BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY February 23, 2020 2
NYS agency rescinds reservoir decision
BY JASON COHEN
The NYS Historic Preservation
Offi ce rescinded its approval last
week for the NYC Department of
Environmental Protection plan to
keep the North Basin of the Jerome
Park Reservoir empty.
The reversal was based on the
DEP’s use of federal funding from
the Environmental Protection
Agency via the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund, triggering a
review process under Section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation
Act. Section 106 requiring federal
agencies to consider the effects on
historic properties of projects they
carry out, assist, fund, permit, license
or approve.
In January 2018, DEP announced
the start of a $15 million
project to rehabilitate gatehouses,
install new, lower fencing and upgrade
security infrastructure at
the reservoir.
Work on the project began late
in 2018, will continue through 2021
and will help to ensure the longterm
reliability of the city’s Croton
water supply system.
On Thursday, February 13,
John Bonafi de, the director technical
preservation services bureau
agency historic preservation offi -
cer, sent a letter to Assemblyman
Jeffrey Dinowitz announcing that
the Department of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation
revised its initial decision and now
says DEP’s proposal to drain Jerome
Park Reservoir’s North Basin
will have an adverse impact on the
surrounding community.
“While the Jerome Park Reservoir
facility has changed and
evolved over the past century to
meet its primary use, to provide
safe and plentiful drinking water
to the city, it also serves as a focal
point for the neighborhood that
has developed around it,” the letter
states. “The expanses of open water,
open land and fi nely crafted landscape
features and buildings are
integral components of the setting
of the other historic resources.
“It is our opinion that draining
the North Basin, except for emergency
overfl ow, will have an adverse
effect upon the setting of the
register listed Fort Independence
Historic District and the register
eligible Amalgamated Housing
Complex and DeWitt Clinton High
School.”
Numerous elected offi cials, organizations
and community members
have raised alarms about the DEP’s
proposal since it was announced in
the summer of 2019, sending letters
to various agencies and circulating
petitions in opposition to the plan to
keep the basin empty.
Dinowitz also organized a meeting
with SHPO and longtime environmental
advocates from Bronx
Council for Environmental Quality
(represented by recording secretary
and Water Committee chair
Karen Argenti and president Robert
Fanuzzi) in late January.
Dinowitz, who grew up across
the street from the reservoir, said
this project has been a personal issue
to him for many years.
“I am very grateful to the State
Historic Preservation Offi ce for taking
a second look at this misguided
proposal to keep the North Basin of
our beloved reservoir permanently
empty,” Dinowitz said. “This reversal
is a testament to what our community
can accomplish.”
Deb Travis of Jerome Park
Friends and Neighbors commended
the SPHO for its decision.
“Jerome Park Friends & Neighbors
is so pleased by the very
thoughtful and considered review
by The SHPO,” Travis said.
New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation revised its initial decision and said DEP’s
proposal to drain Jerome Park Reservoir’s North Basin will have an adverse impact on surrounding community. Schneps
Media Jason Cohen
Bedford Park affordable housing plan presented to CB7
BY KYLE VUILLE
Four hundred and forty affordable
apartment units, chockfull
of amenities, designated for
fi xed-income senior citizens and
low to moderate Bronxites are
coming to Bedford Park in two
phases over the next four years.
Representatives from New
York Botanical Garden and The
Douglaston Companies were
present at Community Board
7’s Housing, Land Use, and Economical
Development Committee
meeting at Scott Towers on
Tuesday, February 11 to introduce
the attendees to the details
of the 12-story buildings set for
2856 Webster Avenue and Bedford
Park Boulevard.
NYBG had originally purchased
the parcel to build a hotel.
When its plans changed they
teamed up with The Douglaston
Companies.
Phase one of the project will
include 180 units. Eighty-one
percent will be studios, with the
balance being one-bedrooms -
for seniors only.
Phase two of the project includes
260 units: 90 one-bedrooms,
118 two-bedrooms and
21 three-bedrooms. A small
portion will be set aside for
formerly homeless families, according
to the developer.
NYBG vice president for communications
and government
relations Aaron Bouska stated,
“The need for senior affordable
housing can not be overstated.
”
According to the Fordham
Bedford Senior Community
Services representatives, which
were brought on board to help
the apartment applicants navigate
the lottery system income
requirements, the units will
cater to seniors with amenities
like roll-in showers, handrails
in hallways and grab bars.
A portion of the site is currently
occupied by a Cherry
Valley grocery store. When the
fi rst phase is completed the grocer
will move into the new space
and the former store will be demolished
so the second phase
can commence.
According to the City Planning
Commission the developer
will receive a fl oor area bonus
if a grocery store occupies the
ground fl oor.
In this case, the 12,787 square
feet of bonus space will match
the square footage the supermarket
will occupy.
The developer, Douglaston,
was appearing before the committee
to obtain a letter of support
for the project from the
board.
The senior portion of the
buildings will be apportioned
by income: 30 percent of the
units will be leased to NYC Human
Resource Association referrals,
35 percent will be for
“up to 40 percent average median
income” range and 35 percent
will be in the “up to 50 percent
average median income”
range.
Russell Lang, Douglaston senior
vice president, explained
tenants would be setting aside
30 percent of their monthly income
for rent and federal programs
will cover the balance.
CB 7 residents asked if there
were units set aside for community
residents.
Lang said because federal
vouchers are involved, there
would be no special preferences
for those living within CB 7.
According to Lang, each
phase of the project is estimated
to take 24 months.
A rendering of the affordable senior living residence at 2856 Webster Ave. The
senior living apartments will be accompanied by more affordable low-income
housing in phase two of the project. The development will also feature a healthy
fresh food grocery store on the ground fl oor.
Photo courtesy of Douglaston Development
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