3URXGO\6HUYLQJ%URQ[&RPPXQLWLHV6LQFHProudly Serving Bronx Communities Since 1988FREE FREE Vol 28,ORWOOD No 9Q • PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION COR P ORATION • AP RILEWSQ 30-MAY 13, 2015 NVol. 27, No. 8 PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION N April 17–30, 2014 INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER: FIRST EVER CB7 VETERANS THOUGHTS ON DE-CRIME BILL | PG. 4 COMMITEE FORMED | PG. 3 ICE RINK Spring Cleaning on Mosholu Parkway LEASE freeZE pg. 7 Construction on Armory could sit until March 2016 Crime Still Up in 52nd Pct. | pg. 9 Photo by Adi Talwar CONSTRUCTION FOR AN ice skating arena at the Kingsbridge Armory (pictured) may not happen until March 2016, more than two years after the New York City Council approved the project. By DAVID CRUZ KNIC Partners LLC’s lax the lease so long as the devel- “The Armory is a unique Though developers of the movement on building the oper can ultimately show it asset, therefore KNIC is ob- Bailey Avenue a Kingsbridge National Ice Cen- Armory is the group’s lack of has financing earmarked for ligated to demonstrate full Stretch for Concern ter (KNIC), slated to be built financing. It remains short the project. funding to complete the first pg. 11 inside the cavernous Kings- of the $350 million needed KNIC is allowed to access phase of the development be- bridge Armory, ensure the to fully bankroll the project, the Armory, under a license fore they start construction,” project is progressing, there prompting the New York City with the EDC, but it’s shy said an EDC spokesperson. are signs it hasn’t churned Economic Development Cor- of a signed lease agreement “Placing the lease in escrow Out About along as much as it wants the poration (NYCEDC) to place with the city, contradicting is not uncommon on a large & public to think. the project’s lease in escrow, reports that a lease had been complex project such as this pg. 14 Part of what could explain a procedure that guarantees signed. (continued on page 15) 2 • April 30-May 13, 2015 • Norwood News IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST Vol. 28, No. 9 Vol. 27, No. 10 NorwoodVol. News 27, No.is published 10 bi-weeklyVol. 27, on No.Thursdays 10 by Progress Moves, Though Slowly, MosholuNorwood Preservation News Corporationis published (MPC) Norwood3400 Reservoir News isOval published East bi-weeklyNorwood News on Thursdays is published by bi-weeklyBronx, New on ThursdaysYork 10467 by Mosholubi-weeklyPhone: Preservation on 718 Thursdays 324 4998Corporation by MosholuMosholuFax: Preservation 718 324 Corporation2917 Corporation On Proposed Oliver Place Park 3400 Reservoir Oval East E-mail: [email protected] Reservoir Oval Oval East East Web.:Bronx, www.norwoodnews.org New York 10467 Bronx,Bronx, New New York York 10467 10467 By WILLIAM MATHIS to request an assessment of encroach- Community Board 7’s efforts to see ments. Property owners in two neigh- Publisher andPhone:Phone: Executive 718 718 324 324 4998 Director, 4998 MPC Phone: 718 324 4998 the building of a new park in a run- boring houses have built additions Roberto S. GarciaFax:Fax: 718718 324 324 2917 2917 E-mail: [email protected] down lot on the outskirts of Bedford that go beyond their property lines and E-mail: [email protected]: 718 324 2917 DeputyE-mail: Director,Web: [email protected] www.norwoodnews.org MPC Park advanced some, albeit minimally, onto the city-owned land. The property Marcia CameronWeb: www.norwoodnews.org Web: www.norwoodnews.org during a meeting with representatives owners will have to remove these be- Editor-in-Chief, Norwood News DavidPublisher Cruz CEO, Mosholu from various city agencies on April 22. fore the Parks Department will even Mosholu Preservation 3UHVHUYDWLRQ And behind the slowdown of work are consider taking on a park building PublisherAccounts Receivable CEO, Mosholu PublisherCorporation Corporation MosholuDawn McEvoy Preservation 3UHVHUYDWLRQCEO, Mosholu unseen hindrances that could explain project there, said Larry Scoones, a MosholuEditor-in-Chief Preservation Roberto S. Garcia Corporation Corporation3UHVHUYDWLRQ why the empty lot has remained un- representative from the Parks Depart- SalesCorporationDavid Representative Cruz Corporation Vivian Carter Roberto S. Garcia touched for decades. ment who attended the meeting. Editor-in-Chief Roberto S. Garcia DavidProofreaderEditor-in-Chief&ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJ Cruz The vacant lot rests on the corner Once the board resolves these is- JudyDavidDawn Noy Cruz McEvoy of Oliver Place and Decatur Avenue, sues, the community will need to make Regular$FFRXQWV5HFHLYDEOH Contributors a T-shaped intersection with the sur- a formal proposal for the park that’s to &ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJDawn McEvoy DawnDavid&ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJ McEvoy Greene, Adi Talwar rounding area being mostly residen- be approved by the DEP and the Parks DawnProofreader McEvoy InternsJudy Noy tial buildings. The lot has long been Department. $FFRXQWV5HFHLYDEOHJenny Sharp, Jasmine Gomez Dawn$FFRXQWV5HFHLYDEOH3URGXFWLRQ McEvoy considered a blight to the community, Committee members expected more ContributorsDawnNeil deMauseMcEvoy rather than a resource. “It has become substantial progress than information ProofreaderWilliam Mathis, Moses Bustos 5HJXODU&RQWULEXWRUV a site of drug use, dumping, graffiti, requests to emerge from the meeting. JudyProofreader Noy JudyDavid Noy Greene, Adi Talwar you name it, it’s there,” said Barbara “I am disappointed,” Stronczer said. “I 3URGXFWLRQFor display advertising, Interns Stronczer, the chair of Community thought we would have more informa- Neil3URGXFWLRQShayla deMause Love,call Paolo (718) Mossetti, 324-4998. Justin McCallum, Neiland deMause Chelsea George Board 7’s Parks and Recreation Com- tion from the two agencies.” 5HJXODU&RQWULEXWRUV Photo by William Mathis Support5HJXODU&RQWULEXWRUV Your mittee. Once these issues are settled, DavidFor displayGreene, advertising, Adi Talwar call (718) 324-4998. THIS DECATUR AVENUE LOT still re- CommunityDavid Greene, Adi Newspaper! Talwar But ironically, the lot is also the the park’s future will come down to Interns mains a dump despite a push from com- TheSupport Norwood News Your is a not-for-pro t publication only local recreational site for young money. After a meeting between the ShaylaInterns Love, Paolo Mossetti, Justin McCallum, munity activists. andShaylaCommunity relies Love, upon Paolo the Newspaper! supportMossetti, of Justin its advertisers McCallum, people, given the long distance to the committee and community members andand Chelseareaders toGeorge produce a quality community andThe Chelsea Norwood George NewsLVDQRWIRUSURÀWSXE- nearest park. During warmer months, last December, the Parks Department newspaper.lication and Torelies support upon the your support paper, of its become organized basketball games are held Department of Environmental Protec- and DOT each conceived rough cost Fora memberadvertisers display andadvertising, and receivereaders to acall producesubscription (718) a quality324-4998. for one year.Forcommunity display advertising,newspaper. To call support (718) your 324-4998. paper, inside the angled lot, despite heavy dis- tion to request information about the estimates for a project at the site. Each become a member and receive a subscription carded debris strewn about. locations and delve into how deep the estimate came out to $4.5 million and SupportSimplyfor one mail year. Yourcheck or money order for $40 to: Support Your Despite a massive effort by the com- extent of the department’s infrastruc- neither plan included a playground, a CommunityNorwood News, 3400Newspaper! Reservoir Oval East, Bronx,Simply NY mail 10467. check or money order for $40 munity last December to clean up the ture goes. Without that information, primary request from the community. TheCommunity Norwood News Newspaper!LVDQRWIRUSURÀWSXE - Theto: Norwood Norwood News, News 3400LVDQRWIRUSURÀWSXE Reservoir Oval East, - lot and convert it to a playground, city the committee cannot begin to develop But community members remained licationBronx, and NY 10467.relies upon the support of its Norwoodlication and News relies is uponnot responsible the support for of its advertiserstypographical and errors. readers Opinions to produce expressed a quality in officials at the meeting listed a number a park proposal. Any potential park optimistic and vowed to keep fighting communitysignedadvertisersNorwood letters News newspaper.and and isreaders not bylined responsible To to supportcolumnsproduce for typo your arepresent- quality paper, of barriers that stand in the way. The installations cannot impede the DEP’s for the park that will best serve their communitygraphical errors. newspaper. Opinions To expressed support in yoursigned paper, becomethe sole aopinion member of andthe authorreceive and a subscription are not obstacles include an unknown amount 24/7 access to its infrastructure, said community. “We’re gonna tell them necessarilybecomeletters anda member bylinedthose columnsof and Mosholu receive represent Preservation a subscriptionthe sole for one year. of infrastructure located underneath Shane Ojar, director of Community what we want and put the pressure on Corporationforopinion one year. of the or author Monte and oreare notMedical necessarily Center. Editorialsthose of Mosholurepresent Preservation the views Corporations of the editor the site, encroachments on the site by Partnerships for the DEP’s Bureau them,” said board member William SimplyRU0RQWHÀRUH0HGLFDO&HQWHU(GLWRULDOVUHS mail check or money order for $40- only. The newspaper