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DISTRICT NEEDS STATEMENT
FOR BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD #10
3165 East Tremont Ave.
Bronx, New York 10461
TEL: (718) 892-1161
FAX: (718) 863-6860
email:bx10@cb.nyc.gov
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DISTRICT NEEDS STATEMENT FOR
BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD #10
Opening Statement
Bronx Community Board #10 serves the diverse neighborhoods of Throgs Neck, Co-op
City, Pelham Bay, Country Club, City Island, Schuylerville, Spencer Estates,
Edgewater Park, Westchester Square and Zerega. It is one of the largest
Community Boards in the City of New York, featuring Co-op City, New York State’s
largest housing cooperative, the nautically themed City Island, the birthplace
of many of the America’s Cup Yachts, Pelham Bay Park, home to the Orchard Beach
and the Bartow-Pell Mansion and gardens. Over the past ten years, the areas
served by Community Board #10 have undergone a tremendous growth in housing. In
order to check rampant growth, an historic zoning resolution was adopted that
limited new construction to two stories and required at least three parking
spaces.
History
The areas that comprise Bronx Community Board #10 were once part of the Village
of Westchester and before that, were the private estates of the Bartow and Pell
families. The area saw one of the first successful engagements for Washington’s
Continental Army with British Forces during the Revolutionary War, at the Battle
of Pells Point, near present day Orchard Beach. Later the area became home to
St. Peter’s Church in Westchester Square, one of the oldest Episcopal Churches
in the City and one that received its Charter from King George III. The area is
also host to the historic Huntington Free Library and the Ferris Family
Cemetery, with graves dating back to the 16th Century.
Today
The neighborhoods that comprise Bronx Community Board # 10 are characterized by
well maintained, tree shaded streets featuring 1 – 3 family homes, tidy multiple
dwellings, vibrant commercial strips along Tremont, Crosby, City Island Avenues,
Westchester Square and the Bartow, Dreiser and Einstein Loops in Co-op City. The
area is also home to a regional shopping center known as Bay Plaza, featuring
well known retailers and a multiplex theatre complex.
Boundaries
North-New England Thruway, Eastern Prolongation of Park Drive, Park Drive, Long
Island Sound, City Line; East-Western boundary of Pelham Bay Park, Eastchester
Bay, Long Island Sound (including City Island and Hart Island); South-East
River; West-Westchester Creek, Northern Prolongation of Westchester Creek to
Waterbury Avenue, Waterbury Avenue, Westchester Avenue, Castle Hill Avenue, East
Tremont Avenue, Silver Street, Eastchester Road, Blondell Avenue, East Tremont
Avenue, Hutchinson River Parkway, New England Thruway.
Public Safety
The 45th Precinct services one of the largest geographic areas in the City. The
Precinct’s station house had undergone an exterior and interior renovation
several years ago. However, it is time to re-visit it once again. The Precinct
lacks a modern information and retrieval system and effective e-mail service.
This must be addressed in order to facilitate greater communication between the
Police and community groups. The Precinct also serves Co-op City, a community of
50,000 residents. While Co-op City has its own Public Safety Department, its
role within the community would be greatly enhanced, if it were to partner with
the NYPD, in the form of a satellite station.
Transportation
Community Board #10 is served by the IRT #6 train and a series of buses operated
by the MTA New York City Transit. The buses often connect with each other and
fan out to serve other parts of the Board’s service area. However, there are few
if any linkages between the Board’s communities that involve a one seat ride. To
get from one community to another, or the central business district in the Bronx
or Manhattan, a commuter would have to take one bus to another and wait for
transfers. This adds significantly to trip times. Perhaps the MTA New York City
Transit’s BRT, “(New York City Bust Rapid Transit) study may address the issues
of scheduling, but the agency should consider the possibility of creating
opportunities for one seat rides.
The mainline for Amtrak runs through Co-op City’s section #5. This line services
Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. Commuters could reach Pennsylvania Station
from Co-op City within a half hour, as opposed to an hour or more on the express
bus or subway. Therefore, the Board supports the establishment of Metro-North
Commuter Railroad station and ancillary services such as parking and bus
linkages within Section #5.
Bronx Community Board #10 is surrounded by waterfront. The establishment of
ferry service would go a long way to easing road congestion. This is an option
that should be examined by the relevant government agencies.
The New England Thruway or I 95 runs through the Board’s service area. Trucks
often wander off the highway onto the adjacent Hutchinson River Parkway or a
city street and are involved in accidents. I95 serves as the principle road
running North and South. The roadway is choked with trucks causing air and noise
pollution, as well as congestion. Inasmuch as railroad freight trains pass
through the Board’s service area on Amtrak’s right of way, more attention should
be paid to shifting the burden of the transportation of large items to the
railroad.
Health and Human Services
Bronx Community Board #10 is serviced by Bronx Municipal Hospital Center (Jacobi
Hospital). This hospital has recently received a new structure that was added
onto the existing buildings. This impressive structure is a welcome addition to
the community. The Board’s service area is also served by a New York City
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene facility in the Westchester Square
community. While the Board acknowledges and respects the fine work of the above
institutions, they are geographically separated from most of the Board’s
communities. Therefore, the Board advocates for the expansion of health fairs,
preventative medicine seminars and health education in the Board’s service area,
and urges the appropriate governmental agencies to explore the establishment of
outreach programs in these areas.
Housing and Zoning
Bronx Community Board #10 has undergone a housing boom in the past few years and
as a result of the combined efforts of the Board, the City Council, and the
Mayor, the entire Board was down zoned to prevent rampant development in the
future. The challenge now facing the Board is the illegal conversion of one to
three family homes, into larger structures, housing more people, through
creation of basement apartments. Increased vigilance is needed by the
appropriate governmental agencies at both the administrative and legislative
levels in this regard. These illegal conversions lead to overcrowded conditions
that will have a very negative effect upon the communities within Community
Board #10.
Education
Bronx Community Board #10 is home to many fine elementary and intermediate
schools. It is also home to Harry S. Truman and Herbert H. Lehman High Schools.
However, the high schools are not enjoying the high levels of graduation that
they had in the past, leaving significant numbers of young people with little
opportunity for their futures. The Board urges the Department of Education to
create programs that partner with the private sector and other governmental
entities, that will allow young people to recognize the importance of education,
provide academic tutoring and life skills, receive mentoring services and job
skills. The Board will work with these schools in order to provide support to
these efforts.
Parks and Recreation
Bronx Community Board #10 is the host community board for Pelham Bay Park, as
well as many fine smaller parks and green spaces. Unlike its sister parks,
Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Central Park in Manhattan, Pelham Bay Park is a
natural setting with little engineering or architectural enhancement. This park
has a spectacular shoreline and is home to bird sanctuaries, the Bartow-Pell
Mansion and Orchard Beach. The Board would be supportive of efforts on behalf of
the Department of Parks and Recreation to bring the Metropolitan Opera or the
New York Philharmonic to the park to allow the residents of Community Board #10
an opportunity to enjoy the performing arts. In addition, the Board would like
to see the extensive wildlife and natural trail offerings sponsored by the Urban
Park Rangers receive more publicity, fostering increased awareness among the
Board’s residents.
Emergency Management
Bronx Community Board #10 has many shoreline communities, which are vulnerable
to damage from major storm events. The Office of Emergency Management has
embarked upon an education program and worked to establish Civilian Emergency
Response Teams or CERT in Throgs Neck. Others are needed, particularly in City
Island. The Board supports OEM’s work to disseminate information and welcomes
the opportunity to work with it, as more CERT teams and meetings are scheduled.
Quality of Life
The Board Office receives a series of service requests on a daily basis covering
everything from environmental concerns to public safety. The Board Office has to
file each of these complaints with the 311 line. Often 311 operators have
difficulty accommodating a Board request because their computerized maps do not
contain the streets that are the subject of the complaint. There have been
several instances where 311 operators, because the map does not show the street,
have experienced difficulties in logging in the complaint. The Department of
Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) should upgrade its systems
to reflect all street names in each community board.
Economic Development
Bronx Community Bronx # 10 is home to several vibrant shopping districts along
Tremont Avenue, Crosby Avenue, Westchester Square, the Dreiser, Bartow and
Einstein shopping centers in Co-op City and City Island Avenue. These are older
shopping districts that are populated by sole proprietors offering an eclectic
mix of goods and services. The properties that house these businesses are older
and in varying degrees of physical condition. The street scapes tend to have
limited plantings and while clean, lack environmental enhancements that would
attract customers. What is needed is a comprehensive analysis of these areas,
through a coordinating body such as the Department of Small Business Services to
give these areas a unique marketing identification and an opportunity for them
to compete effectively in the marketplace. To this end, the Board would like to
see the establishment of Business Improvement Districts in these areas.
Conclusion
The statement of District Needs has been submitted by Bronx Community Board #10, in an effort to familiarize the appropriate governmental agencies with the
needs of our communities. This Board represents vibrant communities that are the
economic and social backbone of the Borough and the City. The preservation and
enhancement of the communities is of paramount importance. Therefore the Board
and its staff look forward to working with its partners in government to insure
the continued viability and growth of the neighborhoods that comprise Bronx
Community Board #10.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kenneth Kearns
District Manager
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