Metro Center to Expand

Metro Center to Expand

Jobs, New Ballfields to be Created

#MetroCenter #Simone #RealEstate #Bronxnews

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 20- Simone Development Companies has submitted the winning bid to acquire and develop a 33-­acre site at 1500 Waters Place in the Bronx, adjacent to their existing 42­-acre Hutchinson Metro Center office park. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development Companies, made the announcement.

The site comprises the northeastern portion of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Bronx Psychiatric Center campus, including three primary buildings comprising an aggregate total of 900,000 square feet, as well as four smaller buildings and a steam generating powerhouse.

In an effort to reduce its facilities footprint, OMH is consolidating its current operations and will maintain a smaller, 43-acre campus of newly constructed buildings adjacent to the site. It is anticipated that the entire 33-acres will be available for development by mid­ 2015, after being vacated by OMH.

The New York State Urban Development Corporation, d/b/a Empire State Development (ESD), issued a Request for Proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the 33-­acre parcel in the Morris Park section of the Bronx in November 2013. The site is surrounded by commercial, retail and institutional uses with a recent history of significant development by Simone, including the immediately adjacent Metro Center Atrium, a 360,000 square­foot complex including office, medical, hotel and retail space.

ESD President and CEO Designate Howard Zemsky said, “This announcement is wonderful news for the entire Morris Park community, which will benefit greatly from the construction of this new mixed­ use development. From medical and retail services to education and community space, this center will serve a variety of important functions for Bronx residents and provide important jobs for local business owners and workers. I look forward to breaking ground on this project and thank our team at ESD, OMH, and DASNY for their continued collaboration and efforts.”

Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center, which borders the development parcel, is one of the most successful commercial projects in the history of the Bronx, totaling over 1.4 million square feet of office, medical and retail space that is nearly completely occupied by some of the leading medical, educational and government tenants in New York City, including Montefiore Hospital, Affinity Health Systems, Mercy College, the NYC Housing Authority, the IRS and the NYC Administration of Children’s Services among dozens of tenants employing over 6,000 individuals. The campus is also home to a new Marriott, the borough’s only major flag hotel, LA Fitness, Applebee’s and other major retailers.

“We are extremely gratified to have been selected to develop this parcel and add to the borough’s only Class A office park,” said Mr. Simone. “What started as a dream 20 years ago to transform this underutilized site has become a reality, and this new addition will allow Simone Development Companies to expand our vision for the New Bronx and attract even more employers to the area.”

Simone Development’s proposal for the site includes two construction phases totaling nearly 1.9 million square feet of new and renovated commercial space consistent with the aesthetic of the existing Hutch Metro Center, providing a cohesiveness that tie the projects together both physically and visually.

In Phase I, the existing Betty Parker Building at the site will be reconfigured to include infill at both ends, creating two open air courtyards. Upon completion, the revitalized building will total 500,000 square feet for business or medical offices, targeting such uses as a healthcare training institute, educational space and an incubator for biotech research.

The existing John W. Thompson Building will also be redesigned to include a business hotel with meeting facilities and a community college, both totaling 100,000 square feet. A 60,000 square foot parcel in back of the building will be converted into a two­level parking garage.

Phase I will also include construction of two new one-story retail buildings of 20,000 square feet each featuring service, retail and restaurant tenants. Simone will also build new athletic facilities including a baseball diamond and turf football/soccer/lacrosse field. Both fields will include related amenities and lighting for evening events.

Phase II of the project will include four new 10­-story buildings of 250,000 square feet each for business and medical offices, as well as an adjacent parking garage. All of the buildings in both phases will be clad in aluminum composite panels to blend harmoniously with Simone’s existing buildings at the Hutch Metro Center and target LEED certification and Energy Star rating. The existing Parker and Thompson buildings will be upgraded with LED light fixtures, high Solar Reflective Index and low flow plumbing fixtures to reduce energy use and conserve water. The parking lots will include electric vehicle charging stations.

The project is part of OMH’s continued efforts to enhance the efficiency of its real estate footprint and convert its large 76­-acre campus of older facilities into a smaller 43­-acre campus of new buildings at the Bronx Psychiatric Center. OMH’s ongoing efforts, which are expected to be completed by mid­2015, will enable the agency to facilitate new private development while maintaining and improving both its facilities and services in the area.

OMH Commissioner Ann Marie T. Sullivan, M.D. said, “The redesigned Bronx Psychiatric Center will be a state­-of­-the-­art campus providing high­quality, safe, and comprehensive mental health care to New York residents. Through innovative architecture, this new facility is designed to enable recovery and aid in the community reintegration of individuals with mental illness.”

Representative Joe Crowley said, “The construction of this new multi­purpose facility in Morris Park is an exciting development for the Bronx. I thank Empire State Development for their commitment in making the most of this incredible opportunity to create good­-paying jobs, spur our local economy and give back to the surrounding communities. Not only will this project have a revitalizing effect in the area but its impact will be felt for many years to come.”

Senator Jeff Klein said, “The new mixed­-use space announced today by Empire State Development marks a significant and profound investment in the Bronx. It's projects like this that are bringing good­-paying jobs to the community, creating opportunities for business to thrive and paving the way for future growth and economic success.”

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto said, “This is a great example of government and private business working together to achieve a stronger economy, by producing more quality jobs while at the same time helping business and quality of life in a community. I applaud ESD on this fine use of government/private company partnership.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said, “This development is a major new addition to our growing, diverse economy. This transformative project will create thousands of new jobs, and I am excited to bring this new professional and medical space to our borough.”

City Island News BX: Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light

City Island News BX: Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light: Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light Vicious stabbing leads to life changing event #NYPD #DA #Crackheads #Bronxnews BRONX,...

Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light

Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light

Vicious stabbing leads to life changing event

#NYPD #DA #Crackheads #Bronxnews

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 12- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced the sentencing of a repeat violent felon, Octavio Rivera, to 17 years behind bars, following a conviction that arose from a dispute over drugs and money.

Walter Romaine wanted to smoke some crack, but he did not want to smoke it alone. So he asked his friend Flossey Samuels to come along to his apartment on Creston Avenue the morning of August 2, 2012.            But they were followed by Rivera – who proceeded to demand Walter’s cash and phone – and when he got it, struck out with a knife.

Flossey, terrified but in control, managed to call 911 for the critically injured Walter Romaine, who, slashed in the face and ear, and stabbed in the chest, would require surgery to repair a punctured lung and torn aorta.

In August of last year Rivera was convicted by a jury of assault in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, as well as criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor. 

Before Justice Dominic R. Massaro, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison with five years post-release supervision, after being adjudged a predicate violent felon, a provision of the New York State Criminal Law by which defendants who have been convicted of previous qualifying violent felonies are given tougher sentences than they would normally have gotten. 

This was Rivera’s second violent felony in a prolific life of crime. At age 38, Rivera has spent more time in prison than out during his adult life for a laundry list of crimes, more than two dozen cases adjudicated in the Bronx alone, most involving the criminal possession and sale of drugs, but also including a half-dozen felonies including grand larceny, robbery, harassment, assault and criminal trespass.

But the story does not end there. Although Rivera will be spending the nearly two decades behind bars, Flossey Samuels and Walter Romaine’s stories involve recovery and success.

Flossey, now age 44, admits she was a lifelong drug addict who at times turned to prostitution to feed her habit. After this horrific 2012 incident and drug arrests in 2012 and 2013, she accepted plea agreements that saw her enter TASC, an alternative treatment program for drug offenders. And it worked. Clean of drugs for a year and a half now, she has made a remarkable comeback, making progress on getting her younger children back, working toward her GED, and newly engaged to be married.

Walter Romaine, although still coping with lingering injuries from the horrific attack, also entered drug treatment with equal success. The 39-year-old continues his drug-free progress and is working with a food services company.

City Island News BX: Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move ...

City Island News BX: Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move ...: Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move It #Snow #Drivers #deBlasio By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 11-...

Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move It

Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move It

#Snow #Drivers #deBlasio

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 11- For at least the last two weeks the city has suspended the alternate side parking rules, so the plowed snow has turned into blocks of ice that have encased vehicles across the borough and many Bronxites believe the city's decision to lift the suspension was just plain wrong.

The suspension was lifted on Tuesday, February 10, and many area drivers were furious with the decision.

One young woman who declined to give her name, had been busy breaking the ice for three-hours outside Herbert H. Lehman College in Bedford Park.

The woman blurted out, "It sucks man, because now I have to take the car and then I won’t find parking when I comeback because of all this ice."

"It's very difficult," the woman continued, "It took me three hours to get out of this spot. There's no way an elderly person can do this."

Asked if officials made an error in the decision, she replied, "Absolutely."

Carmen Ortiz was slightly older and a little more angry as she was breaking and shoveling the blocks of ice near Villa Avenue when she said, "It's stupid and ridiculous. I don't even think I can do it myself."

Ortiz eventually won her battle with the elements and as her reward, she was able to pull her truck out before being slapped with a $65 summons-- and traffic agents were on patrol.

Before leaving, Ortiz replied, "It's too cold and there's too much ice. I think the mayor made a mistake."

Another driver, iced in near Paul Avenue summed it up best, stating, "I think it's a mistake. I think they could have waited a couple of days when they have forecastered rain, that will wash it all away."

Another driver, Herman Vela, stuck on Jerome Avenue, also sounded off, "Even without the snow it's tough to find parking sometimes. I at least hope they take all the snow away, so we can park properly."

Vela added, "I think they made a good choice, because it's time now to move" the vehicles.

But when asked about his elderly neighbors, Vela replied, "Oh that's different man. I guess they have to find somebody to help them."

Wiley Norvell, a spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio was asked about the decision, when he stated, "The DOT (Department of Transportation) is the agency with jurisdiction over that, but obviously we all coordinate.

Norwell said the decision was decided by the DOT, Department of Sanitation and the mayor's office.

Norwell continued, "Anytime decisions are made about alternate side parking, whether to suspend it or reinstate, it's made in full coordination across multiple agencies."

Norwell then added, "Obviously, this has a lot to do with the Department of Sanitation and their ability to sweep the curb and that kind of stuff."

Norweel then ended the interview, asking for an e-mail request for any additional comment.

A written request was then sent to the mayor's office asking if they were planning on plowing the ice before the street sweeper moves in.

The DOT could not immediately say if it was 14 days or 18 days since the alternate side parking suspension went into effect-- during the suspension the city has issued $0 in summonses for alternate side parking.

A response from both the mayor's office and the Department of Transportation were not returned before the deadline for this article.  

City Island News BX: Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season

City Island News BX: Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season: Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season #Fordham #Rams #Basketball #Bronxnews By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUAR...

Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season

Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season

#Fordham #Rams #Basketball #Bronxnews

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 9- A one-sided 83-65 win by the Fordham Rams (6-15, 1-9) over the Saint Louis Billikens (10-13, 2-8) on Saturday afternoon at  Rose Hill ended the nine-game winless streak of the Rams in Atlantic-10 Conference games this season. The campus gym was filled with Fordham enthusiasts, many of whom attended the annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony and luncheon earlier in the afternoon. 

The Fordham fans were cheering wildly as the Rams scored the first 12 points of the game. The visitors cut the deficit to two points by the mid-point of the first half after going on a 15-5 scoring run. Interestingly, the first points scored by a Saint Louis player were a three pointer by the only Bronx native on the court, Ash Yocoubou. 

The 6-4 junior is playing his first season with the Billikens after transferring from Villanova. The much travelled young man began his high school basketball years at the American Christian School on Pennsylvania before moving to Long Island Lutheran, where he was the Gatorade New York State Player of the Year in his senior season, 2011.

The Rams never lost the lead throughout the first half. The half ended with Fordham ahead by a score of 33-29.

Saint Louis scored the first four points of the second stanza to tie the score for the first and last time of the game at 19:06. Thirty-two seconds later, a free throw by Mandell Thomas gave Fordham the advantage again, which they never relinquished. A Fordham lead of 45-41 at 14:35 was followed by 11 unanswered points by Fordham that raised the advantage to 15 (56-41) with 11:16 left to play. 

The Rams’ advantage was cut to six, 58-52, at 8:54 after an 11-2 scoring run by the visitors. Fordham’s domination during the final nine minutes, 25-13, gave the Rams an easy win.

After the contest concluded, Fordham’s head coach Tom Pecora spoke of the reasons for his team’s victory, “We were the more aggressive team. They [Rams] went to the free throw line 39 times.” The 30 free throws and 39 attempts were both season highs for the Rams. The visitors only went to the charity stripe 16 times and sunk 12 shots. “We took care of the basketball, 11 turnovers. They really played under control.”  

The Rams only turned the basketball over four times in the second half. The Rams scored 50 in the second half on 66.7 percent from the floor. The Rams also controlled the boards, 33 rebounds to 24 for Saint Louis.

Fordham freshmen Eric Paschall and Chris Sengfelder led the scoring with 22 each. They are the only Division I freshman teammates who have averaged in double figures of points and more than five rebounds each per game. Pecora lauded them, “They’re not freshmen anymore; they’ve played so many minutes.” Sophomore Jon Severe (12) and Mandell Thomas (10) also scored in double digits for Fordham.

A freshman, Davell Roby, led the four double digit scorers on the Billikens with 16. The Bronx’s Yocoubou scored 10 to keep his season average to double figures (10.0 ppg.). 

Fordham travels to the University of Richmond for its next game on February 11. Saint Louis returns home to host Dayton on February 10.