Tuesday, January 24, 2012

TESTIMONY OF BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JR. TO THE CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON LANDMARKS AND MARITIME USES IN FAVOR OF DESIGNATION OF
THE GRAND CONCOURSE HISTORIC DISTRICT

 
Last year, I applauded the designation of a Grand Concourse Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Center, and now I urge its approval by the New York City Council.
Designation as a New York City Historic District will complement the Grand Concourse’s already established listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In the future, I hope to see this historic district extended to match the more extensive national register boundaries.

This Grand Concourse Historic District is significantly intact, and contains many notable examples of art deco and other classic apartment houses. As I mentioned in my testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the threats to buildings on the Grand Concourse are in the details. Poorly done renovations and building management with short vision are carving away at the inherent value of this illustrious built environment. As an historic district, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission can guard against ill conceived and undesirable solutions that threaten proper maintenance of these buildings.

The area of the new district has been richly added to with the new Yankee Stadium and Gateway Center. The City itself has invested greatly in the area with infrastructure improvements, including improvements to both the concourse roadway and park system. The lower Grand Concourse has also been re-zoned to create a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income community with new housing, waterfront open space, and an array of retail services.

Its status as an historic district is the finishing touch to the revival of the entire area, and I urge its support. Thank you for your consideration.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

BRONX PUBLISHER SAYS ENGEL, KOPPELL HELPED SECURE LOAN, BUT DENIES POLITICAL BIAS

Read More: http://www.cityandstateny.com/bronx-publisher-engel-koppell-helped-secure-loan-influence/

100PercentBronx said...

With the announcement of Cliff Stanton for the City Council seat of Oliver Koppell, you see what happens.

Anonymous said...

Are you afraid to report Andy Wolf's admission that Engel & Koppell had a secret deal to help finance Wolf's purchase of the Riverdale Review?

100PercentBronx said...

It has nothing to do with this story

Anonymous said...

So the fact that Wolf has admitted to this secret deal is not newsworthy enough for your blog?... But crap like invitations from the BP and repints of press releases from politicians is newsworthy?

As one of your only readers, I'm now finished with you!

100PercentBronx said...

For the same reason I have not mentioned the announcement of what is said to be a place holding candidate for Oliver Koppell's council seat
this is 2012 not 2013, and the city races are next year.

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