Community rallies against
Blondell Avenue homeless shelter
(L-r) CB 11 District Manager Jeremy Warneke, CB11 Chairman Al D’Angelo, Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Attorney John Parker, and CB10 Chairman Joseph Russo sit on a panel at Jacobi Hospital’s
Rotunda Monday night to hear the public’s feedback on the proposed homeless shelter at 1400 Blondell Avenue .Photo courtesy of Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s offi ce
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 5, 2020 5
BY KYLE VUILLE
Frustration, rage and despair
poured from the mouths
of community board 10 and 11
residents opposing the 200-
bed men’s homeless shelter
set to be built at 1400 Blondell
Avenue.
In response to the news
of the homeless shelter, CB’s
10 and 11, and Councilman
Mark Gjonaj along with Assemblyman
Mike Benedetto
convened a community town
hall meeting on Monday evening,
February 24 to discuss
the public’s concerns.
CB 11 district manager
Jeremy Warneke, CB 11
chairman Al D’Angelo, environmental
attorney John
Parker and CB 10 chairman
Joseph Russo were onstage
to answer the public’s questions.
However, no representatives
from the shelter provider
Care for the Homeless
or the NYC Department of
Homeless Services were present
at the meeting.
According to an email sent
by NYC Human Resources
Agency to CB11, there are
currently 394 households
comprised of 841 individuals
in shelters across the city that
formerly resided in CB 11.
The crowd roared in disbelief,
questioning whether
those numbers accurately accounted
for individuals from
the community or if the last
known address was one of the
area’s hospitals.
The email from the provider
to CB11 outlined what
services they plan to offer,
and crucial aspects of the
project, like planned security
within and around the facility.
According to the email,
there would be a 10 p.m. curfew
put in place for those living
at the shelter.
Gjonaj explained the zoning
of the property for the
shelter is ‘as of right’ with its
M1-1 zoning.
The councilman added he
has been in contact with the
property owner who was unaware
of the developer’s intention
when he signed the
paperwork because of its
vague description, however,
the deal has yet to be closed.
“This is as proactive as
you possibly get, there’s no
deal, there’s been no meeting,
there’s no contract at play,
and we’re going to do our best
to make sure that contract
doesn’t close,” Gjonaj said.
Gjonaj and Parker, who
specializes in environmental
and land use law, laid out
some options and tools available
to offi cials and the community
in fi ghting the shelter’s
siting., including the
fact that the development
site is in a fl ood zone. He suggested
forcing the city to perform
various scoping studies
to study the visibility, environmental
impact and site
characteristics, would delay
construction and drive up
the cost.
Parker also informed attendees
how the project can
be slowed down by forcing
the city agencies to be transparent
on what they are doing
throughout the entire
process.
The attorney also mentioned
a fair share analysis
based on the number of homeless
the borough is burdened
to shelter - the Bronx is the
second smallest borough, but
houses the most shelters.
The loudest outcry at the
town hall came from members
of the Westchester Square
Business Improvement Disrict,
claiming all the investment
and improvements to
the area will be squandered.
Westchester Square BID
executive director Yasmin
Cruz said $3 million has been
invested into the area and it
has helped substantially, yet
the Square still faces many
issues including violence.
Cruz added in the past
year, the opening of a shelter
for mentally disturbed
women near the Square has
cost the BID time and resources
to hire additional security.
“To put this on top of the
problems that already exist,
it’s just going to break the
camel’s back,” Cruz said.
Sandi Lusk, president
of the Westchester Square-
Zerega Improvement Organization,
echoed Cruz’words,
saying she worked hard with
the BID and merchants in the
area to create a attractive
shopping area.
“And now If they put this
shelter one block away from
Westchester Square, there
are already 198 homeless men
(so I believe) that are in Bronx
State Hospital, and they hang
out in Westchester Square,”
Lusk exclaimed. “There will
be 400 homeless men one
block away from Westchester
Square!”
“Everything we have
achieved will be destroyed.”
She believes the shelter will
impact the-yet -to-be-built
Blondell Commons development.
“The goal was to have
children, families living
there. Who is going to want to
move there with children?”
she asked.
An unnamed resident of
Blondell Avenue questioned
whether the families planning
to move into Blondell
Commons would be notifi ed
of the shelter if it were to happen.
After hearing numerous
negative accounts of encounters
with the homeless, Councilman
Gjonaj said he would
be drafting a letter to the
city’s higher ups to discourage
the development and asking
his council colleagues to
use their infl uence to block
the shelter.