BP Oddo: Mount Manresa building plan calls for 250 housing units By Tom Wrobleski 3/231/2014 The property, zoned for townhouses, was sold by the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, for $15 million to the STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Savo Brothers develop- ment firm plans to build 250 housing units on the Savos, of Prince's Bay. Mount Manresa property, according to GOP Oddo said it appears the Savo brothers plan to go forward and Borough President James Oddo, the first time could begin pulling permits for the project within two months. that development plans for the 15.4-acre site have "I don't know where this leaves us," Oddo said. "I'm not giving been revealed. up, but I don't know what else we can do. They've closed the Oddo told the Advance that the developers presented a render- door on me." ing of their plan to him during a Borough Hall meeting on Oddo and other lawmakers and advocates have joined with the March 3. It was the second Borough Hall meeting that Oddo Committee to Save Mount Man- PLEASE write had held with the Savos, the first coming in January. resa in a bid to save the site for Mayor de Blasio asking for Oddo said that while the plans included a "green perimeter" of public use. funding in this year’s city trees, it contained no open space, and did not provide for the The committee's Barbara budget to buy the property preservation of "old growth" trees or historic buildings on the Sanchez called the development for use as a park. The dead- site. numbers "horrible." line is April 26 for the mayor While he said he recognized the Savos as-of-right ability to to submit to the City Council "This is going to destroy eve- build on the site, Oddo said he found the plan unacceptable. rything," she said. "It's even his proposed executive Oddo added that the Savos told him that they could have built more than we thought. It's budget. We need him to be up to 400 units on the site, although Oddo said he wondered absolutely disturbing." aware of how important this how feasible that number really was. is to Staten Island. The group is trying to get As a "last-gasp measure," Oddo said he that had proposed that Democratic Mayor Bill de Please send your letters the Savos build two, 10-story residential buildings on the site. Blasio involved in the URGENTLY to: preservation effort. Mayor Bill de Blasio This, Oddo said, would have allowed for trees and structures to , City Hall, be preserved, would have kept open space, and would have "This only intensifies our New York, NY 10007 . confined the project to a smaller footprint. effort to get the mayor We only have to look to ex- "I tried to appeal to their human side," involved and save it," Ms. amples of recent Staten Is- Oddo said. The Savos, he said, rejected the Sanchez said. land’s Goodhue Park, Whit- ney Woods, Chapin Woods idea. The Savos did not imme- and Fort Hill Park that were diately return a phone "I was never confident we could get a compromise," Oddo saved from builders for the call seeking comment. public good. said. "But I hoped they could see beyond the profit margin. Mount Manre- sa should be saved as well. They could have created something historic in the borough." DO YOU LIKE SITTING HERE IN TRAFFIC? Then you'll love it when The SAVO BROTHERS build a high density townhouse development on Mount Manresa. Say NO to continued over-development and perpetually congested traffic on Staten Island! DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, IT STILL CAN BE SAVED! Reasons Why Mount Manresa should be saved: URGENT! Tall, beautiful and graceful trees (some old- PLEASE WRITE TO MAYOR growth) cleanse asthma-causing pollutants BILL de BLASIO generated by cars, trucks and New Jersey factories Tell him that you think Mount Manresa should be Vital stop-over for migratory birds Saved as a Public Park. Much-needed habitat for local wildlife Please send your letters to: Rare, pristine geological formation Mayor Bill de Blasio, Historic buildings provide vital community re- City Hall, source (e.g. in weather emergencies) New York, NY 10007 Last open space in the community (think chil- dren playing and dogs running) —Google Don’t Know Mount Manresa? Once it's gone it's gone map it! The address is 239 Fingerboard FOREVER! Road, Staten Island NY 10305. Its a rare 15.4 acres of history and an environmen- For more info visit tal treasure. A sacred place of healing SAVEMANRESA.org with Old Growth trees that should be protected..