MTR 302, Bronx Greenway Gets $ Infusion

Issue 302

January 29, 2001

Bronx Greenway Gets $ Infusion

Over the past year, Governor Pataki, Mayor Giuliani and South Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano have each dedicated $11 million for Bronx River restoration and greenway development. When completed, the greenway will be 11.4 miles stretching from the Westchester line to Westchester Creek. Although there are still gaps in the northern sections of the greenway, especially between the Bronx and Westchester, the largest gap is south of 180th Street, where almost no sections are built, and much of the required land is privately owned.

The transportation elements to be funded are:

$8.5 million for acquisition of private properties needed to complete the greenway.
$1,000,000 for completion of the Soundview Greenway.
$500,000 for construction of the RiverHouse at Starlight Park.
$150,000 for acquisition of Fur Factory at Lafayette Avenue
$100,000 for a Brownfield assessment of the Cement Plant property at Westchester Avenue.
$100,000 for assessment of a proposed pedestrian bridge at Lafayette Avenue connecting Hunts Point to Soundview.

The biggest roadblock is a plan to turn the abandoned section of Edgewater Road, from Westchester Avenue to the Bruckner Expressway, into a one-way truck route. Although the City DOT and the Parks Department have expressed a willingness to devote this land to the greenway, it is being held hostage to long-term plans for the Sheridan Expressway. If this road is not included in the greenway, there will be no access to the cement plant property on the waterfront nor to the western side of the river below Westchester Avenue (MTR #296). The State DOT, Borough President Fernando Ferrer and Congressman Jose Serrano need to agree to release this property.