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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APR. 15-21, 2022
BXR
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
BRUCKNER UPZONE:
PERSPECTIVES OF DEFEAT
This is a nothing to lose, everything
to gain scenario for
the unscrupulous, diabolical
Throggs Neck Associates, LLC,
a group apparently hell bent
on destroying every Low Density
Growth Management Area
within the Community Board
10 footprint. In defeat, except
for quick healing bruises to
over inflated egos, the nefarious
group ends up relatively indistinguishable
from where they
began. In contrast, our precious
low-density communities are in
a vicious dogfight for survival.
Defeat in the Bruckner upzone
battle will eventually lead to the
eradication of every Low Density
Growth Management Area;
placing all NYC low density zoning
designations on the endangered
species list. The content
of the recent Bruckner upzone
City Planning text amendment
review strongly indicates desires
to set an R-5 zoning context,
which will replace current
R3 and R4 contextual zonings in
Low Density Growth Management
areas. This important slice
of information was shielded
from readily accessible public
BY SANDI LUSK
Everyone is up in arms about
the $800 million in taxpayer
money going to the Buffalo Bills
Stadium, and rightly so. But I can
top that one: $430 million for a
3-story building to house 200-single
homeless men on Blondell Avenue.
Yes, folks, the cost to clean up
the toxic and waterlogged site has
gone from $350 million to $430 million.
Think of that huge amount of
money, it boggles the mind.
One of our conscientious members
found the following information
online:
For 1347 Blondell Ave. for a
homeless shelter and health clinic:
Development cost: $430 million
(including all soft costs and hard
costs). The report was done by Andrew
Knox, of Edelman Sultan
Knox Wood Architects, and was
sent to the office of then Borough
President Ruben Diaz Jr. The developer
is Dan Shavolian, who is
known as a developer of homeless
shelters throughout the city. The
site will be 37,803 square feet and
three floors. This debacle was supposed
to begin June 2021 and end
December 2022.
As if this is not bad enough,
consider this: A soil boring survey
was done at the site, which
found evidence of water between
8-10 feet below the surface (it is a
recognized flood zone because a
creek runs below it).
At the Blondell Commons site,
which is adjoining at 1346 Blondell
Ave., the DEC stated:
“Volatile organic compounds
in the groundwater may move into
the soil vapor (air spaces within
the soil), which in turn may move
into overlying buildings and affect
the indoor air quality. This
process, which is similar to the
movement of radon gas from the
subsurface into the indoor air of
buildings, is referred to as soil vapor
intrusion. The potential exists
for people to inhale site contaminants
due to soil vapor intrusion
in any future redevelopment and
occupancy.” 1347 Blondell Ave.
has the same toxic history, if not
worse.
So, let me recap. The city is
planning on spending $430 million
of your tax dollars to house
200 homeless men in a 3-story
building on a toxic site with a water
table of 8-10 feet. The building
has been delayed until 2024,
but it should just be killed. This
is an outrageous and ridiculous
expenditure. We have contacted
the new borough president, the
city comptroller, our councilperson,
and our state senator about
this insanity. This goes beyond
the bounds of rationality. It must
be one of the biggest boondoggles
since a conman in 1824 named
Lozier told people to show up with
their saws to saw off part of Manhattan
Island or it would sink.
The development of the Blondell
site will be a toxic disaster and
quagmire. Can no one stop this
insanity?
And now a few choice words
for those who recommended this
wonderful site to the city Department
of Homeless Services, as
well as another “ideal” site for
200 homeless men just yards away
from the Easter Seals Bronx Developmental
Center playground.
Obviously, in recommending
these terrible sites for homeless
shelters you did not do your homework
and were only interested in
sites on the periphery of your district.
These decisions you have
made so lightly have the potential
to change communities and the
health of so many people, who will
have to live with this for decades.
The White Plains Road shelter has
been killed, and these two also
need to go. Maybe next time you
recommend and put forward a site
for a shelter (and I’m looking at
you CB11), you will at least do the
right thing and research it first.
CIVIC CENTER
Westchester Square/
Zerega Improvement
Organization
view. If approved the Bruckner
Up-Zone, through the actions of
New York City Planning, can potentially
wipe out every CB 10
low-density neighborhood from
Spencer Estate to Locust Point.
It is imperative that every concerned
resident attend all events
related to this egregious action.
An upcoming must attend event:
Community Board 10, Housing
and Zoning Committee meeting,
Tuesday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m.
at St. Benedicts Church/ Father
Albert Hall. The number of
people in attendance will sway
political support necessary for
community success. People, get
prepared for battle, defeat is
not an option. Paraphrasing the
words of “Common Sense” author
Thomas Paine, whether we
defeat the enemy in one battle or
in segments, victory will come.
LOSE YOUR ZONING, LOSE
YOUR COMMUNITY!
Note: The following story is
a fictional work strictly for entertainment
purposes; any similarity
or resemblance to any
persons living or dead, or actual
and future situations is entirely
coincidental.
THE TINY GLUTTONS
Once upon a time, a group
of tiny gluttons, fully aware
of existing zoning regulations
and earning potential, purchased
properties. One tiny glutton
bought vacant lots, never
erected structures, neglected
the properties; they soon became
neighborhood eyesores. A
second tiny glutton purchased
a robust business, subsequent
circumstances resulted in closure
and another neglected, vacant
property. The tiniest glutton,
despite a thriving business,
sensing a money making opportunity,
and friendly political climates
formed a group to take
advantage of neighborhood eyesores.
It can be surmised years
of covert planning preceded the
Tiny Gluttons letter to Sin City
Plotting. A letter that agitated
an unsuspecting quiet community.
Due to a lack of strict mandated
rules, the local Community
Body and area residents, for
many, many months, remained
unaware of the Tiny Gluttons
actions. Over nine months, in
excess of a human gestation period,
passed before the unsuspecting
community gathered information
needed to react. The
cowardly, but unified Tiny Gluttons
hired influential bodies to
do their dirty work. The potent
influential bodies have inhaled
with might and are readying
to huff, puff, powerfully bellow
and blow away the vulnerable
low density community. Luckily,
the unsuspecting residents
of the low density community
have banded together to fight off
the Little Gluttons. To Be Continued…
IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
EVENTS:
Street co-naming at Ampere
and Ohm avenues for the
late Michael Prince is scheduled
for Saturday, April 23 at
12 p.m.: Please join the family
and friends of Mike Prince
to celebrate this well-deserved
commemoration. Mike, a longtime
Spencer Estate businessman
and homeowner, was a true
friend and respected community
stalwart. His humbleness,
kindness and humanitarian
ways were deeply appreciated
and sorely missed. Our neighborhood
was a better place because
of Michael Prince. Now,
he will always be remembered.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Spencer Estate Civic Meeting:
Tuesday, April 26 at 7:30
p.m., Living Manna Church at
Research and Ampere avenues.
Agenda items include updates
on Knights of Columbus building,
Low density zoning threats,
and numerous quality of life topics.
Bring your comments and
questions, but most importantly
bring a friend. Invitations were
sent; however, as of press time
the Keynote speaker remains
undetermined.
If we want to keep and reap
the blessings of our fine quality
of life; we must endure the fatigue
of supporting it. Our community
has traditionally exhibited
a “We are Family attitude.”
Communicate; make that phone
call, text message or email.
Please check on family, friends
and neighbors, especially the elderly
and vulnerable. Any area
homeowner or renter interested
in the Spencer Estate Civic Association
attend our April 26
meeting or send an email to
spencerestatecivic@gmail.com
R e m e m b e r :
Community=Common-Unity
and Inclusion brings Solutions
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
Remediation this summer of a former trucking site at 1346 Blondell Ave., will push the construction of a planned 200-bed
men’s shelter and health clinic to 2024.
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