Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2017 Co-op City Times
Vol. 52 No. 33
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Back to the drawing board for ‘Baychester Square’ development plan BY JIM ROBERTS
Momentum built up over five years to “So now, the Baychester sell an unused NewYork City-owned parcel of MTA land and develop another shopping Square Project, in the form mall near Co-op City has come to a it was proposed, is dead and screeching halt. Whether that project can be salvaged - or I’m calling it a victory for another use of the property emerges - now awaits direction from Andy King, Co-op our community.” – Council City’s representative on the New York City Member Andy King Council. Strong opposition from Council Member King and a petition drive against the project has put Baychester Square, a retail and senior affordable housing pro(Continued on page 4) posal, in limbo. The empty 12-acre parcel
25¢
A Busy Autumn Ahead For Co-op City I am happy to be and establish effiback home in this President’s Message cient and effective beautiful community protocols. after being away for This fall we will President over three weeks. I have board develophave been blessed and ment sessions again, fortunate to have had a a RAM (Registered in wonderful summer and I Apartment Management) course and for those direchope that you too are tors interested, an opportuenjoying yours. nity to also study for a In June, the new board New York State Real Estate convened to elect officers license. In the past three and appoint chairpersons years, I have gained my for standing and ad hoc RAM certification and committees. I am grateful NYS Real Estate license, all of for the support of my fellow Board which have been very useful in the Directors for their confidence in tough decisions Board Directors electing me to another term of President of the Board of Directors. I must make as we provide oversight make my humble promise to this for this quarter billion dollar a year community to remain genuine and corporation. As much care, concern passionate as I make as sound and and passion we have for our home, Co-op City, it has proven to be very responsible decisions as possible, as beneficial to sharpen our skills, as your President. I look forward to resuming our agenda to modernize (Continued on page 2) Riverbay, improve customer service
Linda Berk
SCRIE Update
A development plan proposed by New York City and a Manhattan firm to turn 12 abandoned acres of land into “Baychester Square” retail outdoor shopping mall and 180 units of affordable senior housing was terminated by the city and the developer earlier this month following determined opposition from some in the local community. Contributed photo.
Public Safety launches Community Outreach Policing Strategy (COPS) BY BILL STUTTIG
Earlier this month the Department of Public Safety launched a new program called Community Outreach Policing Strategy (COPS) whereby officers are assigned to specific areas of the community to work with building and other community leaders and residents on helping with community initiatives, dealing with quality of life concerns, and generally establishing a working partnership between the community and the officers so each can work together to make Co-op City better. Chief Frank Apollo, commander of the Public Safety Department, said the concept came out of the recent “Coffee with a Cop” and “Pizza with a Cop” initiatives where officers sat down with residents over a cup of coffee or with youth over a slice of pizza. Chief Apollo said that those informal talks led to an improved relationship between the community and Public Safety and the idea to provide a few officers to continue that same concept on a daily basis naturally grew out of that after several consultations and much encouragement (Continued on page 2) from the Riverbay Security Committee
It has come to the attention of Riverbay that some seniors who were previously approved as recipients of the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) administered by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development have received their latest carrying charge statement with the recent 1.9% increase included. All seniors who are recipients of SCRIE benefits from previous years are being advised not to pay the monthly carrying charge at the increased rate but rather pay the carrying charge they were paying before the August 1 increase. HPD is currently evaluating that status of all current SCRIE recipients. SCRIE recipients who have already paid the latest carrying charge at the increased rate will likely receive a retroactive credit from HPD pending final determination from the SCRIE oversight agency. Senior citizens (residents 62 or older) who have not yet applied for SCRIE benefits can still do so by going to the JASA Main (Continued on page 6) Office, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475 on
Sangria Café awaiting NYC approval
The interior and exterior of Sangria Café, a soon-to-open restaurant on Bartow Avenue that will offer Latin cuisine in a casual but elegant setting, is 99% complete according to one of the restaurant’s partners, Pat Spinelli. The restaurant is awaiting final approval of the space and a Certificate of Occupancy from the city’s Department of Buildings. Photo by Brandon Oritz