Allerton drug treatment clinic not a done deal
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Real estate agent:
The realty fi rm contracted by a
property owner to sell an Allerton
property that has the neighborhood up
in arms stated that a deal is not imminent.
A purchase offer from drug treatment
center operator Carnegie Hill Institue
is one of many offers the seller is
considering, the agency claims.
The Manhattan-based drug treatment
counselling service, presented
plans to Community Board 11 on Tuesday,
September 10 regarding its intention
to open a drug treatment clinic in
the brick, one-story corner property
at 2500 Williamsbridge Road between
Hone and Mace avenues.
However, in a recent statement the
realtor, EXIT Realty said, “All we can
say is that the owner has not accepted
any offers at this time. Offers have
been coming in and the property is
still available for sale,” wrote EXIT’s
president, Sonny Vataj.
“This property has been shown to
multiple potential buyers thus far, and
multiple offers have been presented
through this time,” he continued, confi
rming that the property is listed for
$1,000,000.
Community Board 11 chairman Al
D’Angelo confi rmed that EXIT Realty
on Allerton Avenue hasn’t closed on
the property with Carnegie Hill.
“I think (the real estate fi rm) is trying
to do the right thing for the community,”
D’Angelo said. The board
sent a letter to EXIT discouraging the
transaction, he added.
“I believe that if they get other
buyers to match (Carnegie Hill’s offer)
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Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez (2nd r) also stated her opposition to the proposed
drug clinic site, on Williamsbridge Road. Silvio J. Pacifi co
then it won’t become a clinic,” the
chairman continued.
Vataj’s statement arrived the same
day as another community rally and
petition drive was held in opposition to
the proposed drug treatment facility’s
opening at the Williamsbridge Road
location on Monday, September 30.
Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez
joined minister Irene Estrada and
other east Bronx community members
in showing public disapproval of Carnegie
Hill Institute’s plan to convert the
unoccupied corner property into an
822-licensed, NYS-funded drug treatment
program.
“I do not support this location for a
multitude of reasons,” the assemblywoman
said, as she pointed to P.S. 89’s
schoolyard which is located directly
across from the proposedl facility, expressing
concerns of needles and other
drug paraphernalia winding up on its
grounds.
“There are many other schools in
the immediate surrounding area as
well as nursing homes too,” Fernandez
mentioned, saying that her district already
has adequate drug treatment facilities
at Waters Place and Jacobi Hospital,
as well as other locations.
She also sent a letter to the NYS Offi
ce of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Services, recommending against the
facility receiving state approval.
“This is not to fear monger or stigmatize
against treatment facilities.
Our reasons for opposition are very
clear,” Fernandez said.
Estrada has collected almost 1,000
signatures from local residents against
the facility’s siting, explaining that the
treatment center is in close proximity
to P.S. 89 and nearby St. Lucy’s, along
with other ones.
“The community was not notifi ed
at all. To put a facility like this near
children without talking to us (fi rst) is
unacceptable,” Estrada said.
Palush Palushaj, who owns Dardania
European Grill directly across
from P.S. 89 on Mace Avenue, while
signing Estrada’s petition, said that
the facility would be inappropriate so
close to young children.
He pointed out a possible double
standard in the law if Carnegie Hill is
allowed to open at that location.
“I am not allowed to have a liquor
license because of how close I am to the
school,” he said.
“But this facility would be only a
few feet away and dispensing drugs?
That isn’t right,” Palushaj continued.
Notice of Public Hearing
On Thursday, October 17, Community
Board 10 will conduct a Public
Hearing with respect to Fiscal Year
2021 Budget Priorities for Community
Board 10.
The Public Hearing will take place
prior to the CB 10 General Meeting, at
Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow
Avenue, room 31, at 7 p.m.
Members of the CB 10 community
are encouraged to bring forth their
ideas/suggestions for the board’s 2021
Capital and Expense Budget Priorities
and present them at this Public Hearing.
Ideas/suggestions may also be submitted
via e-mail to Community Board
10. Write ‘2021 Budget Priorities’ in the
subject line of the e-mail and send to
bx10@cb.nyc.gov.
To request access or other accommodations,
contact CB 10 at (718) 892-
1161 or bx10@cb.nyc.gov at least 72
hours before the Public Hearing.
Miistrer Irene Estrada gathered almost 1,000
signatures so far. Silvio J. Pacifi co
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