center Yard, new right-of-ways would need to be mapped north-south and potentially east-west. This layout gives an opportunity for the Center Yard to have a contextual approach. Along the exterior of the yard on wider streets, development of taller cooperative, condominium or rental buildings with local and mid-box retail could be accomplished, while on the middle right-of-way(s), townhouses that include a mix of homeownership and rental on a quieter strip, would create a new village atmosphere in the middle of Bedford Park that would complement existing housing and retail stock.”
In the report, it states that decking over the Concourse Yards in Bedford Park can result in 2 million square feet for development over a 13 of the 19 acre area.
This is a pretty dense proposal for a neighborhood not known for such high density considering all the wide open spaces of Mosholu Parkway, Jerome Park Reservoir, Van Cortlandt Park, Lehman College, and even the very yards we speak of. A neighborhood dominated by mostly 6 story buildings.
R6 zonings do not have height limits but are limited by the neighborhood’s sky exposure plane according to New York City zoning regulations. The plane begins at 60 feet from street level and can potentially lead to developments that are more than twice the height of the typical buildings in Bedford Park.
Although the area has good transportation connections with the 4, B, D lines proximate to the site, the report fails to study the impact on our transportation system that thousands of new units, not to mention thousands of new residents would have on Bedford Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.
In most reports we’ve seen for big developments in The Bronx they speak about our great transportation network but never really delve into the issue that they are already overburdened let alone go into how it will effect our transit system and vehicular traffic.
We’re advocates for homeownership as it solidifies neighborhoods but will it be affordable? The same can be asked about the rental housing stock that could potentially occupy the space.
We want to hear from area residents, what do you think about this potentially happening in the relatively quiet neighborhood of Bedford Park.
A conceptual image via the MTA of what these “doorless” open gangway, articulated subway trains would look like.
We won’t be seeing them anytime soon and at the very earliest only 2, ten car prototypes will be ordered for delivery by 2020—ish. That ‘ish’ means we probably won’t see them anytime soon until perhaps 2025 or beyond given the MTA’s track record with advancing technology.
But the future will be interesting and looks like New York City is on pace to joining the rest of the modern world by testing articulated subway cars that will be just one long, open train from end to end where passengers can roam freely.
These new trains will literally snake through the system providing for roughly 10% additional capacity by making them one long train car without doors between each car. The designs not only provides wide open spaces for people to move freely but also a sense of security as you’ll never find yourself ‘the only one’ in a subway car.
Sadly, these trains won’t be tried in The Bronx (where we have horrendous overcrowding on the 2,4, and 5 lines but on the A and R lines where they may be crowded but no where nearly as crowded as we are.
Toronto is way ahead of the game with these trains running in their system.
The trains will also provide WiFi, electronic charging stations, digital screens, and of course security cameras to watch our every move.
But it’s not just the plan to have these technologies on new trains but the MTA is proposing to have them installed on existing ones.
“The Governor’s proposal will also improve the customer experience aboard subway cars and buses with digital information screens, Wi-Fi hotspots and USB charging ports for mobile devices. Charging ports will be installed on 200 subway cars this year and 400 next year, while all new buses delivered starting later this year will have Wi-Fi hotspots. By 2018, some 1,500 buses will have Wi-Fi hotspots and USB charging ports, bringing a new level of connectivity and convenience to customers.” said the MTA’s press release on the proposed future of transit in the region.
Given the importance of our electronic devices and how much time we spend on commuting it’s only fitting that the MTA at the very least provides a connected ride and one that people can charge their devices. I can already see people fighting their way to these precious seats much like folks fight their way in a Starbucks for a seat near an outlet.
What do you think of the possible future of how we commute?
Tomorrow, Saturday January 30th, thanks to New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, NYC Council Members Ritchie Torres and Carlos Menchaca, together with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a Bronx LBGT Youth Summit will be held at Bronxworks Betances Community Center.
The event, called, Love Yourself, Express Yourself, Be Yourself, runs from 10AM through 4:30PM and will highlight what LGBTQ specific services our available to our youth in our borough and will also offer youth-led workshops and presentations.
This will also be a wonderful opportunity for the community to mix together and get to know each other through networking and meeting at a safe space for all.
If you’re from the ages of 13-24 or know of an LGBTQ youth who can benefit from this summit, by all means encourage them to register for this free event (food and Metro Cards provided according to the post.
Bronxworks Betances Community Center is located at 547 E 146th Street in Mott Haven just off of St Ann’s Avenue and is easily accessible by public transportation on the 2/5 line to 3rd Avenue and 149th Street, 6 train to Brook Avenue or various buses such as the 2, 4, 15, 17, 19, 21, 41.
There are many elements of Charlotte D’Alessio’s life that read like a teenager’s fairy tale. Instagram didn’t exist when I was in high school, but I imagine I’d be pretty fascinated by the beautiful, leggy 17-year-old with more than 174,000 followers and a Wilhelmina Models contract, too. For the legions of aspiring Cool Teens™, D’Alessio, who has been modeling full-time for the last year, is living the dream — though her Cinderella story has been anything but conventional.
At Coachella in 2015, pictures of D’Alessio (above, right) and her friend, 18-year-old model Josie Canseco (left), flooded the Internet, winding up on places like the festival’s official Twitter and The Cobra Snake’s Instagram, among others. BuzzFeed spoke to D’Alessio soon after, resulting in a viral article that has since garnered 1,479,600 views. Wilhelmina reached out to D’Alessio from there, and the rest is history. In the 12 months since D’Alessio was discovered, the Canada native has landed a slew of commercial campaigns, left Beverly Hills High Schoolto pursue homeschooling and launched a YouTube channel with her friend and fellow model, Abby Champion. And with a secret project in the works for this summer, I imagine that D’Alessio’s stake in the California modeling pantheon will only deepen.
On the eve of Coachella 2016’s first weekend, I hopped on the phone with D’Alessio to get caught up on the last year of her life, from her social media strategy to her dream campaign.
You obviously gained a lot of attention at Coachella last year. What can you tell me about your experience there?
I went with my friend Josie — it was my first year going — and we barely took photos. I think we took 10 photos, but people really responded to them. They ended up everywhere. I saw them on Facebook, and not just [from] friends, but random people posting them. And then The Weeknd and the Coachella Twitter reposted [one of their photos]. It was so surreal because I was just a normal girl from Canada who was going to Coachella. I had, like, 16,000 [Instagram] followers, and now it’s [174,000].
Coachella really got me started in modeling. Wilhelmina reached out to me from the [BuzzFeed] article — that’s how they saw me.
Fragrance is great, but it’s hard to write or read about because your computer screen isn’t scratch and sniff—also because I can’t talk about base notes or top notes without feeling like a fancy sommelier. I prefer to think of fragrance in terms of anthropology, which is much more fun. Have you ever thought about your personal fragrance history? Well, here’s mine.
Christina on a regular day
And when Wilhelmina reached out to you, how did you feel about going forward with the process?
Basically every single one of my friends in L.A. is a model, with Next or Wilhelmina or whatever it is. I was the non-model in the friend group because I wanted to go to UCLA. I didn’t have that much of an interest — well, I had an interest, but I didn’t think I would be successful so I didn’t really pursue it.
When they asked me to come in, I went with my dad because I was 16. I almost didn’t sign because I was so scared. But I’m happy I ended up signing with them, because they’ve been a really great agency. I had the contract in my room for two days — like, I was scared they were going to tell me to cut my hair or lose weight or something like that, but they’ve been so supportive. They never told me to change anything.
Fifth Grade: Tommy Boy
I’m not kidding, I won Tommy Boy after I aced a quiz contest in Sunday School. The ultimate bounty. If you find yourself deep in the attic of my parent’s house, and you pay close attention, you might be able to smell it.
Puberty: Abercrombie and Fitch Fierce
Don’t even pretend like you didn’t.
College: Kenzo Homme Sport
My college years were timed with the heyday of the Kenzo sweatshirt, so this was a very fancy scent to own. You can now buy it for $30 on Amazon.
I can look back at them like a tiny museum of me that smells really good—literally, because I still have them all. But enough about me and how (great) I smell. I want to know your fragrance history—tell me what scents you love and why you love them. Tell me when you wear them, and how you apply them, and why they’re special to you. Tell me everything.
