BY JASON COHEN
A proposal to relocate the
Bronx’s Special Victims Division
into the jurisdiction of
Community Board 8 is causing
concern for some board
members over the potential
for increased traffi c in what is
an already congested area.
On Sept. 2, the NYPD presented
an application to the
CB 8 Land Use Committee to
relocate its Bronx Special Victims
Squad from 1086 Simpson
St. to 188 W. 230th St. in
Marble Hill, near the Broadway
Plaza Mall at 230th Street
and Broadway, which is considered
one the worst intersections
in the northwest Bronx.
NYPD Lt. Anthony Andreano,
of the Facilities Management
Division, and Jeff
Reuben, a consultant on the
project, laid out the plans and
why the move is needed. The
current Special Victims Division’s
Bronx unit is located
at the home of the infamous
“Fort Apache” Precinct, in
the Longwood section of the
South Bronx within the confi
nes of Community Board 2.
But Andreano said that location
is small and lacks adequate
parking. With only one
interview room, victims may
often see their alleged accusers
while waiting to speak
with a detective. The Special
Victims Division investigates
sex crimes and cases of alleged
child abuse.
The new site, if approved,
would provide 20,165-square
feet of offi ce space housed in
a three-story building along
with the School Construction
Authority, the Offi ce of the Inspector
General and a public
parking garage. This move
would allow for more than one
interview room for the Special
Victims Squad and, ultimately,
provides more privacy
to victims of crimes. Additionally,
there would be 20 parking
spots for two shifts of offi cers.
“The space will be much
better for us,” Andreano said.
“If we have a suspect leaving
and a victim coming in at the
same time that isn’t good.”
While Andreano said this
is not the typical precinct with
millions of people coming and
going all day long, committee
members were still on the
fence about the move.
Board member David Gellman
is concerned about police
offi cers double parking in the
street and causing more congestion
on the busy thoroughfare.
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, SEPT. 9-16, 2021 BTR
Charles Moerdler, chair
of the Land Use Committee,
repeatedly said throughout
the meeting how this will hurt
the traffi c in the area. Moerdler
said the road is already
busy near the 50th Precinct
and he doesn’t want that issue
to repeat itself.
“I think the NYPD is a fi ne
institution,” Moerdler said.
“This is not a police issue.”
Daniel Padernacht, chair
of the board’s Traffi c and
Transportation Committee,
shared their sentiments that
he supports the Special Victims
Squad wanting to come
to CB 8, but just isn’t sure this
is the right location.
“That 230th intersection
has a lot of accidents and is
one of the worst in the Bronx,”
Padernacht said. “The traffi c
safety is my concern.”
Andreano wanted to know
what the NYPD could do to appease
the community. “How
can we be good neighbors?” he
asked the committee. “Is there
a letter or something we can
add to part of this application
to assuage any fears you may
have?”
Not every board member
was against the relocation,
however.
A new proposal would relocate the NYPD Bronx Special Victims Squad out
of the old “Fort Apache” Precinct in the South Bronx, pictured.
Photo Adrian Childress
Camelia Tepelus fully supports
the Special Victims
coming to Marble Hill. Tepelus
said the board is confusing
this precinct with a regular
police station that has
heavy foot traffi c and numerous
vehicles.
“I just want to say thank
you very much to the NYPD
for considering this area for
Special Victims,” she said.
“I don’t know why we are so
quick to jump to the assumption
that they will double
park on 230th. This is not a
place that is saying to the
public we are right here.”
While the board decided
to table a vote on the relocation,
Moerdler asked Andreano
to meet with the Traffi c
and Transportation Committee
to discuss the issue further
and eventually return
to the Land Use Committee
and then the full Community
Board.
CB 8 tables vote on SV relocation
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