CB 3 rejects ULURP for housing in Melrose
BY JASON COHEN
As the city looks to construct coops
in Melrose, many in Community
Board 3 compared the plans to Williamsburg
or Brownsville, Brooklyn
and feel they will attract non-Bronxites.
On Feb. 9, CB 3 rejected a ULURP
application that calls for the development
of four eight-unit buildings and
one four-unit building on fi ve sites for
a total of 36 units. Four voted in favor
and 16 against.
However, these are under the Open
Door program, which funds the new
construction of cooperative and condominium
buildings affordable to moderate
and middle-income households.
While the city is hoping to create
home ownership in the community
and help people build equity, board
members were put off by the fact that
some co-ops could cost as much as
$200,000. This could be quite costly
for people who live in the poorest Congressional
District in the country.
“I love the idea and I want to support
this project, but if they can’t guarantee
spaces to residents from Community
Board 3 then my vote is no,”
said board member Victor Latimer.
Other members shared his displeasure
like Olympia Jay Striplin, Laila
Patino, VeeJay Sanchez and Marilyn
Johnson.
“Realistically the people who presently
live in the community can’t afford
to get a co-op in their own community,”
Johnson said.
“There are not many people in this
community who can afford a $200,000
home,” Patino added.
However, Ismene Speliotis, executive
director of MHANY Management
Inc., who is the developer on the project,
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, F 18 EB. 19-25, 2021 BTR
is still confi dent the application
will get approved. She told the Bronx
Times that she and her staff spoke
with CB 3 in 2020 and last week, but
it understanding how the co-ops can
help the community will take time.
“Just because they rejected the application
does not mean they don’t
want home ownership,” she explained.
“I think people are concerned about
the down payment and what it would
cost going forward.”
The proposed plans include a fourstory
building containing four affordable
cooperative one-bedroom units at
881 Brook Ave, a four-story building
with eight affordable cooperative units
comprised of studios and one-bedroom
units at 901 Eagle Ave., a four-story
building with a mezzanine containing
eight affordable cooperative units at
959 Home Street, a four-story building
with a mezzanine containing eight affordable
cooperative units, comprised
of a mix of studios, one-bedroom at
1298 Hoe Ave and a four-story building
with a mezzanine with four affordable
cooperative units, comprised of a
mix of two-bedroom, three-bedroom
and four-bedroom units at 1013 Home
Street.
The proposed development is part
of a larger project consisting of 12 residential
buildings with a total of 70 residential
units for homeownership in
Melrose and Morrisania.
MHANY Management has proposed
to designate the area as an Urban
Development Action Area and
approval of the project as an Urban
Development Action Area Project
(UDAAP).
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
will now review the ULURP application.
A map of where the proposed co-ops will go in Melrose. Courtesy of HPD
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