16
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APR. 15-21, 2022 BXR
A rendering shows a proposed 8-story building for the Foodtown site in Throggs Neck.
Photo courtesy NYC Planning
2173 White Plains Road OPEN
718-931-4335
Just South of Pelham Pkwy.
7 DAYS
BY ALIYA SCHNEIDER
A proposal to bring a handful
of buildings, two of which would
have 8 stories, to a low-density
Throggs Neck neighborhood has
faced fierce opposition before even
beginning the community board
review process.
But the developers aren’t giving
up.
Throggs Neck Associates LLC
is requesting zoning map and text
amendments to develop four sites
on Bruckner Boulevard, including
the Super Foodtown grocery
store location. The project would
bring 339 apartment units, 94 of
which would be designated as affordable
housing.
Three commercial and residential
buildings are proposed for the
eastern part of the project. One
8-story building would sit alongside
Crosby Avenue where Super
Foodtown is located, and another
would sit in front of Old St. Raymonds
Cemetery, on the other side
of East Tremont Avenue. A 5-story
building would be constructed in
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between.
A fourth, solely residential
3-story building is proposed on a
site westward on the Bruckner.
There would be about 300 parking
spaces across the four sites.
If approved, the project would
undo efforts to slow growth in
the area as a result of the 2004
Throggs Neck rezoning, which
designated Community District 10
a Lower Density Growth Management
Area.
The Community Board 10 intends
to protect its low-density
zoning, CB10 District Manager
Matthew Cruz told the Bronx
Times.
“This is a very uphill climb,”
Cruz said of the proposed project.
“You’re providing density in
a community where there isn’t.
Do I know if the developers feel
confident about this application? I
couldn’t tell you that. But they’ve
been met with stiff opposition and
they’re continuing ... with this application.”
A group of residents have
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raised more than $29,000 for a legal
team to oppose the project on a
GoFundMe created in September.
An online petition has garnered
almost 5,000 signatures. The local
City Councilmember Marjorie
Velázquez opposes the project. In
early August, residents protested
at the Super Foodtown site.
Attempts to interview Velázquez
for this article were unsuccessful,
but her team doubled
down on her opposition in a statement
to the Bronx Times.
“The Council Member has
stated repeatedly that she is
against the project as it stands,”
her office said. “Just as her predecessor,
former Council Member
Jimmy Vacca, advocated for the
Waterbury-Lasalle communities
ten years ago, Council Member Velázquez
will continue discussions
with the community about any developments,
and take into consideration
the needed infrastructure
before considering any proposed
projects, including needed education,
transportation or public
works projects.”
Spokespersons for the City
Council did not respond to requests
for comment about what influence
Velázquez’s opinion could have on
other members’ votes .
Peter Bivona, one of the project
partners, said in a statement to the
Bronx Times that the project will
support the local economy and address
a dire need for housing.
“We are activating and enlivening
several spaces that are underutilized
or entirely dormant,
which will strengthen existing
businesses in the area and encourage
new locally-focused businesses
that ensure people can live and
work here, keeping dollars in the
neighborhood,” he said. “Most importantly,
there is a critical need
for new housing at all income levels
across the city, and every community
has a responsibility to contribute
to addressing that need.”
Bivona said his team has heard
“some opposition” and they believe
“some of it stems from misinformation
or uncertainty around what ...
is being proposed.”
Four-building Bruckner rezoning
proposal ‘a very uphill climb’