EDC quiet on 230th Street mall while broker appears to announce winner (UPDATE)

This teaser story first appeared in the blockbuster issue of the Riverdale Review on March 22.

By Miawling Lam

City officials have seemingly rejected housing in favor of big-box retail stores for the long-awaited 230th Street Broadway Plaza development, the Riverdale Review can reveal.

Artist's rendering of the entrance at the proposed
230th Street Broadway Plaza. 

Documents show a two-story shopping mall appears to have been chosen as the winning project, beating four other proposals in the process.

While the city's Economic Development Corporation remains mum, preliminary signs suggest experienced national developer Equity One has been tapped to redevelop the 80,000-square-foot plot of city land.

According to a three-page brochure that briefly appeared on Ripco Realty’s website last week, tenants were being sought to occupy four spaces totaling a mammoth 115,063 square feet at the site. The available space was to be split evenly between two floors and range from 17,957 square feet to 38,691 square feet. The brochure, and the attached listing, has since been pulled down but a cached version can still be retrieved.

Under the plan, vehicular access would be made available from both West 230th Street and Verveelen Place, while pedestrians were slated to enter via a small plaza on Broadway. Undercover parking for 129 cars would also be provided, offering much-needed relief for motorists accustomed to scrambling for spots on the street.

When contacted earlier today, EDC spokesman Kyle Sklerov refused to confirm if Equity One had been chosen and simply said no winner had been announced. When asked why Ripco Realty appeared to single out one of the five submitted proposals, Sklerov said he did not know.

Intrigued? Want to know more? Read the full story in tomorrow's paper.

UPDATE: EDC confirmed yesterday (April 3) that Equity One's proposal had indeed been chosen. According to a press release, the experienced national developer would invest $54 million in the 80,000 square-foot site and seek four national big-box retailers to lease the available space. EDC estimates the project will create more than 250 new full-time and part-time jobs as well as 500 construction jobs. It is understood the developer will try to fill as many of these positions possible with Bronx residents.

Bronx comes out on top in State awards

Here's another story that didn't make this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

For once, the Bronx came out ahead of the other boroughs in something positive. 

In Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), 13 Bronx and borough-related projects were tapped as top development priorities and therefore will receive funds nearing $37 million. 

Throughout the entire city, $66.2 million has awarded. This includes $29.5 million that will be used for the redevelopment of the Hunts Point Produce Market, as well as smaller grants for other borough projects. 

“I am extremely gratified that both Governor Cuomo and our State’s economic development leadership understand the importance of the Hunts Point Produce Market not only as a transformative economic engine for the Bronx, but for the entire region,” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said in a statement. “Investing in the market and building a new 21st century facility will both preserve and create jobs here in the Bronx while also expanding opportunities for upstate farmers.” 

The New York City Economic Development Corp., which worked with Diaz and other Bronx officials to help keep Hunts Point from moving to New Jersey, said they will continue to fight for the redevelopment of the produce market to take place in the borough.

Jump below for the full story.

Clean technology vehicle manufacturer to open facility in Hunts Point

Despite the fact that he wasn't in the Bronx, Gov. Andrew Cuomo today was able to announce that Smith Electric Vehicles, a leader in zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles, will establish a clean technology manufacturing facility in the borough, which is expected to create more than 100 new direct jobs. With the company's move to the Bronx, New York is finally showing the leadership in green technology that California has shown for years.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (center) joined state and city officials, as well as representatives of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, to announce that electric truck manufacturer Smith Electric Vehicles will soon open a new state of the art electric truck manufacturing facility at the former Port Morris lamp warehouse at 275 Locust Avenue. Smith Electric Vehicles hopes to create more than 100 local “green” jobs.

Smith will lease a 90,000 square foot building near Hunts Point in the South Bronx and make investments in renovations, equipment, training and other project costs. A package of state and city incentives valued at over $6 million, including $3.4 million in Excelsior tax credit benefits from Empire State Development, and $1.7 million in tax exemptions approved by the New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA), is being provided to augment the company’s private investment.

"Creating over 100 new jobs in the South Bronx is a victory for the local community and a clear sign that New York is rapidly attracting innovative opportunities to grow our economy," Cuomo said in a statment.

Jump below for the rest of the statement, including quotes from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, Smith CEO Bryan Hansel and NYCEDC chairman Seth Pinsky.

230th Street shopping plaza delayed

One last story from this week's Riverdale Review.

By Brendan McHugh 

The future shopping center at 230th Street and Broadway has gone through delay after delay over the past decade, and after being scrapped and restarted, has hit it’s first delay. 

The deadline for interested developers to submit proposals to the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has been extended two weeks, from Monday, Oct. 24 to Nov. 7. 

However, this may be the first good delay the project has ever seen. According to EDC spokesperson Kyle Sklerov, “There is significant interest in the Broadway Plaza site and we have extended the deadline to allow respondents more time to finalize their proposals.” 

Sklerov added that developers requested the additional time because they needed more time to finalize their proposals on the 80,000 square foot lot that will include a pedestrian plaza where Kimberly Place currently is. 

Jump below for the full story.