www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY June 30, 2019 8
Park renamed for Melrose activist, Nos Quedamos founder
Krispy Kreme opens Bronx warehouse for Times Square support
BY ALEX MITCHELL
In a sweet deal for the Bronx,
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation,
the well known global retailer
of premium-quality treats,
has entered into a long-term lease
for 26,486 square feet of space at
535 Zerega Avenue in Castle Hill.
The warehouse facility, which was
leased by Simone Development
Companies, will serve as corporate
commissary to accommodate
the company’s expansion plans
according to a spokesperson for
Krispy Kreme.
The Bronx investment comes
as part of Krispy Kreme’s recently
announced Times Square expansion,
which is anticipated to open
in early 2020. The company “was in
need of large warehouse space to set
up their regional bakery and distribution
center,” said Josh Gopan, director
of Leasing for Simone Metro
Properties, who represented the
building owners in the deal.
According to that spokesperson,
Simone Development’s excellent
reputation for delivering high
quality real estate and experience
was a major selling point in closing
the deal.
“Located within the Zerega Industrial
Park, the property offers
all the elements they were looking
for, including easy access to
the Bruckner and Cross Bronx
expressways, a 13,000 square-foot
outdoor lot, ample parking, multiple
overhead doors and 21-foot
ceiling heights,” Gopan said, explaining
the nature of the facility
located across from Westchester
Creek.
The area’s relatively low crime
rate also encouraged the deal
for the sake of employee safety, a
spokesperson said.
Krispy Kreme will share the
70,000 square-foot property with
one other tenant, New York Road
Runners.
The non-profi t community running
organization, will occupy
the remaining 40,000 square-foot
space after consolidating its citywide
warehouses in June of 2017.
The property is now 100 percent
occupied.
“With modern industrial space
in the Bronx in such short supply,
this property was extremely attractive
to a variety of tenants,”
said Gopan. “We are extremely
happy to be able to accommodate
Krispy Kreme and bring such a
quality company to the Bronx,”
he continued.
535 Zerega is also a newly constructed
property with its high
ceilings and “excellent column
spacing creating an effi cient use
of space,” the spokesperson said.
According to the spokesperson
on the deal, another reason the
Bronx was such an attractive location
for Krispy Kreme includes its
close proximity to the anticipated
Times Square location. With
easy access to the Whitestone
and Throgs Neck bridges via the
Bruckner Interchange, the Castle
Hill warehouse will “also support
future growth in other boroughs
and New York Metro Areas,” the
spokesperson explained.
“When compared to areas such
as New Jersey, it became apparent
to Krispy Kreme that the higher
rents within the city’s limits were
offset by multiple levels of effi -
ciency including public transportation,
access to employees and
transportation costs,” Gopan expalined.
Krispy Kreme intends to connect
with business centric groups
around the borough, such as the
Bronx Chamber of Commerce and
Bronx Overall Economic Development
Corporation, to tap into the
community’s vast resources and
job market.
535 Zerega Avenue, where Krispy Kreme will open its facility. Simone Development
BY ROBERT WIRSING
A dedicated Melrose community
activist who passed away much too
soon received an incredible honor.
We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Inc.
and NYC Park co-hosted a park-renaming
ceremony at Melrose Commons
Park on Tuesday, June 18 to
honor the late Yolanda García.
Located on Melrose Avenue,
the 1.07-acre ‘Yolanda García Park’
was dedicated to the Nos Quedamos
founder and local community planning
advocate.
The $6.6 million project was
funded with $4.8 million allocated
by Mayor de Blasio; $1.2 million
from Borough President Ruben
Diaz, Jr. and $500,000 from Councilman
Rafael Salamanca.
The park features a playground,
spray shower area, shade elements,
seating areas, a drinking fountain,
large green spaces, an adult fi tness
area, fencing, security lighting, a
fully accessible comfort station,
Americans with Disabilities Act accessible
toddler and pre-school elements
and more challenging climbing
installations for older children.
According to NYC Parks Commissioner
Mitchell Silver, Yolanda
García Park was completed early
and under budget than originally
anticipated.
The site was formerly a vacant
parcel of land used mostly for illegal
dumping and rampant drug use.
García had envisioned it being
repurposed as an open green space
for residents.
“She had a vision of a central
park for everyone to enjoy and now
children for generations to come are
going to benefi t from her legacy,”
Diaz expressed.
Jessica Clemente, Nos Quedamos
CEO, described García as a pragmatic
bridge-builder who fought for
the community’s best interests.
García was born on December
31, 1961 in Santurce, Puerto Rico
and emigrated to the Bronx with
her family when she was 6-monthsold.
She helped run her family’s carpet
business at East 156th Street
and 3rd Avenue.
In 1992, residents noticed surveyors
in their neighborhood and
became aware of the city’s urban renewal
plans which would have displaced
thousands.
García founded Nos Quedamos
on June 9, 1993 to oppose large scale
urban renewal plans.
She spearheaded the Melrose
Urban Renewal Plan, establishing
a precedent for community-driven
development.
García passed away from a
heart attack on February 17, 2005 at
53-years-old.
Prior to her death, García helped
create over one million square feet
of attainable residential and commercial
space.
Nos Quedamos’ development
totals 150 buildings consisting of
122 new townhouses comprising
373 apartments; 13 new apartment
buildings comprising 1,139 apartments
and 15 renovated apartment
buildings comprising 275 apartments.
The new townhouses include
Plaza de los Angeles, 35 townhouses
with 105 apartments; Sunfl
ower Way, 70 townhouses with
210 apartments; Cortlandt Homes,
12 townhouses with 30 apartments,
Parkview III, four townhouses with
12 apartments and Cornerstone
C2, six townhouses with 16 apartments.
The new apartment buildings
include seven low-income rental
buildings with 715 apartments, one
mixed-income rental building with
84 apartments, two mixed-income
homeless/low-income rental buildings
with 103 apartments, one lowincome
senior rental building with
85 apartments, one co-operative
building with 61 apartments and
one condominium building with 91
apartments.
The renovated buildings include
Cauldwell Apartments, fi ve buildings
with 76 apartments; Phoenix
Estates, four buildings with 124
apartments and LISC/Enterprise
Round 7, six buildings with 75
apartments.
Elected offi cials and community leaders cut the ribbon offi cially opening Yolanda García Park. Photo by Silvio Pacifi co
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